The Paladins are coming off an impressive 42-14 win over Walker in which they rushed for 471 yards, led by sophomore quarterback Ryan McCarthy who broke the school’s single-game rushing record with 211 yards on 11 carries with three touchdowns. Pinecrest finds itself at No. 6 in the GHSA Power Ratings, well within the top 16 teams that make up the state playoffs at regular season’s end. The Paladins haven’t reached the state playoffs since joining the GHSA in 2010, but through two weeks they’ve looked the part of a playoff team with a strong running game and solid defense.