5 Reasons North Gwinnett Will Win

Are you concerned about 's chances of beating Colquitt County on Friday night and advancing in the Class AAAAA football playoffs?

Don't be.

Here are five reasons why the Bulldogs can — and will — win:

1. The Bulldogs Are Due! The one thing missing from North Gwinnett's list of accomplishments is a state title. The Bulldogs came close by reaching the 2007 final, but you know that Coach Bob Sphire desperately wants to add a state-title trophy to the display case. This is arguably as good a squad Sphire has had in Suwanee. The Bulldogs have all the tools to get it done. Losing in the second round is not an option.

2. He's Got the Right Stuff: North's dynamic quarterback, Scotty Hosch, is the right man for the job. You wanna stop the Bulldogs? You gotta start with Hosch, but that's no easy task. In last week's 49-3 win over Archer in the first round, Hosch completed 24 of 27 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns, all to receiver Chad Scott (seven receptions, 91 yards). At one point, he had 22 straight completions.

3. Um, And Then There's the Running Game: Think North is pass happy? The Bulldogs also can run the ball. In North's 28-0 win over Peachtree Ridge in the final game of the regular season, Joe Jones and Donnie Miles both rushed for more than 100 yards (North had 354 rushing yards as a team in that game). They're big-play backs who catch catch and run, too.

4. Home, Sweet Home: North is 6-0 in Suwanee this year and an amazing 43-5 on its home field since 2005, according to Georgia High School Football Historians Association records.

5. Defense Wins Championship: During its 10-game winning streak, North has allowed 8.8 points per game. It's shutout win over Peachtree Ridge two weeks ago was one of the more impressive defensive displays of the season in tough Region 7-AAAAA.

FOOTBALL ON PATCH

Check back with Suwanee Patch later this week for more coverage of the high school football playoffs.

Live Blog: Follow Friday's action on our live blog of the playoffs, including North Gwinnett.

Score Updates: Want a score? Have a score? Check out our list of playoff scores, compiled from all over Atlanta and Georgia.