If last week proved tough, this one showed just how strong the top end of northeast Georgia high school football is this season. Five of seven area teams competing claimed victories on Friday in the second round of the GHSA playoffs -- including three blowout victories.
(NOTE: Scroll down for a complete look at scores involving northeast Georgia programs and quarterfinal match-ups. Click here for a complete list of scores from playoff games around the state. Also visit our Friday Game Night page throughout the night for game stories and video highlights from playoff contests for northeast Georgia programs.)
Mill Creek stormed out of the gates and never looked back in Class AAAAAAA, putting up 439 first half yards en route to a 56-21 win over Cherokee, as the visitors tacked on a couple of late touchdowns. The Hawks will travel to face McEachern in the quarterfinals after the Hawks lost a coin toss on Saturday morning between the two No. 1 seeds.
In Class AAAAA, Buford pounced for a 14-0 lead and responded to Jones County's only first half score with four straight touchdowns for a 56-26 victory. The Wolves notched their 17th straight state quarterfinal berth and will play host to Carrollton in the next round.
Meanwhile, Rabun County clinched its second straight Elite Eight appearance and third as a program, pulling away from Vidalia 42-7 in Tiger. The Wildcats must travel to face fellow No. 1 seed Fitzgerald for the third round, however, after losing a coin toss with the Purple Hurricanes after Friday's win.
In Class AAAA, Jefferson is back in the quarterfinals for the fourth time in five seasons after claiming a defensive standoff with West Laurens, 21-0 in Jefferson. The Dragons held the visitors to just 70 total yards. Jefferson will journey to Cairo next week after losing a coin toss with the Syrupmakers late Friday.
And in Class A Public, Commerce marauded its way back into the quartefinals for a third straight season courtesy a 35-20 defeat of Taylor County in Commerce. The seventh-seeded Tigers will travel to face No. 2 seed Clinch County next week in the third round.
Elsewhere, West Hall saw its deepest playoff run since 2000 come to an end, 42-14 at the hands of Thomson, and, in Class AA, Banks County saw its first ever second round appearance end in a 49-0 defeat to No. 1-ranked Benedictine in Savannah.
SECOND ROUND STATE PLAYOFF SCORES, NOV. 18
CLASS AAAAAAA
Mill Creek 56, Cherokee 21
CLASS AAAAA
Buford 56, Jones County 26
CLASS AAAA
Jefferson 21, West Laurens 0
Thomson 42, West Hall 14
CLASS AA
Benedictine 49, Banks County 0
Rabun County 42, ​Vidalia 7
CLASS A
Commerce 35, Taylor County 20
STATE QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE, NOV. 25
CLASS AAAAAAA
Mill Creek at McEachern*
CLASS AAAAA
Carrollton at Buford
CLASS AAAA
Jefferson at Cairo*
CLASS AA
Rabun County at Fitzgerald*
CLASS A PUBLIC
Commerce at Clinch County
* - Site determined via coin flip
