Three games matching top-10 opponents and three rematches from the regular season headline the second-round schedule in Class A Division II and the 3A-A private playoffs this weekend. The top-10 battles are No. 2 Bowdon at No. 9 Metter in A Division II and No. 8 Lovett at No. 3 Hebron Christian and No. 9 Wesleyan at No. 10 Christian Heritage in 3A-A private.

Four games matching ranked opponents highlight the second-round schedule in Class 2A and Class A Division I this weekend. In Class 2A, No. 10 Thomson travels to No. 6 Hapeville Charter and No. 9 Carver of Atlanta visits No. 4 Appling County. The Class A Division I games include No. 10 Dodge County at No. 6 Worth County and No. 7 Commerce at top-ranked Toombs County.

A couple of Class 3A rematches from the regular season will be among the high-profile games this weekend in the second round of the GHSA playoffs. Top-seeded Jefferson will try to avenge a 32-30 loss to Oconee County in the teams’ regular-season finale on Nov. 1. Sandy Creek will seek to beat LaGrange for the second time this season after winning 27-7 on Aug. 30.

Unranked Sequoyah, Cambridge and Luella defeated top-10 teams, and Archer, Peachtree Ridge, Houston County and Bleckley County eliminated region champions in highlights of last week’s first round. The opening round was light on upsets, which is the norm. The computer Maxwell Ratings pegged 104 of 119 games correctly.

New Hampstead’s Rashawn Truell finished first in regular-season passing yards with his 500-yard performance last week in the team’s season finale against Ware County, a 48-41 victory. Teammate Kamari Maxwell had 271 receiving yards in the game and took the Class 4A lead with 1,344 and fell five yards short of the statewide leader, Jaylen Elder of Morgan County.

The GHSA playoffs begin this weekend with 119 games across the state to be played Friday and Saturday in the first of five postseason rounds. Among the high-profile matchups are Camden County at North Cobb and Mill Creek at Douglas County, with the winners to square off in the second round.

Calvary Day’s Mark Stroud, whose 272 victories rank second behind Marist’s Alan Chadwick among active GHSA coaches, will step down after the playoffs and give way to offensive coordinator Jason Cameron. Stroud held a press conference Tuesday to announce the news. His win total ranks 17th in GHSA history.

Apalachee running back Favian Williford provided a bright spot in a rough season, running for 269 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Loganville. New Hampstead QB Rashawn Truell passed for 500 yards and five touchdowns in an upset victory over Ware County, and Telfair County’s Bradyn Cook ran for 216 yards and two TDs in a region-clinching victory over Wilcox County.