MURRAYVILLE - For the first time in its history the North Hall football team advanced to the semifinals in any classification after holding on for a thrilling 12-10 win over Perry Friday night in the Class AAA state playoffs.
The Panthers' Billy Freeman missed a 37-yard field goal with three seconds left that would have won the game and North Hall's Fabian Jackson took a knee on the final play to send the Trojans to The Georgia Dome next week.
North Hall will take on Cairo next Saturday at 3 p.m. for a spot in the championship game.
Meanwhile, down near Okefenokee Swamp Buford erased four years of frustration against arch-rival Charlton County knocking off the Indians 21-14 in the quarterfinals of the Class AA state playoffs.
The three-time defending state champion Indians had knocked the Wolves out of the playoffs each of the past three seasons - all at Tom Riden Stadium in Buford.
This time Buford got to return the favor at The Swamp leading from start to finish in improving to 13-0 on the season.
Buford will take on Dublin, who was a 27-13 winner over Pepperell, next Saturday at 9 a.m. in the semifinals at The Georgia Dome.
It wasn't a pleasant evening for Habersham Central in the Class AAAA playoffs as the Raiders were shutout for the first time this season in a 30-0 loss to Ware County in Waycross.