Four defending state champions moved a step closer to their dreams of adding another big trophy, while two more reigning champions were eliminated from the playoffs on Friday. 

It leaves an exciting lineup for this week’s GHSA semifinals, where Carver-Columbus, Toombs County, Bowdon and Hebron Christian all aim to keep going in the right direction. 

Click here to see all the playoff brackets. 

Class 6A

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North Gwinnett at Carrollton: No. 4 North Gwinnett (11-1) took down unranked West Forsyth to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2019. No. 3 Carrollton (13-0) eliminated defending state champion and No. 1 Grayson to avenge last year’s loss in the title game. This will be the first meeting between North Gwinnett and Carrollton.  

The GPB Football Fridays in Georgia telecast will again come from Grisham Stadium in Carrollton. Kickoff for the game is 7:30 p.m. and the game can be seen live on GPB-TV or streamed on GPB.org. The game will be available to watch on demand afterwards.

Click here to watch a replay of Carrollton’s third-round victory over Grayson. 

Buford (13-0) at Valdosta (12-1): The No. 2-ranked Wolves defeated No. 10 Douglas County for the second time this season to reach the semifinal. No. 6 Valdosta held on to beat unranked Walton 45-42 and reach the semifinals for the first time since 2020. The only previous meeting between the teams came in 2020 when Buford routed the Wildcats 45-26 in the semifinals.

Class 5A

Roswell at Thomas County Central: No. 1-ranked Thomas County Central (13-0) ran over No. 9 Woodward Academy in the third round and has yet to have a close game in the playoffs. No. 3 Roswell (12-1) outslugged Sequoyah to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2022.

Rome vs.  TBD: No. 5 Rome (11-2) came back to eliminate a feisty Jackson County team and reach the semifinals for the first time since 2022. The Wolves must wait until the winner of the protest-delayed Hughes-Gainesville game is played. 

Class 4A

Kell at Creekside: No. 7 Kell (10-3) eliminated perennial power Cartersville to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2016. No. 3 Creekside (13-0) beat Lithonia 35-7 – the closest margin of victory for the Seminoles this season. This will be a rematch of last year’s second-round game that Creekside won 42-35. 

Marist at Benedictine: No. 5 Marist (12-1) won its 12th straight and eliminated No. 1-ranked North Oconee in a rematch of last year’s state championship game. Benedictine (10-2) has won 10 in a row since opening the season with losses to 6A powers Colquitt County and Buford. The two old rivals first met in 1933 and Marist leads the series 9-1. Benedictine won the last meeting 24-21 in the 2021 quarterfinals.

Class 3A

West Laurens at Jefferson: Jefferson (12-1) outscored Cairo in the third round. The Dragons are ranked No. 5, but are No. 1 in the GHSA’s PSF formula. West Laurens (13-0) eliminated Jenkins to reach the Final Fou for the first time; the Raiders are ranked No. 8, but are No. 4 in the PSF.

LaGrange at Sandy Creek: This one is a rematch between two Region 2 teams; Sandy Creek won 23-7 on Aug. 29. Sandy Creek (13-0) blanked Douglass in the third round, while LaGrange (11-2) booted Stephenson. Sandy Creek is ranked No. 1 by GPB and is No. 3 in the GHSA PSF ratings. LaGrange is No. 4 in the poll and No. 15 in the PSF rankings.

Class 2A

Hapeville Charter at Sumter County: Sumter County (12-1) eliminated Carver-Atlanta in the third round and advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history. Hapeville Charter (9-4) knocked off previously unbeaten Morgan County and is in the semifinals for the first time since 2017, when the Hornets won the state championship. Sumter County is ranked No. 5 and is No. 9 in the PSF rankings. Hapeville Charter is No. 7 and No. 11 in the PSF.

Burke County at Carver-Columbus: Defending state champion and No. 1-ranked Carver (13-0) whipped Thomson and will host No. 7-ranked Burke County (12-1) in a rematch of last year’s title game. Carver is No. 3 in the PSF ratings and Burke County is No. 10. 

Class A Division I

Toombs County at Heard County: Defending state champion Toombs County (12-1) beat Northeast, the team it defeated in the final a year ago, in the semifinal round. Heard County (13-0) picked up a one-point victory in the third round over Fitzgerald. Toombs is ranked No. 2 and has a No. 4 PSF rating. Heard is ranked No. 3 with a No. 1 PSF rating. 

Pepperell at Worth County: Worth County (13-0) has been ranked No. 1 for much of the season; the Rams have a No. 3 PSF rating. Pepperell (9-4) is unranked and has a No. 10 PSF rating. Pepperell eliminated unranked Rabun County and Worth County ditched Gordon Lee in the third round.

Class A Division II

Bowdon at Clinch County: No. 2 Clinch County (13-0) knocked off No. 6 Wheeler County to reach the semis for the first time since 2020. No. 4 Bowdon (11-2) kept its dreams of a fourth straight championship alive by clipping Jenkins. These two state powers have split two previous meetings; Bowdon prevailed in the 2024 quarterfinals and Clinch won in the 1991 semifinals. 

Lincoln County at Early County: No. 1 Lincoln County (13-0) beat No. 9 Brooks County in the third round and is in the Final Four for the first time since 2022. No. 10 Early County (10-3) turned back No. 5 Screven County and advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2006. This will be the first meeting between the two teams.

Private

Calvary Day at Fellowship Christian: 

Fellowship Christian (10-1) whipped Savannah Christian and Calvary Day (11-1) trounced Whitefield Academy in the third round. Fellowship has beaten Bowdon and lost only to semifinalist Hebron Christian. Calvary Day won the only previous meeting in the 2021 quarterfinals. Fellowship is ranked No. 2 and has the No. 1 PSF rating. Calvary Day is ranked No. 3 and is No. 4 in the PSF ratings. 

Greater Atlanta Christian at Hebron Christian: The two Gwinnett County schools have never met. Defending state champion Hebron Christian (10-1) routed rival Prince Avenue Christian 63-20 in a rematch of last year’s state title game. GAC (10-2) trounced Athens Academy 49-14 to get back to the semis for the first time since 2020. Hebron is ranked No. 1 by GPB and is No. 2 in the PSF ratings. GAC is ranked No. 7 and rated No. 6 in the PSF.