Calhoun and Darlington fans left the stadiums Friday night with a win but wondering if they would get to cheer at a home game again this season.

Well, keep the turkey and stuffing ready for pregame meals because the Jackets and Tigers are staying home for the holidays.

Both teams won their respective coin tosses Saturday morning and the opportunity to host the quarterfinals of the state playoffs.

No. 1-ranked Calhoun (12-0) will play No. 4 Jefferson County (12-0) at Phil Reeve Stadium while Darlington (8-4) takes on No. 6 Twiggs County (11-1).

All four teams are No. 1 seeds, leading to the coin flip to determine the host team.

This will be the fifth time in the last six years that the Yellow Jackets have advanced to the Class AA quarterfinals. They captured their ninth straight region title this season.

The Tigers, who continue to bounce back from an 0-3 start to the season, will be playing in the third round for the first time since 1998 when they went on to win the Class A state championship.

“We’re certainly excited to be back at home,” Darlington coach Tommy Atha said. “We had not hosted a playoff game since 1998, much less three. That’s just more motivation for us.”

Friday will mark only the third time that Darlington has been in the quarterfinals and the first time in school history that they will play the game at home.

“We’re excited to be where we are and the opportunity that we have in front of us,” Atha said.

A good ‘Knight’

Calhoun’s 39-14 win over North Oconee Friday night featured a breakout performance from sophomore Hunter Knight and the impact the Jackets’ special teams can have.

Knight blocked three punts in the first quarter, leading to 16 points for Calhoun and excitement in the early part of the second round contest.

“We knew we had to get at them first and make a big play and I think we did that,” Knight said.

“We would see it and we would either call left or right. I would line up straight over the center and then I would just swim over him through that hole.”

That method worked for the first three North Oconee punts and nearly proved successful in the second half until Titans punter Taylor Maxey hesitated and moved out of the way of a speeding Knight before getting the kick off.

“I can’t say enough about Hunter Knight,” Calhoun coach Hal Lamb said. “He’s an unbelievable sophomore. He’s not the biggest person on this football team but he’s got the biggest heart.

“He’s got tremendous character and he’s going to be something special before he graduates if he’s not already.”