Northeast Georgia area teams got off to a hot start in the 2019 Georgia High Association playoffs Friday night.
Seven of nine teams advanced, highlighted by a huge road win for Dawson County over higher-seeded Westminster, 27-3. The Tigers stingy defense held Westminster to 128 total yards of offense to advance to the second round of the Class 3A playoffs.
Union County made history with its 19-15 victory over South Atlanta in Blairsville in the Class 2A playoffs. It was the first-ever GHSA playoff win for the Panthers, who had been 0-6 all-time in the playoffs until Friday night. Junior running back Jonah Daniel had the eventual game-winning score early in the fourth quarter, along with 79 tough yards on the ground, for Union County.
Also in Class 2A, Rabun County rolled into the second round for a fifth consecutive season after blasting B.E.S.T Academy, 38-0, at home.
In Class 6A, Gainesville failed to advance, losing to Allatoona, 49-7, on the road.
In Class 5A, Buford advanced to the second round for the 21st consecutive season with a 43-6 blowout win over Decatur.
Flowery Branch had the biggest task of the night in Class 4A traveling to No. 1-ranked Cartersville in the opening round. The Falcons defense kept them in the game for three quarters but the Hurricanes eventually held on for a 14-6 win at home.
In Class 3A, North Hall kept the magic at The Brickyard going with a come-from-behind 24-21 win over Lovett to advance. Region 8-3A champion Jefferson walloped Sonoraville, 49-17, at Memorial Stadium.
And Commerce moved into the second round for the fifth time in six years in Class A Public after holding off Trion 23-6 at Tiger Stadium.
GHSA 1st ROUND PLAYOFF FOOTBALL SCORES FOR NOV. 15
(Area teams in bold)
CLASS 6A
Allatoona 49, Gainesville 7
CLASS 5A
Buford 43, Decatur 6
CLASS 4A
Cartersville 14, Flowery Branch 6
CLASS 3A
Dawson County 27, Westminster 3
Jefferson 49, Sonoraville 17
North Hall 24, Lovett 21
CLASS 2A
Rabun County 38, B.E.S.T. Academy 0
Union County 19, South Atlanta 15
CLASS A PUBLIC
Commerce 23, Trion 6
GHSA 2nd ROUND PLAYOFF FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR NOV. 22
(Area teams in bold)
CLASS 5A
Buford (Region 8, Seed 2) at Ware County (Region 2, Seed 1)
CLASS 3A
Dawson County (R7, S3) at Jenkins (R3, S1)
North Hall (R7, S2) at Crisp County (R1, S1)
Appling County (R2, S2) at Jefferson (R8, S1)
CLASS 2A
Toombs County (R2, S2) at Rabun County
Union County (R8, S2) at Metter (R2, S1)
CLASS A PUBLIC
Commerce (No. 10 seed) at No. 7 seed Lincoln County
