The first round of the playoffs around the state provided some expected results and a few stunning upsets for teams in the Northeast Georgia area.
Only six of a dozen area teams advanced to the second round after action on friday and Saturday.
The most shocking outcome was Region 8-5A champion Jefferson getting knocked at by No. 4 seed Cass, 27-17, on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. Buford, however, was dominant in a 63-6 win over Peachtree Ridge at Tom Riden Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It was not a good day for Region 7-3A on Saturday as the entire region was swept out of the playoffs by powerful Region 8-3A. Dawson County and Lumpkin County both were eliminated in home losses. The Tigers fell 35-13 to Monroe Area while the Indians were beaten 49-21 by Oconee County. Pickens lost 63-14 to Hebron Christian and Wesleyan was routed by Stephens County, 51-14.
As for action on Friday, Gainesville and North Forsyth in Class 6A both took impressive wins at home for their first playoff victories in a while. The Red Elephants won their first home playoff game since 2015 with a 51-21 thumping of Sprayberry. The Raiders held on against Blessed Trinity with a 24-21 win in Coal Mountain.
In Class 2A, however, East Jackson ran into a potent Rockmart offense in a 61-7 loss on the road in their first playoff game since 2009. Union County, meanwhile, found a way to take down Model on the road by a 28-14 score.
In Class A Division 1, Rabun County routed Dade County in Tiger, 47-7, behind a huge night from Keegan Stover and Jaden Gibson. Commerce, however, was taken down by Trion, 45-21.
Lanier Christian kept its season going in the GAPPS 11-man league with a 38-10 road win over Creekside Christian, setting up a rematch against Cherokee Christian next week.
Lakeview Academy saw their season come to a close in the GIAA Class 2A division with a 36-6 loss Heritage-Newnan on the road.
You can check AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night page for game stories and video highlights.
1st ROUND FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
(Games listed by classification, highest to lowest, in alphabetical order of visiting team)
(Area teams listed in BOLD)
SATURDAY, NOV. 12 SCORES
Class 7A
Buford 63, Peachtree Ridge 6
Class 5A
Cass 27, Jefferson 17
​Class 3A
Monroe Area 35, Dawson County 13
Oconee County 49, Lumpkin County 21
FRIDAY, NOV. 11 SCORES
Class 6A
Gainesville 51, Sprayberry 21
North Forsyth 24, Blessed Trinity 21
Class 2A
Rockmart 65, East Jackson 7
Union County 28, Model 14
Class A Division 1
Rabun County 47, Dade County 7
Trion 45, Commerce 21
GIAA playoffs
Heritage-Newnan 36, Lakeview Academy 6
GAPPS 11-man
Lanier Christian 38, Creekside Christian 10
