New Manchester’s football team will travel to take on Heritage High School in Conyers in the first round of the Georgia High School Association Class 6A playoffs Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The Jaguars are the only Douglas County team to advance to the postseason this year.

New Manchester finished the regular season 7-3 and claimed second place in Region 5-6A.

The Jaguars are the No. 22 seed in Class 6A under the GHSA’s new Post Season Ranking system, which uses a computer ranking based on winning percentage, opponents’ winning percentage and opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage to determine playoff seeds.

For Jaguars coach Olten Downs, this is the third straight year his team has reached the postseason.

“It just shows the success of the program,” Downs said.

Heritage is coached by former University of Georgia and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter. The Patriots went 9-0, won Region 4-6A and earned the No. 11 seed.

New Manchester’s offense is led by a strong senior class. Quarterback Malachi Pace has completed 108 of 173 passes for 1,183 yards and 14 TDs, running back Anterius Rogers has 687 rushing yards and 10 TDs, and tight end and wide receiver Adrian Guilford has 477 receiving yards and 7 TDs. Sophomore wide receiver Jeremiah Floyd has 447 receiving yards and 7 TDs.

On defense, senior linebacker Jo Jo Mitchell has 69 total tackles. Junior linebacker Michael Hugley has 9 sacks and 63 total tackles, and junior defensive lineman Kaiden Coleman has 8 sacks.

The winner of Friday’s game will face the winner of the Northside-Columbus and Milton game in the Sweet 16.