The opening round of the playoffs for the GHSA continued on Saturday, with Union County using a gritty defensive performance to advance to the second round.
The Panthers held off Eagles Landing Christian, 24-17, in Class 2A, holding the six-time state champions (Class A Private) to just 215 yards of offense.
However, East Forsyth saw its season come to a tough end, falling 26-21 to Luella in the Broncos' first-ever playoff game on the road.
Friday saw six other teams advance across the GHSA landscape.
(VIEW STATEWIDE SCOREBOARD HERE)
All five of the area teams playing at home on Friday held serve. Buford hammered Wheeler, 50-0, in Class 7A. Gainesville ran past South Paulding for a second consecutive playoff, 46-27, in Class 6A. Jefferson routed Jackson-Atlanta, 48-14, in Class 5A to snap its first-round jinx. Lumpkin County got its first-ever playoff win over Gordon Lee, 52-6, in Class 3A, and Commerce snapped a three-game playoff losing streak with an impressive 58-19 win over Jasper County in Class A Division 1.
Union County, who also is at home in the first round, takes on Eagles Landing Christian in Class 2A on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Blairsville.
Lanier Christian opened the postseason on Thursday for area teams but fell 41-21 to King's Academy on the road.
You can check AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night page for game stories and video highlights.
FIRST-ROUND PLAYOFF PREP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, Nov. 12 SCORES
Luella 26, East Forsyth 21
Union County 24, Eagles Landing 17
FRIDAY, Nov. 11 SCORES
Bremen 40, White County 17
Buford 50, Wheeler 0
Commerce 58, Jasper County 19
Creekside 63, Flowery Branch 6
Douglas County 63, Habersham Central 9
Gainesville 46, South Paulding 27
Hughes 41, North Forsyth 7
Jefferson 48, Jackson, Atl. 14
Lumpkin County 52, Gordon Lee 6
Rabun County 49, Social Circle 14
Southland Academy 35, Lakeview Academy 14
SATURDAY, Nov. 12 SCHEDULE
North Hall at Stockbridge, 6:30 p.m.
SCORES FOR THURSDAY, Nov. 9
GAPPS 11-man, 1st round
The King's Academy 41, Lanier Christian 21
