Well, as the days get shorter, so do the number of games. Last week, only seven games to pick from as I picked seven out of seven winners correctly for a perfect mark of 100%. The season now stands at 143-28 (83.6%).

This week, there are only three games to pick as the number of area teams continues to shrink. All of these games are definitely "Game of the Week" material when you get this far. So, I will change the format around and take a closer look at this weeks third round playoff matchups.

East Columbus (9-4) at Albemarle (12-1) (1A Midwest). The Gators from Lake Waccamaw, Three Rivers 1A/2A conference runners-up, will make a 144-mile trip to Albemarle to face the Yadkin Valley 1A Conference champions. The Bulldogs, ranked #3 in this week's CarolinaPreps.com 1A poll has been strong all year (except for a non-conference loss to 3A Mount Pleasant) and have defeated their previous playoff opponents (South Robeson and Union Academy) with relative ease. Last week, East Columbus' offense posted 66 points on South Stanly. The Gators defense also has been known to clamp down on opponents. Albemarle better not look ahead to a possible rematch with Murphy. Of course, if East Columbus wins and Murphy defeats Rosman, then the Gators may have to make a 387-mile journey to the far western tip of the state to play another game. But, I think it will be Murphy will be traveling to Albemarle next week for a rematch of last year's, double overtime thriller. Albemarle 27 East Columbus 24

E.E. Smith (11-1) at Scotland (11-1)(4A Mideast). The E.E. Smith Golden Bulls, champions of the Mid-South 4A Conference have been very surprising, especially after going 6-6 the two previous seasons before. A loss to Durham Hillside has been their only blemish this season. Scotland, Southeastern 4A Conference champions and ranked #5 in this week's CarolinaPreps.com 4A poll, will face a much tougher battle this week as compared to their previous two playoff opponents (East Chapel Hill and Lee County). The winner of this battle gets the winner of New Hanover at New Bern. Fighting Scots fans are hoping to get a chance to avenge their earlier loss to New Hanover and host the East Regional 4A title game versus having to make that long ride to Craven County next week. Scotland 35 E.E. Smith 16

Jack Britt (11-2) at Richmond Senior (11-1) (4AA Mideast). Jack Britt, the #2 team from the Mid-South 4A conference, has been another surprise of sorts, with former head coach Richard Bailey taking over at Scotland, and almost all their assistant coaches moving on elsewhere. But, the Buccaneers still have plenty of talent. Richmond County, Southeastern 4A Conference runners-up and #7 in the CarolinaPreps.com 4A poll this week, has not been playing up to it's potential in the past few weeks, and needed a "wake-up" call last week in order to defeat Fuquay-Varina. Also, the offensive play calling for the Raiders has been more conservative than the Tea Party. If the Raiders wants to play another game next week, they may need to open up the ol' bag of offensive tricks and hope Raider Magic kicks in as it did back in 2008 when these two teams last met in the 4AA state title game. The winner of this contest gets the winner of Raleigh Leesville Road at Garner. Raider fans will certainly be pulling for Leesville Road in hopes of another home game as opposed to traveling to Wake County on the day after Thanksgiving. Richmond 23 Jack Britt 21

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