It was a rough opening round for northeast Georgia area teams, with just six of the 17 teams that qualified for the playoffs in the GHSA, GIAA, and GAPPS advancing past the first round.
Usual suspects Buford (Class 6A) and Jefferson (Class 3A) advanced but shocking losses by Gainesville (Class 5A) and Lumpkin County (Class 3A), both quarterfinal teams from a year ago, and Rabun County’s loss in Class A D1 -- its first first-round loss 2013 -- put a damper on the postseason.
But the six area teams left look in solid positions to keep advancing as they prepare for their Sweet 16 matchups on Thursday and Friday.
Lanier Christian will kick the week off on Thursday at The Dungeon at Johnson High School. The Lightning will then take on Cherokee Christian for the GAPPS Championship.
There are several high-profile matchups on Friday, including Buford playing host to Lowndes in Class 6A and Jefferson playing host to Oconee County in Class 3A in a rematch from a game the Dragons lost in overtime three weeks ago.
To look at the weekend's contests involving area teams, scroll down. And be sure to check back with AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night throughout the night for score updates, game stories, and video highlights. You can also check for scores and highlights on our Twitter feed: @FridayGameNight
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR Thursday, Nov. 21
(Games listed in alphabetical order of visiting team)
GAPPS 11-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP
CHEROKEE CHRISTIAN at LANIER CHRISTIAN
Records: Warriors (5-5); Lightning (8-3)
Last week: Cherokee Christian beat Creekside Christian, 22-15; LCA beat Skipstone Academy, 50-6
Where: The Dungeon at Johnson High School, Oakwood
Time: 6:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: Lanier Christian leads series 2-0. The Lightning won 17-10 on Oct. 18 in Gainesville. LCA is on a program-best 6-game win streak.
Cherokee Christian
What to watch for: The LCA offense vs. the Warriors defense. Something will have to give this time. The Lightning have found their offense, scoring 250 points (41.6 ppg) during the win streak. The Warriors have won 4 straight, allowing just 48 points (12.0 ppg). But they have surrendered 187 points in their five losses (37.4 ppg).
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR Friday, Nov. 22
(Games listed in alphabetical order of visiting team)
CLASS 6A
LOWNDES at BUFORD
Records: Vikings (10-1, Region 1, Seed 2); Wolves (10-1, R8, S1)
Last week: Lowndes beat North Paulding, 35-17; Buford beat East Coweta, 57-9
Where: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford
Radio: WDUN AM 550
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: First-ever meeting. After trailing 9-7 early in the 2nd quarter last week, Buford scored the final 50 points to roll to its 26th consecutive 1st round win. The Vikings got their first playoff win since 2021 last week. This could be a great coaching chess match between the Vikings’ Adam Carter and Buford’s Bryant Appling. Carter has taken 5 of his previous seven teams to the Elite 8 or farther, including a state title at Grayson in 2020. Appling won 3 state titles in his first 5 seasons. The Wolves have the edge on talent, with nearly a dozen players rated as Power 5 players. Dayton Raiola passed for 227 yards, while the Wolves rushed for 253 yards last week.
What to watch for: The Buford defense vs. the Vikings offense. Something will have to give. Buford is allowing just 10.5 ppg, and only one team (Benedictine, 28) has scored more than 17 on them all season. Meanwhile, Lowndes has scored 28 or more in every game in 2024. Lowndes So. QB Jayce Johnson (1,676 yards, 67%, 16 TD, 2 INT; 308 yards, 3 TD rushing) already has interest from nearly a dozen D-I schools. A Sr. WR duo in Jaylin Carter (41-755 yards, 6 TD) and Aidan Sefa (14-206, 4 TD) along with Sr. RB Marvis Parrish (906 yards, 20 TD rushing; 28-396, 4 TD receiving) give Johnson plenty of explosive playmakers. The Buford front-7 has been dominant with 58 TFL, including 21 sacks, 48 QB hurries, and has forced 19 turnovers. DB Chris Garland had a pick-six last week.
CLASS 3A
LUELLA at CHEROKEE BLUFF
Records: Lions (6-5, No. 24); Bears (10-1, No. 8)
Last week: Luella beat Westover, 25-24; Cherokee Bluff beat Monroe Area, 28-7
Where: Yonah Field, Flowery Branch
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: First-ever meeting. Luella finished 3rd in Region 5-3A. Bluff finished 2nd in Region 8-3A. The Lions pulled off the biggest upset in any classification last week, coming in as a 21-point underdog. Very similar backgrounds for both programs. The Bears have just two playoff wins but have only been playing since 2018. Luella, which opened in 2003, also has just two playoff wins in its history, both since 2021. Neither team has ever gotten past the 2nd round. Luella opened the season with a 1-3 start, including a loss to Commerce, but has won 5 of its last 7. But the Lions have given up 24.8 ppg over their last five games. They gave up just 14.3 ppg over their first six games. Behind QB Brooks Brien, W KT Thompson, and RBs Jackson Pirkle and Connor Griffin, the Bears have scored 28 or more in all but two games in 2024.
What to watch for: The Luella offense vs. the Bears defense. After a rough stretch to end the year, allowing 61 points (30.5 ppg) to Jefferson and East Hall, the Bluff defense got back to business last week. They have yielded just 13.2 ppg to everyone else. They have forced 13 turnovers, while Luella has turned it over just 2 times (both INTs) all season. The Lions have scored 60 points (30.0 ppg) in their last two games, their best stretch of the season.
OCONEE COUNTY at JEFFERSON
Records: Warriors (7-4, No. 17); Dragons (8-3, No. 1)
Last week: Oconee County beat Westside-Augusta, 31-14; Jefferson beat Monroe, 45-6
Where: Memorial Stadium, Jefferson
Radio: WDUN 102.9 FM
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: Jefferson leads series 13-12. Oconee County won 32-30 in 3 OT on Nov. 1 in Watkinsville. This will be the 10th meeting since 2014, with Oconee County winning 4 of the last 5 in that span, but the home team has won 2 of the last three matchups. The two teams are part of three 8-3A teams to advance to the 2nd round. The Dragons won 8-3A on a tiebreaker, and the Warriors finished 3rd despite beating Jefferson in the season finale. The Dragons are scoring 34.36 ppg behind Sr. QB Gavin Markey (1,163 yards, 12 TD, 6 INT passing; 939 yards, 12 TD rushing) and RBs Dallas Russell (564 yards, 10 TD), Mickell Pitman (327 yards, 3 TD), and Rett Hemphill (296 yards, 5 TD). Talan Childress is the leading receiver with 452 yards and 4 TD. The Warriors are scoring 30.76 ppg with a balanced attack, averaging 180 yards rushing and 176 yards passing on the season.
What to watch for: The defenses have been the catalyst for both teams over the last half of the season. Oconee County has won 7 of its last eight games, only allowing more than 17 to the Dragons in OT. They have yielded just 10.6 ppg over that span. Jefferson has won 5 of its last six and allowed just 12.1 ppg over that span.
UPSON-LEE at NORTH HALL
Records: Knights (8-3, No. 12); Trojans (9-2, No. 5)
Last week: Upson-Lee beat Long County, 35-23; North Hall beat Gilmer, 21-14 in OT
Where: The Brickyard, Gainesville
Radio: 94.5 FM The Lake
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: First-ever meeting. The Knights finished 2nd in Region 2-3A. The Trojans won Region 6-3A. The Trojans have won 9 straight, their longest since a 13-game win streak in 2007. However, they have not made it past the 2nd round since a semifinal appearance in 2012 (3A). They are 4-5 all-time and 0-3 in their last three 2nd round games. The Knights are on their best win streak since a 7-game streak in 2002. They have not made it past the 2nd round since 1993 and are 0-4 all-time in the 2nd round in the current format of 32-team fields. Special teams will be key. The Knights have blocked three kicks this season (2 FG, 1 punt).
What to watch for: The North Hall offense vs. the Knights defense. It will be a battle of strengths. The Trojans have shown outstanding balance on offense, averaging 174 yards/game passing and 185 yards/game rushing behind QB Smith McGarvey (1,239 yards, 17 TD, 4 INT passing; 480 yards, 8 TD rushing), RBs Luke Jenkins (721 yards, 3 TD) and Parker Carlton (633 yards, 11 TD) who have a combined six 100-yard games on the season. Cole Cable (51 rec., 720 yards, 11 TD) and Ty Kemp (56 rec., 651 yards, 7 TD) lead the receiving corps. However, they were held to their lowest rushing output (62 yards) of the season last week. Upson has given up just 16.5 ppg during its streak and is ball hawks. The Knights have forced 27 turnovers in 2024 (2.4/game), including 14 INTs. They also have 74 TFLs and 16 sacks.
CLASS A DIVISION 1
COMMERCE at TOOMBS COUNTY
Records: Tigers (8-3, No. 11); Bulldogs (9-1, No. 6)
Last week: Commerce beat Bremen, 35-28; Toombs County beat Southwest Macon, 62-8
Where: Booster Stadium (The Pit), Lyons
Radio: WJJC 95.1 FM/1270 AM
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: The Bulldogs finished 2nd in Region 3-A D1 behind Savannah Christian. Commerce finished 2nd in 8-A D1. After a 2-3 start in 2024, the Tigers won their final five games as their triple-option got rolling behind Jaiden Daniels, Tysean Wiggins, and Jacari Huff. They averaged 44.2 ppg and more than 300 yards rushing/game over that span. The Bulldogs are coming off an Elite 8 run in 2023, but last week marked the first time since 1999-2000 that they had won 1st round games in consecutive seasons. The Tigers hold a slight edge in terms of schedule strength despite being the lower seed. The Tigers' opponents went 50-56, while the Bulldogs' opponents were just 39-53 on the season. Commerce played eight teams that advanced to the playoffs compared to just 6 for the Bulldogs.
What to watch for: The Commerce offense vs. the Bulldogs defense. Commerce is averaging right at 300 yards/game on the ground, with Daniels, Wiggins, and Huff. The Tigers have averaged 37.6 ppg during their 6-game win streak. The Bulldogs are 4th in Class A D1 in defense, giving up just 11.9 ppg, and have allowed more than 18 just twice all season. Sr. S Lagonza Hayward (Tennessee commit) leads the Toombs defense.
