East Forsyth and Jackson County both can get their first-ever playoff wins on Friday.
The Panthers are 0-5 all-time in the playoffs while the Broncos, in just their fourth season, are making their second straight playoff appearance. They lost 26-21 to Luella last year in their first-ever playoff game.
So, what are some other streaks out there among area teams in the playoffs in 2024?
PLAYOFF STREAKS AND POSSIBLE FIRSTS
Buford, who plays host to East Coweta tonight, has won 25 straight 1st round games. The Wolves’ last 1st round loss was in 1997 to Manchester (29-3) on the road. They are 10-1 in home playoff games under Bryant Appling. The lone loss in that span came to Walton in the 2022 Class 7A playoffs.
Commerce is into the playoffs for the 28th consecutive season and has won 37 playoff games in that span. Of the last 8 times the Tigers have won a 1st round game, they have gone on to make the quarterfinals or farther 6 times, the most recent last season when they advanced to the quarterfinals.
Gainesville is on the road against Sequoyah. Big Red’s last road playoff win came in 2022, a 35-28 win over Roswell. Until that victory, they had dropped 7 straight playoff road games going back to a win over Harris County in the 2014 Class 5A playoffs.
Habersham Central has lost 3 straight playoff games, all on the road. But the Raiders last playoff win came on the road in a win over Douglas County in 2018. However, a win tonight over Lee County, a 58-point favorite, would probably be the biggest upset in GHSA history based on the point-spread.
OTHER NOTABLE PLAYOFF TIDBITS:
-- Flowery Branch is looking for its first postseason win since 2021. They head to Lee County in Class 5A.
-- Chestatee has not won a playoff game since 2013. The War Eagles travel to playoff stalwart Peach County tonight.
-- Cherokee Bluff is looking for its first playoff win since 2021. The Bears play host to fellow Region 8-3A foe Monroe Area.
-- Rabun County won 2 road playoff games in 2023. The Wildcats will be on the road in Class A D1 against Fitzgerald, a team they have never beaten.
-- East Jackson is looking for its first playoff win since 2009. The Eagles head to Morgan County in Class 2A.
REGULAR SEASON STAT WINNERS
The regular season is over. And so begins the postseason around the state.
But before stats are tallied tonight, the statewide regular season yardage winners have been revealed in rushing, passing, and receiving. Only one northeast Georgia player finished in the top 10 in any of the three categories.
(All stats are provided by Georgia High School Football Daily.)
As for the top area performers during the regular season, Gainesville sophomore quarterback Kharim Hughley finished 9th overall in passing (2,543 yards) while White County’s Tripp Nix led Class 3A in passing (2,298 yards) at the end of the regular season.
Commerce’s Tysean Wiggins won the area rushing title, and Zeke Whittington of Habersham Central led northeast Georgia in receiving. It’s the second time in his four years for the Raiders he led in receiving. He was the top receiver his sophomore year.
Here are the top 10 finishers in the area in each category, regardless of classification. (Overall state rankings on the left.)
RUSHING
19. 1,437 - Tysean Wiggins, Commerce
25. 1,359 - Elijah Hayes, West Hall
26. 1,354 - Ben Plemons, Chestatee
36. 1,257 - Reid Giles, Rabun County
49. 1,149 - Nolan Matthews, Lumpkin County
52. 1,137 - Jamarcus Harrison, East Hall
65. 1,081 - Connor Schuknecht, Union County
71. 1,073 - Drew Richardson, East Jackson
76. 1,065 - Daylan Maxwell, Jackson County
104. 962 - Dustin Barrett, Towns County
PASSING
9. 2,543 - Kharim Hughley, Gainesville
20. 2,298 - Tripp Nix, White County (3A leader)
24. 2,158 - Paris Wilbanks, Habersham Central
38. 1,999 - Brooks Brien, Cherokee Bluff
76. 1,709 - Jamarcus Harrison, East Hall
87. 1,659 - R.J. Knapp, Jackson County
93. 1,632 - Elijah Seaney, North Forsyth
96. 1,614 - Kamden Kendrick, Union County
97. 1,606 - Brett Sturm, West Hall
100. 1,560 - Brock Szakacs, East Forsyth
RECEIVING
27. 901 - Zeke Whittington, Habersham Central
32. 862 - Jeremiah Ware, Gainesville (was area’s top receiver in 2023 at Flowery Branch)
37. 832 - K.T. Thompson, Cherokee Bluff
72. 711 - Brady Holbrook, North Forsyth
75. 704 - Taz Smith, Gainesville
82. 689 - Chasen Jones, East Hall
83. 689 - Maddox Young, Union County
109. 625 - Cole Cable, North Hall
121. 586 - Chatham Burnett, Dawson County
132. 553 - Gaines Clark, White County
