Just six northeast Georgia area teams are left in the Georgia High School Association playoffs, and each will face perhaps their sternest test of the season on Friday in the quarterfinal round.
Buford, Gainesville Jefferson, Lumpkin County, Commerce, and Rabun County all advanced with wins in the second round. Only one -- Lumpkin County -- will get a chance to move into next week’s semifinals in front of their home crowd.
Four of the matchups are first-ever meetings between the teams, while for one, Gainesville-Woodward Academy in Class 6A it will be their first meeting since 1965. Rabun County takes on a Brooks County team it beat in the 2017 semifinals in Class 2A.
Buford may have the most intriguing matchup of the night, traveling to Grayson in Class 7A. The Rams have claimed two Class 7A titles since 2016. The Wolves have won 13 state titles spanning six classifications since 2001 and are looking to complete the seven-classification set this season.
Jefferson heads to Harris County in Class 5A in a showdown of two of the classification’s best offenses and defenses.
Every playoff game is new territory for Lumpkin County, which is into its first Elite 8 in program history. The Indians play host to a solid Savannah Christian team making the long trek from south Georgia.
Commerce hits the road for the first time in the 2023 playoffs after two dominating performances at Tiger Stadium in Class A Division 1. Waiting for the Tigers is a Bryan County team, much like Lumpkin County, that had never won a playoff game in its history until this season.
And Rabun County, also in Class A D1, is making what seems like an annual trek south in the quarterfinals. The Wildcats will be looking for just their second-ever semifinal berth in a tough environment in Quitman.
For a look at all of the weekend's contests involving area teams, scroll down. And be sure to check back with AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night throughout the night for score updates, game stories and video highlights. You can also check for scores and highlights on our Twitter feed: @FridayGameNight
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR Nov. 24
(Games listed in alphabetical order of visiting team)
CLASS 7A
BUFORD at GRAYSON
Records: Wolves (11-1, No. 2 seed Region 8-7A); Rams (10-2, No. 1 seed Region 4-7A)
Last week: Buford beat Norcross, 28-25; Grayson beat North Paulding, 42-14
Where: Grayson Community Stadium, Grayson
Radio: WDUN AM 550
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: First-ever meeting between the two schools. If you’re looking at this one by name only, it’s certainly got plenty of star-power. The Rams have won a pair of 7A state titles since 2016. It’s the 6th straight quarterfinals for the Rams. Buford has won 13 state titles since 2001 scattered over 6 classifications, the most of any Georgia program over that span. If you look at the stats, it appears to be a possible toss-up. Both teams have been offensive juggernauts. Grayson is 4th in 7A (482, 40.1 ppg) while the Wolves are 6th (463, 38.6 ppg). The difference may be on the defensive side. Buford is No. 1 in 7A, allowing just 94 points (7.83 ppg) while Grayson has given up nearly double the points (185, 15.4 ppg).
What to watch for: The Grayson passing attack vs. the Buford secondary. Rams’ QB Jeff Davis was nearly perfect last week, going 17-of-20 passing for 263 yards and 3 TDs vs. North Paulding. He has thrown for 2,606 yards and 32 TDs with just 1 INT on the season. The Rams also are averaging over 200 yards/game on the ground. The Wolves have picked off 15 passes this season as a unit.
CLASS 6A
GAINESVILLE at WOODWARD ACADEMY
Records: Red Elephants (12-0, No. 1 seed Region 8-6A); War Eagles (10-2, No. 1 seed Region 3-6A)
Last week: Gainesville beat Blessed Trinity, 35-12; Woodward Academy beat Houston County, 27-7
Where: Colquitt Stadium, College Park
Radio: 94.5 FM The Lake
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: Gainesville leads series 3-1. It is the first meeting between the two teams since 1965. The War Eagles have become a solid fixture at this point in the playoffs, making their 7th Elite 8 in the last 10 seasons covering three different classifications. Big Red is making back-to-back quarterfinals for the first time since 2013-14. The Red Elephants have been near the top of both the offensive and defensive categories in 6A for most of the season. GHS is 5th in defense (142, 11.83 ppg), while Woodward is 7th out of the 8 teams left in 6A in scoring (413, 34.42 ppg).
What to watch for: The Gainesville offense vs. the War Eagles defense. GHS is 7th in (481, 40.08 ppg) and has scored 34 or more 9 times in 2023. Sr.RB Gavin Hall is 3rd in 6A with 1,554 yards and 2nd in TDs with 24. The War Eagles sit 3rd in defense (120, 10.0 ppg) but have allowed just 54 points during a 9-game win streak (6.0 ppg). Houston County had been averaging 39.7 points per game but was held to 1 TD, their lowest output. Woodward has held 8 of its last 9 opponents to 8 points or fewer with 2 shutouts.
CLASS 5A
JEFFERSON at HARRIS COUNTY
Records: Dragons (12-0, No. 1 Region 8-5A); Tigers (11-1, No. 1 seed Region 3-5A)
Last week: Jefferson beat Hiram, 42-21; Harris County beat Statesboro, 42-7
Where: Hamilton, Tiger Stadium
Radio: WDUN 102.9 FM
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: First-ever meeting between the two schools. The Tigers are into their first Elite 8 since 2012. They have never advanced to the semifinals in their 67-year history. The Dragons are back in the quarterfinals for the first since 2020, when they advanced to the 4A title game. It has the makings for a defensive battle, as both teams are in the top 6 in defense. The Tigers, however, have the lowest-rated offense of the 8 teams left in 5A (352, 29.3 ppg), but they’re averaging 42.0 ppg in the playoffs. They do have 4 players with 300 or more yards rushing, led by Sr. RB Mataye Youman (1,438 yards, 19 TD).
What to watch for: The Jefferson offense vs. the Harris County defense. The Tigers have the best defense the Dragons have faced this season. They have only allowed 11 points (11.0 ppg) over their past 10 games and no one has scored more than 20 in that span. The Tigers have 82 TFL, including 50 sacks, and have forced 14 turnovers (11 INT, 3 fumbles). Jefferson is averaging 40.0 ppg, which is 3rd in 5A. Sammy Brown, a Clemson commit, has 1,892 yards on the season and is 2nd in rushing in 5A and 1st in TDs with 27. After having just 1 game of 150 or more passing yards through their first 7 games, the Dragons have thrown for 148 or more in 4 of their last 5 games.
CLASS 3A
SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN at LUMPKIN COUNTY
Records: Raiders (10-2, No. 2 seed Region 3-3A); Indians (12-0, No. 1 seed Region 7-3A)
Last week: Savannah Christian beat Morgan County, 33-10; Lumpkin County beat Oconee County, 45-42
Where: The Burial Grounds, Dahlonega
Radio: www.northgeorgiasportslink.com
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: First-ever meeting between the two schools. The Indians continue to break new ground, advancing into their first-ever Elite 8 after last week’s thrilling win at home. They are 8-0 at home in 2023. Their last loss at The Burial Grounds was to Oconee County in last year’s first round. The Raiders, however, are 6-1 on the road in 2023. Their only road loss was to Class 6A Marist, who also advanced to the quarterfinals in the 6A playoffs. Their other loss was to No. 1 Calvary Day. The Raiders are into their 5th Elite 8 in the past 6 years but only once (2018 in Class A) did they manage to get out of the quarterfinal round in that span. It figures to be an offensive showcase. The Raiders are 3rd (507, 42.25 ppg). After being in the top 5 in defense in 3A most of the season, Lumpkin County has slipped to 16th. The Indians allowed just 11.7 ppg over their first 7 games. Since, they have surrendered 133 points (26.6 ppg).
What to watch for: The Indians offense vs. the Raiders defense. Lumpkin is 2nd in 3A in scoring (524, 43.75 ppg) behind the classification’s top rusher, Mason Sullens (288 car., 2,000 yards, 11 100-yard games, 31 TD). As a team they are averaging over 350 yards/game. They have scored 30 or more in every game this season. Savannah Christian is 10th in defense, allowing 19.8 ppg but has given up 77 points (25.6 ppg) over their last 3 games. However, they have 4 players with 80 or more tackles on the season.
CLASS A Division 1
COMMERCE at BRYAN COUNTY
Records: ; Tigers (11-1, No. 1 seed Region 8-A D1); Redskins (11-1, No. 1 seed Region 3-A D1)
Last week: Commerce beat Dade County, 34-14; Bryan County beat Pelham, 34-8
Where: Bryan County Stadium, Pembroke
Radio: WJJC 95.1 FM/1270 AM
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: First-ever meeting between the two teams. The Tigers are into their first Elite 8 since 2020, while the Redskins, like Lumpkin County, continue to break new ground as a program. Bryan County, which opened in 1976, had never won a playoff game (0-6) in its history until this season.
Commerce is working on a 9-game win streak, its longest since 2020. The Tigers have not won 10 straight since opening the 1999 season 13-0. The Commerce defense has been the catalyst, surrendering just 116 points (12.8 ppg) during the win streak.
What to watch for: The Commerce offense vs. the Bryan County defense. The Redskins are 2nd in Class A D1 in defense, giving up just 109 points (9.08 ppg). They have not allowed more than 20 in any game this season. Commerce RBs Jaiden Daniels (1,830 yards) and Tysean Wiggins (1,432 yards) lead one of the state’s best rushing attacks for a unit that averages just over 300 yards/game on the ground. The Tigers have scored 92 points (46.0 ppg), the most of any team in Class A D1 in the playoffs through the first two rounds.
RABUN COUNTY at BROOKS COUNTY
Records: Wildcats (9-3, No. 3 seed Region 8-A D1); Trojans (7-5, No. 1 seed Region 1-A D1)
Last week: Rabun County beat Whitefield Academy, 42-14; Brooks County beat Dublin, 22-7
Where: Quitman, Veterans Stadium
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: Rabun County leads series 1-0. The Wildcats beat the Trojans 23-12 in the Class 2A semifinals in 2017. A matchup between two of the state’s most consistent playoff programs. The Trojans were the 2021 Class A Public state champions and are back in their 11th quarterfinals since 2008. The Wildcats have advanced to the Elite 8 for a 9th straight season. Brooks has won 6 straight. All 5 of the Trojans' losses were to higher-classification teams that made the playoffs. Brooks County, after averaging just 18.6 ppg during the regular season, is averaging 39.0 ppg in the playoffs. Rabun County has allowed just 14.0 ppg in the playoffs.
What to watch for: The Rabun County offense vs. the Brooks County defense. The Wildcats are 8th in offense, averaging 34.08 ppg. They have picked it up in the playoffs, scoring 91 points in the first two rounds. The Trojans are giving up just 18.0 ppg and just 33 total points during their win streak (5.5 ppg), and none have scored more than 7 in that span. Rabun So. QB Ty Truelove is 3rd in Class A D1 in passing (1,995 yards, 21 TD, 3 INT). Sr. WR Willie Goodwyn leads Class A D1 receivers that made the playoffs with 855 yards and 13 TDs.
