SWAINSBORO (3-0) AT LANEY (3-0)

LAST YEAR: Swainsboro held on at home for a tight 6-0 victory

LAST WEEK: Swainsboro blasted Southeast Bulloch 48-7; Laney beat Metter 35-0

KEY PLAYERS: Swainsboro-Senior SS/WR Bryan Foots (6-2, 180); senior DT/OT Derrick Shumake (6-3, 280); senior DB/WR Darian Davis (5-7, 160); Senior LB/WR Noah Piera (5-10, 175) Senior QB Renard James (6-1, 172); Laney-Junior DB/WR Cameron Stallings (5-11, 175); Senior DL/OL Theodore McNeal (6-1, 260); Junior RB Leroy Jenkins (5-9, 180); Senior OL/DL Brandon Thurmond (6-2, 250); Junior LB/WR Courtney Roundtree (6-1, 180)

KEY MATCHUP: Swainsboro's receivers vs. Laney's defensive backs. The Tigers' new plan is to spread the defense out and make the defense attack with its athletes in the skill positions. That must frustrate a lot of teams aside from Laney. James is a seasoned veteran at quarterback. If he has time, he could hurt the Wildcats.

OUTLOOK: Expect a track meet with quicksilver receivers employed by both teams. Swainsboro coach Shane Williamson switched his philosophy from ball-control running to the spread offense because of his depth in the skill positions. Laney's defense may be a tad smaller, but should be the swifter of two very fast teams. Laney has played a tougher schedule. That should pay a dividend tonight in a meeting between two likely playoff teams.

PREDICTION: Laney 23, Swainsboro 14

LAST YEAR: Jefferson County recorded a 31-26 home victory

LAST WEEK: Jefferson County was off; Screven County rolled to a 34-7 win at Westside.

KEY PLAYERS: Jefferson County-Senior DT/OT A.J. Harmon (6-6, 320); senior RB Lamar Brown (5-8/175); senior WR Marcus Mayo (5-10, 175), sophomore QB Barry Bostic (5-10/170); Screven County-Junior FB Travis Coles (5-7, 201); senior LB Hakeem Loadholt (5-8, 206); senior CB Trent Roberts (5-8, 146); senior NG Greg Williams (5-10, 214); junior QB Michael Johnson (5-6, 160)

KEY MATCHUP: Screven County's ability to stop Jefferson County on offense. Several observers have lauded Screven County's offense for its ability to move the ball. This is a deep team with Class AAAA numbers. The chink in the armor might be the defense. A quality offense can move the football on Screven County, especially if it remains patient.

OUTLOOK: Jefferson County's offense can strike quickly or methodically move the ball. The Warriors have already kept the chain crew busy against both Baldwin and Thomson. Screven County is a quality team, but its defensive hurdles won't be any higher than what the Warriors have already vaulted. A dry night also opens up a clear advantage in the passing game for the Warriors. Screven County might be a year away from its peak. This should be Jefferson County's year.

PREDICTION: Jefferson County 27, Screven County 17

LAST YEAR: South Effingham dropped Cross Creek 20-13

LAST WEEK: Cross Creek was off; South Effingham won 17-8 against Class A Bryan County

KEY PLAYERS: Cross Creek- Senior RB Patrick Province; Senior DB/WR Eric Eitson; Junior QB Keenan Grissett; South Effingham-Senior FB/LB Gage Marks; sophomore LB Hunter Barras; senior QB Jeff Hamilton

KEY MATCHUP: Cross Creek's ability to stop South Effingham running game. The Mustangs rely on running out of the Wing-T to move the ball. They rarely pass it. If the Razorbacks can saddle that attack, it might create a window for something in the range of 17 points to win this game.

OUTLOOK: Grissett's ability to lead Cross Creek out of the spread is starting to look like the work that Donald Hudson did for the team two years ago. Province is also a hot running back. Those two could spark an offense to 17 points on the road. That said, South Effingham appears to be the stronger program having made the playoffs in each of the past five seasons. The Razorbacks also do not hold a victory as impressive as South Effingham's win over Class AAAA Effingham County.

PREDICTION: South Effingham 20, Cross Creek 14

LAST YEAR: Burke County defeated Glenn Hills, 14-6

LAST WEEK: Both teams were off

KEY PLAYERS: Glenn Hills-Junior FB/LB Lonnie Moore, junior RB/DB Anthony Jenkins, junior RB/DB Collin Bing; Burke County-Senior TE/DE Cornelius Washington, junior RB/LB Arsenio Strong, sophomore WR/FS Terrell Brigham

KEY MATCHUP: Glenn Hills' running game vs. Burke County's defensive line. The Spartans are averaging 34 points a game due to a superior running game led by Bing. The Bears already have faced two of the area's better running teams in Jefferson County and Screven County and should know what to expect.

OUTLOOK: Glenn Hills is 0-18 against Burke County, though the past two games have been the closest in the series. A win would make the Spartans 4-0 for the first time since 1983. A Burke County victory on homecoming night would provide the Bears a boost as it continues preparing for its sub-region games.

PREDICTION: Glenn Hills 14, Burke County 13

LAST YEAR: Greenbrier won 24-14

LAST WEEK: Greenbrier lost 28-7 to Evans; Richmond Academy lost 26-7 to Lakeside

KEY PLAYERS: Richmond Academy-Sophomore WR Brandon Vereen (6-3, 200), senior DE Daryl Richey (6-1, 200), senior OL Carl Johnson (6-2, 250); Greenbrier-Senior QB Nick Richards (6-4, 210); junior LT/DT Dylan Turner (6-2, 260); senior DE/LB Sean Smith (5-10, 205)

KEY MATCHUP: Greenbrier's offense vs. Richmond Academy's defense. The Wolfpack offense has looked lethargic this season and hasn't scored in the second half since its season opener. Richmond Academy's defense has already allowed 100 points in four games. Something's got to give.

OUTLOOK: Greenbrier lost an emotional rivalry game last week and will be looking to take out its frustrations on a weaker region opponent. The Wolfpack will return to the win column, and the Musketeers' losing streak continues.

PREDICTION: Greenbrier 28, Richmond Academy 7

- From staff reports