And then there were just three...
Northeast Georgia teams took it on the chin last week, especially in Region 7-3A, as four teams’ seasons came to a crashing end in the second round of the playoffs. Dawson County and North Hall fell to top-ranked teams Monroe Area and Cedar Grove, respectively, in Class 3A. Habersham Central fell to No. 1-ranked Creekview 65-48 in a wild Class 6A shootout and Riverside Military could not hold on for its second straight upset win against Fellowship Christian, losing 35-28 in Class A Private.
However, Buford in Class 5A, Rabun County in Class 2A, and Commerce in Class A Public all managed to break through into the quarterfinals last week in the Georgia High School Association football playoffs.
And all three will face stiff competition as they try to advance to the semifinals.
Buford (10-2) will play host to Bainbridge, one of the Cinderella’s of the playoffs. Bainbridge (7-5) has won four straight, including a huge upset of top five Wayne County on the road last week. The Wolves, however, have won 35-consecutive home playoff games at Tom Riden Stadium.
Rabun County (11-1) will play host to Fitzgerald (9-3) at Frank Snyder Stadium. The Wildcats are looking for their second straight semifinal appearance and would love nothing better than to avenge a loss to the Purple Hurricanes in the 2016 quarterfinals.
And Commerce will hit the long road to south Georgia for a second straight week heading to No. 1-seeded and 2017 state runner-up Irwin County. The Tigers (10-2) are looking for their first semifinal berth since 2014 while the Indians (11-0) are looking for their fourth semifinal appearance in the last five seasons.
Buckle up because it figures to be a hard-hitting ride on Friday night.
For a look at all of the night's contests involving area teams, simply scroll down. And be sure to check back with AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night throughout the night for score updates and game stories and video highlights. You can also check for scores and highlights on our Twitter feed: @FridayGameNight
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR Nov. 23
(Games listed by highest classification and in alphabetical order of visiting team)
CLASS 5A
The lower seeds have done well in this classification going 6-24 in the first two rounds. Only in 6A (10-14) and 3A (7-17) have lower seeds done better. ... The only two unbeaten left in the classification, Rome and Dutchtown and both 12-0, will meet in Hampton in the quarterfinals. Rome is the two-time defending state champion and Dutchtown is into the quarterfinals for just the second time in program history and has never made the semifinal round. ... Bainbridge (7-5) which takes on Buford, is into the quarterfinals despite 5 losses, the most of any team in the state to reach the quarterfinals. ... Clarke Central (8-4) the No. 3 seed from 8-5A, has four losses but advanced through its quadrant without having to face a No. 1 seed. The Gladiators, however, get Warner Robins (11-1) on Friday night.
BAINBRIDGE at BUFORD
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford
-- RADIO: WDUN AM 550
-- BAINBRIDGE (7-5): Defeated previously unbeaten Wayne County 26-19 in the second round
-- BUFORD (10-2): Defeated Kell 44-11 in the second round
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... This will be the third consecutive playoff game against a ranked team for the Bearcats after taking down Jones County in the 1st round and Wayne County last week. They are 2-2 against ranked teams in 2018. ... The Wolves have won seven straight and have been as dominant as any team in 5A. They have yielded just 34 points (4.8 ppg) and have averaged 47.4 ppg during the win streak. .. Bainbridge played a tough schedule with 8 playoff teams during the regular season. The Bearcats, however, are peaking at the right time. Bainbridge has won four straight since a shutout loss to Warner Robins averaging 39.7 ppg after scoring just 110 points (13.7 pp) in their first 8 games. They have allowed just 43 points (10.7 ppg) during the win streak. ... The Bearcats have been turnover-prone with 20 on the season. However, the Bainbridge defense has forced 29 turnovers, including 16 fumbles, on the season. ... Despite winning its past two road games, Bainbridge has a monumental task ahead. Buford has won 35 consecutive home playoff games going back to a 26-7 loss to Charlton County in the 2006 Class 2A quarterfinals.
-- NEXT: Winner of Stockbridge/Carrollton in the semifinals
CLASS 2A
Five No. 1 seeds moved through (only Class 4A and 6A had more) to the quarterfinals. Two huge matchups of No. 1 seeds highlight the Elite 8 with No. 1 Rockmart taking on top 5 Jefferson County and Heard County and Dublin battling in Dublin. Region 8-2A champion Rabun County takes on a familiar foe in Region 1, No. 2 seed Fitzgerald in a rematch of a 2016 quarterfinal. ... Four of the top 7 and 5 of the top 12 defenses pushed their teams through to the Elite 8. But 7 of the top 11 offenses, including the top three in Rabun, Rockmart, and Dublin, also advanced so there are some tremendous matchups in store. ... The Rabun defense has pitched back-to-back shutouts in the playoffs for the first time in school history.
FITZGERALD at RABUN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Frank Snyder Stadium, Tiger
-- FITZGERALD (9-3): Defeated Region 2-2A Swainsboro 27-12 in the second round
-- RABUN COUNTY (11-1): Defeated Chattooga 34-0 in the second round
-- NOTABLE: Fitzgerald leads series 1-0. The Purple Hurricanes won 35-16 in the 2016 quarterfinals. ... The Wildcats would like nothing better than to exact a measure of revenge after having their first-ever semifinals denied two years ago on the road. This time the Hurricanes have to make the 283-mile, 4-hour-plus bus ride into the cold north Georgia mountains. ... Both teams are used to playoff success. ... Fitzgerald advanced to the quarterfinals for the ninth time in 11 seasons. Keiwan Flowers’ 75-yard INT return for a TD sparked a 20-point 4th quarter last week as they rallied for the win. The Fitzgerald defense, which is 23rd overall in Class 2A, forced 5 Swainsboro turnovers. ... Rabun County is making its 4th consecutive Elite 8 appearance. Balance continues to drive the Wildcats top-rated offense. Brison Beck pounded out 182 yards last week and Fr. phenom QB Gunner Stockton passed for 258 yards and two scores. Stockton has 2,727 yards passing with Braxton Hicks (938 yards) and Austin Jones (855 yards) his favorite targets. ... The key matchup will be the Wildcats No. 1 offense (581 points, 48.4 ppg) against the Hurricanes 23rd-ranked defense (212, 17.6 ppg). ... Fitzgerald is averaging 31.7 ppg while the Rabun defense has allowed the fewest points through the first two rounds after pitching back-to-back shutouts. ... The Hurricanes are 4-1 in their last 5 road playoff games going back to the 2015 season. Rabun County is 9-1 in its last 10 home playoff games going back to 2015 with the only loss coming to Hapeville Charter in last year’s Class 2A title game.
-- NEXT: Winner of Dubin/Heard County in the semifinals
CLASS A PUBLIC
This, too, is a loaded field with Commerce (No. 9 seed) being the only team left in Class A Public not among the top 8 seeds to crash the quarterfinals. ...Tremendous matchups abound in the quarterfinals with 6 of the top 7 offenses and 7 of the top 9 defenses advancing to the Elite 8. ... Pelham has the top offense (585, 53.1 ppg) and will match up against Greene County, which has the lowest-rated defense left allowing 230 points (20.9 ppg). But Greene County has scored 31 or more in 7 straight games and should give Pelham’s No. 3 defense a challenge. ... Marion County and its No. 3 offense (452, 41.0 ppg) will match up with Schley County’s No. 4 defense (141, 12.8 ppg) while Clinch County and its No. 7 offense (404, 36.7 ppg) will try and crack Mt. Zion’s No. 2 defense, which has given up just 35 points (5.0 ppg) in its last seven contests.
COMMERCE at IRWIN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Indian Field, Ocilla
-- COMMERCE (10-2): No. 9 seed; defeated Mitchell County 35-33 on the road in the second round
-- IRWIN COUNTY (11-0): No. 1 seed; defeated Miller County 41-0 in the second round
-- NOTABLE: Irwin County leads series 1-0. The Indians won 28-7 in the 2014 Class A Public semifinals. ... After a 240-mile trek last week the Tigers again face a long road trip, this time 226-miles in just under 4 hours. ... The Tigers offense rolled last week building a 35-14 lead until a goofy series of events helped Mitchell County get back in the game in the 4th quarter. Commerce thwarted a potential game-tying 2-point conversion and then recovered an onside kick to seal the win. ... This will be the sternest test for the Tigers all season, notwithstanding their near takedown of No. 1 Athens Academy (21-14) to close out the regular season. ... The Indians have the No. 2 offense (489, 44.5 ppg) and the No. 1 defense (80, 7.2 ppg) in Class A Public. The Tigers offense is no slouch coming in 4th (419, 34.9 ppg) while the defense is much-improved in 2018 sitting 7th in Class A Public (152, 12.6 ppg) and last week was the first game they had allowed more than 21 in any game this season. ... Nate Ray (98 carries, 692 yards), Sam Roach (141-663), Caleb Mason (65-575) and DaJuan Wood (70-540) should give the Indians defense a strong test as well. ... After making just three trips to the quarterfinals or better in its history, Irwin County coach Buddy Nobles has turned the Indians into a powerhouse in just 5 seasons. They are making their 6th straight quarterfinals with three state championship game appearances (2014, 2015 and 2017) but they have yet to snag a title. ... Commerce won its only state title in 2000 but is looking for its third semifinal appearance (2006 and 2014) since 2006.
-- NEXT: Winner of Greene County/Pelham in the semifinals
