Friday marks the debut of the new playoff format, where all private schools competing in Classes 3A through A are separated from the regions they competed in during regular seasons to compete in their own tournament , separate from public, city and charter schools. With nine teams on bye for Round 1, there are seven games, and the favorites in four of those are projected to win by less than double-digits. Three of those will be previewed below, with the fourth being Greater Atlanta Christian as a nine-point favorite at Mount Paran Christian.
Holy Innocents’ Golden Bears at Aquinas Fighting Irish
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aquinas Stadium, Augusta
Records, seedings: Holy Innocents’ is 5-5 and No. 19, Aquinas is 6-4 and No. 14.
Last meeting: Teams have never met
Maxwell’s projection: Aquinas by 2
Notes: The Bears closed the regular season with wins over 5-2A’s Washington (23-14) and KIPP (34-6), to finish 2-3 in league play, which including a 20-6 win over Therrell on Sept. 20, followed by a three-game skid and losses to Lovett (28-6), Hapeville Charter (21-7) and Carver-Atlanta (50-0). They’re in the playoffs a seventh consecutive year, seeking their first playoff win since reaching the 4A quarterfinals in 2022. The Irish are on a three-game win streak after beating 4-3A’s Richmond Academy (34-0), Howard (43-39) and Cross Creek (48-23). Aquinas was 2-0 against ranked teams this season, beating A-DII’s No. 6 Bryan County 42-20 and region opponent and No. 10 Harlem 12-7. Their region losses were to Westside-Augusta (21-16), Baldwin (19-7) and West Laurens (48-38). The Irish are in the playoffs for the 14th year in a row, all under James Leonard, who won the program its only championship, Class A, in 2013, in his first season. They advanced last year, finishing 9-3 in A-DII.