Candler McAfee

Candler McAfee, GA · Education
Emory Wheel
Gwinnett Daily Post
Like 2019, Buford's state football playoff path likely to feature run of road trips
There was no surprise about what was coming. Given the current state of the Georgia High School Association’s new PSR Power Rankings, the Buford football team was likely headed for worse seed than it deserved. A 10-0 record, 25 straight wins and last year’s state and national championships and top-three national rankings don’t help much with the PSR system, which dinged the Wolves for out-of-state wins over top programs Mallard Creek (N.C.) and Miami Central (Fla.) and for a region that sent only one other team to the playoffs (Collins Hill as the No. 31 seed out of 32 teams). That led to a No. 9 seed for Buford for the Class AAAAAAA state playoffs, which begin Friday with a home game against Marietta. Barring considerable upsets, that seed likely will put the Wolves on the road for the rest of the postseason. The second-round will be at No. 8 North Cobb unless No. 25 Archer can pull a first-round shocker, then a quarterfinal could await at No. 1 Valdosta. It isn’t the ideal scenario, but Buford has been there before — and won it all. Its 2019 team was upset by Clarke Central in Game 10, but still finished
Marietta Daily Journal
Gwinnett Daily Post
Greater Atlanta Christian football rolls into state playoffs
After a pair of close losses to open Region 5-AAAA play, Greater Atlanta Christian’s football team has been on a roll. Both losses were to top teams — 50-48 in triple overtime to Douglass (No. 9 overall playoff seed in Class AAAA) and 38-35 to Stephenson (No. 7 seed in AAAA) — and both could have gone either way. The same can’t be said for the remainder of the Spartans’ region schedule with routs over North Springs (59-14), Salem (51-6), Pace Academy (48-10) and Westminster (48-13) in their current four-game winning streak. They hope that momentum continues into the Private state playoffs, which begin Friday with No. 8 seed GAC hosting two-win Mount Paran. The Spartans made quick work of Westminster last week with a 48-0 halftime lead. Pierce Wilson rushed seven times for 122 yards and three touchdowns, and added two punt returns for 83 yards. Bryce Aukerman completed 8 of 11 passes for 172 yards and two TDs and rushed three times for 22 yards and a TD. Aydin Barrie rushed three times for 38 yards and a TD, Michael Miller had a TD catch and Miles Braun caught two passes for 91 yards and a TD. Griffin