Douglass Leads Six APS Teams into Football State Playoffs, Friday

Juan Powell (Douglass Football - 2018) — Douglass High School senior Juan Powell will lead the Astros into their first round playoff game against Pepperell, Friday, at Lakewood Stadium.

Douglass High School leads a group of six Atlanta Public Schools high schools with football teams that have advanced to the Georgia High Schools Association playoffs, beginning Friday.

The Astros finished the regular season 9-1, good enough for the No. 2 seed from Region 6 of Class AA. The nine wins is the most for Douglass since 2004. The team is led by senior Juan Powell, one of the state’s top athletes. He is committed to East Carolina University.

Douglass will host Pepperell (Floyd County), the No. 3 seed from Region 7, Friday at 7:30 p.m., at Lakewood Stadium. This is the third consecutive season the Astros have advanced to the state playoffs.

“In a season filled with many ups and downs for our programs, I am proud to announce that we have six teams that have advanced to the first round of the GHSA state playoffs,” said APS Director of Athletics Jasper Jewell. “This has been without a doubt one of the best coaching performances of all high schools this year. Last year produced a lot of seniors who graduated and are now student-athletes on the collegiate level. I am extremely proud of this group of awesome men who lead our [teams] into battle each and every week.”

Here is the full list of APS teams in the state playoffs (all start times are 7:30 p.m.):

Carver at Kell (Cobb County), C.J. Kell Stadium in Marietta
Carver finished the season 5-5 and is the No. 3 seed from Region 6, Class AAAAA. Kell is 8-2, the No. 2 seed from Region 7.

Maynard Jackson at Rome (Rome City Schools), Barron Stadium in Rome
Maynard Jackson finished 6-4 and is the No. 4 seed from Region 6, Class AAAAA. Rome is 10-0, the three-time Region 7 champions and two-time Class AAAAA state champions. The Wolves have won 37 consecutive games.

Mays at Lanier (Gwinnett County), Lanier High School Stadium in Sugar Hill
Mays finished 6-4 and is the No. 3 seed from Region 5, Class AAAAAA. Lanier is 7-3 and the No. 2 seed from Region 8.

South Atlanta at Rockmart (Polk County), The Rock in Rockmart
South Atlanta finished 6-4 and is the No. 4 seed from Region 6, Class AA. Rockmart is 10-0 and the Region 7 champions.

Washington at Chattooga (Chattooga County), Little Big Horn Stadium in Summerville
Washington finished 7-3 and is the No. 3 seed from Region 6, Class AA. Chattooga is 8-2 and the No. 2 seed from Region 7.