Pair of 9-1 contenders clash in GIAA first-round rematch as Briarwood hosts Edmund Burke

WARRENTON, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Playoff football has officially arrived in the Georgia Independent Athletic Association, and a late-season twist has produced a rare first-round heavyweight clash between a pair of 9-1 powerhouses.Briarwood Academy will host region rival Edmund Burke Academy on Friday night in the opening round of the GIAA state playoffs. The matchup comes just two weeks after the Buccaneers traveled to Waynesboro and spoiled the Spartans’ bid for an undefeated season with a 28-6 victory.Following a turbulent final week of the regular season that paired the two contenders together again, Briarwood head coach Bo Fleming used the unexpected break to get his squad healthy and rested.“It’s hard to say that two 9-1 teams should be sitting here playing each other, but that’s how strong our classification is this year,” Fleming said. “We actually did prep for another team last week, but we also tried to get ourselves healthy. We limited contact last week and really focused on some