Gwinnett County wrestles control of Georgia's Class AAAAA football bracket

Georgia's football playoffs are down to the semifinals in five classifications.

Click here to view MaxPreps' Georgia football playoff brackets.

Here are the top stories in each class:

CLASS AAAAA: GWINNETT COUNTY WRESTLES CONTROL
Three of the four semifinalists are from metro Atlanta's Gwinnett County – Grayson (Loganville), Brookwood (Snellville) and Collins Hill (Suwanee). Six of the past seven champions have been from south Georgia (three titles apiece for Lowndes and Camden County). The lone south Georgia team remaining is Colquitt County (Moultrie), coached by Rush Propst, as Grayson beat Valdosta 20-0, and Collins Hill beat Lowndes 31-28 in overtime. Brookwood is the only final four team that won its region, while the other three all finished third. But no team can be considered the favorite. Grayson – led by sophomore defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche (21 sacks on the season) – is perhaps the hottest team. The Rams led 31-0, 23-0 and 20-0 entering the fourth quarters of their three playoff victories, all on the road. The hottest quarterback is Collins Hill's Taylor Heinicke, who has thrown for 3,906 yards and 43 touchdowns.

CLASS AAAA: TUCKER TAKES OVER FAVORITE'S ROLE
The semifinalists all won their regions. Tucker, a DeKalb County school that won this title in 2008, is perhaps the favorite. Basheer Coles rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-14 victory over Ware County last week. Chattahoochee (Alpharetta) quarterback Timmy Byerly is a candidate for state player of the year. He has thrown for 2,332 yards and 29 touchdowns and has rushed for 1,263 yards and 19 touchdowns. The other two teams have star running backs – Zach Laskey of Starr's Mill (Fayetteville) (1,460 yards rushing) and Statesboro's DeQuan Daniels (1,539).



CLASS AAA: SANDY CREEK, PEACH COUNTY PUT WIN STREAKS ON THE LINE
Two reigning state champions play in the semifinals Friday with Sandy Creek (Tyrone) (won AAAA last season) and Peach County (Fort Valley) (won AAA). Both are 13-0. Sandy Creek, which will be the home team, has won 27 straight games. Peach County has won 28. Carrollton also is 13-0 and beat previously unbeaten Cairo 17-0 last week. The Cinderella is 11-2 Burke County (Waynesboro), which got a combined 245 yards and six touchdowns rushing from its quarterbacks (Corey Mayton, Donquell Green) in a 45-20 victory over Cedar Grove last week.

CLASS AA: CROWELL HITS STRIDE AT RIGHT TIME FOR CARVER
Most are expecting Carver (Columbus) and Buford to win their semifinals and play for the title. Buford is seeking its fourth straight state title, but Carver – which beat Buford 14-0 on Sept. 3 – is the team to beat. Carver's Isaiah Crowell, perhaps the top recruit in Georgia, rushed for 305 yards and five touchdowns in a 40-14 victory over Thomasville last week. Buford beat previously unbeaten Cook 21-14 and now faces Lovett (Atlanta), a team Buford beat 37-14 earlier this season. Carver plays unbeaten Calhoun.

Video of Isaiah Crowell

CLASS A: CLINCH COUNTY, WESLEYAN WIN SHOWDOWNS
Clinch County (Homerville) and Wesleyan (Norcross) scored two of the most exciting victories of the season in Class A in the quarterfinals. Clinch defeated Eagle's Landing Christian 34-27 in a game between the remaining unbeaten teams in the classification. The game saw eight ties or lead changes. Quarterback Trey Dorsey scocred on a 5-yard run with 1:28 for the winning touchdown. Wesleyan defeated Wilcox County 45-28 in a game between the 2008 and 2009 Class A champions. Wesleyan's Kyle Karempelis rushed for 298 yards. Clinch plays Wilkinson County (Irwinton), while Wesleyan faces Savannah Christian.