A handful of seasons came to an end on Friday, but several more northeast Georgia programs kept their state championship hopes alive in the first round of the GHSA football playoffs -- including a trio of impressive upset wins.
(NOTE: For a complete look at area playoff scores and the schedule for next week's second round contests scroll down. And for video highlights and game stories visit our Friday Game Night page.)
In Class 3A, North Hall halted an unwanted skid with authority as the Trojans won their first ever road playoff game, 41-6 at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe. North Hall will travel to Cedar Grove next week.
Meanwhile, playing in its first postseason contest since 2011, Habersham Central made the most of it, hammering Douglas County 35-0 in the Class 6A bracket. The Raiders led 21-0 at the half and never looked back in knocking off the top 10-ranked Tigers on the road. Habersham heads to Creekview next week.
And in the Class A private bracket Riverside Military -- the No. 23 seed -- traveled to George Walton Academy and handled the No. 10 seed 24-14. The Eagles will battle Fellowship Christian next week.
The upset winners will be joined by four other area programs in Sweet 16, as Buford, Commerce, Dawson County and Rabun County each claimed victories. Elsewhere, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Jefferson, Union County and White County each saw their campaigns come to an end with defeats.
The top-seeded Wolves ran out to a 21-0 first lead over Miller Grove before recording a 35-13 win in Class 5A. Buford will play host to Kell next week.
Commerce, meanwhile, rolled over Seminole County, 42-6, after leading 42-0 at the half. The Tigers will travel far south to Mitchell County for the second round.
In Class 3A the Dawson County Tigers recorded a 44-22 defeat of Haralson County and will travel to Monroe Area next week.
And in Class 2A, Rabun County got its postseason run flying in a 65-0 win over Spencer -- the Wildcats biggest-ever playoff victory. Rabun will play host to Chattooga in the second round.
FIRST ROUND STATE PLAYOFF FINALS FOR AREA TEAMS
CLASS 6A
Habersham Central 35, Douglas County 0
Creekside 47, Gainesville 12
CLASS 5A
Buford 35, Miller Grove 13
CLASS 4A
Ridgeland 34, Flowery Branch 14
Pickens 42, White County 0
CLASS 3A
Dawson County 44, Haralson County 22
North Hall 41, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 6
Westminster 35, Jefferson 7
CLASS 2A
Rabun County 65, Spencer 0
Bremen 40, Union County 10
CLASS A Private
Riverside Military 24, George Walton Academy 14
CLASS A Public
Commerce 42, Seminole County 6
GICAA Division II playoffs
Skipstone Academy 35, Lanier Christian Academy 12
SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS FOR AREA TEAMS
CLASS 6A
Habersham Central (Region 8, Seed No. 3) at Creekview (R6, S1)
CLASS 5A
Kell (R7, S2) at Buford (R8, S1)
CLASS 3A
Dawson County (R7, S2) at Monroe Area (R8, S1)
North Hall (R7, S3) at Cedar Grove (R5, S1)
CLASS 2A
Chattooga (R7, S2) at Rabun County (R8, S1)
CLASS A Private
Riverside Military (No. 23 seed) at Fellowship Christian (No. 7)
CLASS A Public
Commerce (No. 9) at Mitchell County (No. 8)
