Chamblee doesn’t have long to get the bitter taste of last week’s loss out of its mouth. A win this week and the Bulldogs will be tasting the playoffs.

Chamblee [8-1] hosts Washington [7-2] at North DeKalb Stadium Saturday night in a marquee Region 6-AAAA matchup headlining this week’s slate of play-in games. These contests will determine playoff berths for the first round of the state playoffs, set to begin next week.

The Bulldogs are looking to bounce back from a lopsided loss to Marist, their first of the season.

Now is the time to get their remarkable 2012 campaign back on track.

First-year coach Allen Johnson has managed to turn around a Chamblee program that produced a mere eight wins the previous two seasons.

The 2012 Bulldogs have as many wins through their first nine games.

“Our seniors haven’t had a winning season at the varsity level their entire high school careers,” Johnson said. “To be honest, it wasn’t about trying to go undefeated … my goal this year was to change the environment and the attitudes, get some school spirit going on around here.

“I wanted to lay the foundation for a championship program.”

Washington will have to deal with the Bulldogs’’ attack-oriented defense, featuring multiple 8-man fronts led by blue chip lineman Davin Bellamy.

“We’ve got some guys that fly around to the ball … when we do that, good things tend to happen,” said Johnson.

Game time: Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Several other teams will look to secure playoff berths and positioning this week via play-in games:

Stephenson vs. North Atlanta

Stephenson [6-2] gets the Region 6-AAAAA No. 2 seed and a guaranteed home playoff game

with a win over North Atlanta [1-8] at Hallford Stadium.

Game time: Friday at 8 p.m.

 Mays at Tucker

Tucker [7-2] can clinch the No. 3 seed in Region 6-AAAAA with a win over Mays [5-4] at Adams Stadium.

Game time: Friday at 7:30 p.m.

 Druid Hills at Rockdale County

It’s been 56 years since Druid Hills made a state playoff appearance.

The Red Devils [4-5] can secure the No. 3 seed out of Region 2-AAAAAA with a win over Rockdale County [2-7].

Game time: Friday at 7:30 p.m.

 Dunwoody vs. Southwest DeKalb

Dunwoody [1-8] has an opportunity to play spoiler in this Region 6-AAAAA matchup with the Panthers of Southwest DeKalb [6-3] at North DeKalb Stadium.

A win by the Wildcats would snap Southwest’s string of four consecutive playoff appearances.

Game time: Friday at 7:30 p.m.