Hiram advanced to the second round of the Class AAAA Friday, topping Chamblee 28-20.

The win moves the Hornets to 11-0 on the season and awaiting this week’s match-up with 8-3 Rockdale County.

Hiram opened the game with a 21-7 lead, first scoring on a 57-yard run from fullback Charlie Sashington. Quarterback Jared McClain later scrambled for a 12-yard touchdown run, and ninth-grade fullback Julian Dickens came in relief of Sashington, who injured his ankle in the second series, scored on a seven-yard run.

In the second half, McClain hit Dylan Cook for a 70-yard touchdown pass to put the Hornets up 28-7.

Chamblee put up 13 points late in the game, but couldn’t overcome the deficit, as Hiram remained undefeated.

Rockdale County will provide another difficult test this week. The Bulldogs began the season at 1-3, but haven’t lost since Sept. 25, riding a seven-game win streak into the second round. The Bulldogs enter the tournament as the No. 3 seed from Region 8, placing behind 11-0 Apalachee and 9-2 Clarke Central.

Rockdale trounced Banneker 41-18 last week, and Hornet coach Andy Dorsey said he expects another tough game this week.

“They are a good football team,” he said. “We have got a lot of film on them, and they have definitely gotten better from week to week. They are one of those teams that kind of remind me a lot of Sprayberry.

“Sprayberry started the year off a little slow and built on each week. Rockdale, they were impressive against Banneker. I thought Banneker was a good football team, and they were never in that football game. Rockdale is running on all cylinders now. It is the second round, so everybody is pretty dang good from here on out.”

Home field advantage can’t hurt as Hiram will play in friendly confines again this week, a perk of being the No. 1 seed from Region 7.

“I definitely like playing at home,” Dorsey said. “For some reason, we have played better at home this year, so hopefully, that will help us.”

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday in Hiram.