Once again two more northeast Georgia-based soccer teams progressed through the first round of the state playoffs on Friday -- though the fact that Johnson was not one of them proved one of the biggest surprises of the campaign.
Gainesville's boys defeated Harrison 2-0 in Class AAAAAA, while Buford knocked off North Springs 3-1 in Class AAAAA, but the Knights -- one of the most consistently successful programs in the area (Johnson has finished state runner-up in two of the last four seasons) -- fell to Grady 2-1 in overtime in a top 10 first round showdown.
Flowery Branch also fell at Riverwood, 5-2, meaning that of 30 northeast Georgia programs that qualified for state just eight remain: both Buford squads, Chestatee boys, East Hall boys, Flowery Branch girls, Gainesville boys, Jefferson girls and Lakeview Academy girls.
Those programs will do battle in the Sweet 16 on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.
(NOTE: For a complete round-up of first round soccer scores and second round match-ups for area teams, simply scroll down.)
FIRST ROUND STATE SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Area Teams Results
Friday
BOYS
Class AAAAAA
Gainesville 2, Harrison 0
Class AAAAA
Grady 2, Johnson 1 OT
Buford 3, North Springs 1
Riverwood 5, Flowery Branch 2
Thursday
GIRLS
Class AAAAAA
Harrison 7, Habersham Central 0
Class AAAAA
Buford 8, North Springs 1
Flowery Branch 1, Riverwood 0
Decatur 6, Johnson 0
Wednesday
BOYS
Class AAAA
Chestatee 1, LaGrange 0
Cartersville 2, White County 0
Southeast Whitfield 6, Jefferson 2
Class AAA
East Hall 5, Stone Mountain 1
Pace Academy 4, Dawson County 0
Westminster 5, Fannin County 1
Sonoraville 8, Jackson County 1
Calhoun 3, East Jackson 2
Class AA
South Atlanta 4, Rabun County 1
Class A
Holy Innocents 5, Riverside Military 1
Paideia 5, Lakeview 1
GIRLS
Class AAA
Calhoun 2, East Jackson 0
Tuesday
BOYS
Class AAA
Westminster 5, Fannin County 1
GIRLS
Class AAAA
Jefferson 5, Southeast Whitfield 0
Chapel Hill 3, Chestatee 2
LaGrange 1, White County 0
Class AAA
Lovett 2, Dawson County 0
Pace Academy 2, Lumpkin County 1
Westminster 10, North Hall 0
Adairsville 1, Jackson County 0 OT
Class A
Lakeview 7, Mt. Vernon Presbyterian 4
Holy Innocents 4, Towns County 0
SECOND ROUND MATCH-UPS
BOYS
Class AAAAAA
Glynn Academy at Gainesville, May 3
Class AAAAA
Buford at South Effingham, May 3
Class AAAA
Chestatee at Richmond Academy, May 3
Class AAA
East Hall at Crisp County, May 3
GIRLS
Class AAAAA
Locust Grove at Buford, May 2
Dutchtown at Flowery Branch, May 2
Class AAAA
Jefferson at Woodward Academy, May 2
Class A
Lakeview at First Presbyterian Day, May 2
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