OAKWOOD, Ga. — The Johnson boys will continue their quest for a third consecutive state title and fourth in the last six seasons on Friday night.
The Region 8-4A champion Knights will take on No. 3-ranked Northwest Whitfield in the Class 4A semifinals at The Dungeon. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in what could be a rainy matchup.
Johnson (17-1-1) is ranked No. 1 in 4A and 17th in the nation in the latest United Soccer Coaches high school rankings poll. The Knights bring several impressive streaks into the matchup against the Bruins (9-7-4). Johnson has won 14 straight overall, 13 straight postseason games going back to 2021, and 17 straight playoff games at The Dungeon.
Unlike last season, when the Knights rolled to the Class 4A championship, outscoring its five opponents 26-3, the 2024 playoffs have been a challenge for a younger Johnson squad. They needed a late goal to beat Stockbridge 2-1 in the opening round and went to the half in a scoreless tie with Druid Hills before pulling away in the second half for a 3-0 victory in the second round. On Tuesday, they trailed for the first time in a playoff game since the 2023 semifinals before scoring two second-half goals to beat Whitewater 3-2 in the quarterfinals,
Northwest Whitfield is the lowest seed remaining in Class 4A as a No. 3 seed from Region 7-4A. Like Johnson, the Bruins have had to win some close battles in the postseason. They held off Clarkston 1-0 in the first round, beat another Region 8-4A team in Cedar Shoals, 4-1 in the second round, and knocked off LaGrange 2-1 (2OT) in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
The Bruins have allowed 41 goals on the season (2.05 goals against) but have yielded just two goals (0.67 GA) in the playoffs. Johnson is averaging 4.0 goals/game on the season.
The Knights have allowed more than 2 goals just once all season in a 5-4 win over Gainesville. They have yielded 1 or fewer goals in 14 matches with 7 shutouts.
