The second round of the prep football playoffs proved tough indeed for area programs, as only four of 10 area teams advanced to the quarterfinals.
But boy were there some impressive showings on Friday.
(NOTE: For more in-depth stories and video highlights from around northeast Georgia, visit our Friday Game Night page.)
That certainly includes Buford, Jefferson, North Gwinnett and Rabun County, which each won on Friday -- but there were plenty more impressive battles, including from East Hall, Flowery Branch and Mill Creek, which each went down swinging in the "Sweet 16." Commerce, Dawson County and Winder-Barrow also each saw impressive campaigns come to an end on Friday.
Jefferson and North Gwinnett pulled off perhaps the most eye-opening victories. The Dragons traveled to No. 2 Ridgeland and scored 28 straight points en route to a 28-21 come-from-behind win in the Class AAAA bracket in Rossville. Jefferson (10-2) will travel to face Region 2-AAAA champ Mary Persons in the third round.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, traded haymakers with defending Class AAAAAAA state champ Grayson before pulling out a 35-28 victory in Suwanee. North Gwinnett's reward is another home date in the quarterfinals, as it will play host to Marietta. The Bulldogs last made the "Elite Eight" in 2013 en route to the Class AAAAAA title game.
In Class AAAAA, Buford showed it is ready for what looks to be a mouth-watering showdown at Stockbridge next week. The third-ranked Wolves hammered Maynard Jackson 48-0 in Buford but will travel to face No. 2 Stockbridge next week via a coin flip by the GHSA.
Rabun County too will hit the road after the coin flip determined they will travel to No. 2 Screven County in the Class AA quarterfinals. The fifth-ranked Wildcats do so on the back of another dominant playoff performance, dominating BEST Academy 35-2 in Tiger.
Elsewhere, East Hall gave Westminster everything it could handle in the Class AAA bracket and so nearly pulled off another upset, but the fourth-seeded Vikings fell 59-57 in Atlanta after their deepest postseason push since 1993.
Mill Creek also battled No. 2 Archer with every ounce of its defensive fiber before succumbing 16-10 in the Class AAAAAAA second round.
And Flowery Branch pushed Carver-Atlanta in the fourth quarter of their Class AAAAA battle before falling 33-19 in the Falcons' best season since a 2011 state quarterfinal run.
Dawson County also saw its season end in Class AAA, 58-13 against No. 1 Cedar Grove. Winder-Barrow's best campaign since 1993 also ended in a 45-17 loss at Harrison in Class AAAAAA, and Commerce stumbled to a 42-14 defeat to visiting Charlton County 42-14.
SECOND ROUND STATE PLAYOFF SCORES, NOV. 17
Class AAAAAAA
North Gwinnett 35, Grayson 28
Archer 16, Mill Creek 10
Class AAAAAA
Harrison 45, Winder-Barrow 17
Class AAAAA
Buford 48, Maynard Jackson 0
Carver (Atlanta) 33, Flowery Branch 19
Class AAAA
Jefferson 28, Ridgeland 21
Class AAA
Cedar Grove 58, Dawson County 13
Westminster 59, East Hall 57
Class AA
Rabun County 35, BEST Academy 2
Class A Public
Charlton County 42, Commerce 14
STATE QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE, NOV. 24
Class AAAAAAA
Marietta at North Gwinnett
Class AAAAA
Buford at Stockbridge
Class AAAA
Jefferson at Mary Persons
Class AA
Rabun County at Screven County
