Kickoff A look at Glynn Academy’s first-round game in the Class AAAAA state playoffs: Opponent: Rome When: 7:30 p.m. Friday Where: Barron Stadium, Rome Radio: 102.5 FM Records: GA 6-4, No. 4 seed from Region 1-AAAAA; RHS 7-2, No. 1 seed from Region 5-AAAAA Last week: GA defeated Evans 28-24; Rome did not play. Last meeting/All-time: Teams have never played. Game Preview Glynn Academy is making its 11th straight appearance in the playoffs under head coach Rocky Hidalgo who has taken the Red Terrors to the playoffs in every season he has been the team’s head coach. The last time Glynn didn’t make the playoffs was the 2007 season even though the Terrors were 7-3 that year. Under Hidalgo, the Terrors’ best postseason run was of course back in 2015 when Glynn played for the Class AAAAA state championship. Two years later, the Terrors reached the state semifinals before losing out. Glynn has fallen in the first round each of the last three seasons. The Terrors were upset as a No. 2 seed last year at home by Jonesboro in the opening round. This season, the Terrors had to win their final two games at home to assure themselves of a playoff berth. They knocked off Greenbrier 28-21 on Nov. 1, scoring the winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter after the Wolfpack tied the score going into the final period. Last Friday, the Terrors gave up the lead in the fourth quarter before regaining the lead and pulling out a 28-24 win over Evans to punch their ticket to the playoffs. Rome is making its 10th consecutive playoff appearance. Head coach John Reid has been at the helm for each one since taking over the program going into the 2015 season. Reid led the Wolves to back-to-back Class AAAAA state titles in the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Rome’s 2017 team went a perfect 15-0 on the way to the championship. The Wolves reached the state semifinals in 2018 and 2022. Last year, they lost to eventual Class AAAAAA state champion Thomas County Central in the quarterfinals. This season, the Wolves lost their first two games to Carrollton, the current No. 1-ranked team in Class AAAAAAA, and Toombs County, which has been ranked No. 1 in Class A all season. The Wolves rebounded to win their final seven regular-season games en route to the Region 5-AAAAA title. Rome’s season started with a near-tragic accident when a team bus overturned after colliding with another vehicle while returning from the team’s preseason scrimmage at Rockmart. The driver of the other vehicle was arrested after the wreck and charged with DUI. Several Rome players were injured in the accident. The Wolves had to cancel their season-opener the following week. Players to watch for Glynn include junior quarterback Tyree Chisolm, junior receiver Sean Wallace and junior running back Da’Sean Howard on offense. Top players on defense include senior lineman Tae Green, senior linebacker Deuce Hidalgo and senior defensive back Ervan Rowe. The top standout for Rome is senior linebacker and Tennessee commit Jaedon Harmon. The four-star prospect was also recently named the Region 5 Player of the Year. ---- Compiled by Kevin Price for GCS Athletics