Tonight’s the night! The postseason begins tonight. Here are the local matchups and what’s at stake.
CLASS 5A
#2 Habersham Central vs #3 Statesboro
The Raiders host their first playoff game since 2007. A win would put them in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2018. This pits two 7-3 teams against each other.
CLASS 3A
#1 Jefferson vs #32 Dougherty
Top-seeded Jefferson (9-1) gets home-field advantage throughout the playoffs for a second straight year, as the Dragons hope for a return to the Benz. Dougherty is the bottom seed with a meager 2-8 record.
#27 Lumpkin County @ #6 Calhoun
The Indians (6-4) tied a program record with a fourth straight playoff trip. Nolan Matthews is about to reach 2,000 rushing yards, but Lumpkin faces the defending state champs, Calhoun (8-2).
CLASS 2A
#22 Franklin County @ #11 Callaway
The Lions are in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, and their 7-3 record is the best since that same year. They travel to annual state contender Callaway, also 7-3. 2000 is the last time Franklin made the Sweet 16.
#19 Stephens County @ #14 Crisp County
Stephens County (5-5) is in its fifth straight playoffs, and the last four have reached at least the second round. Going to Crisp County (4-6) is a tough task, specifically with a pair of DI talents on that side.
CLASS 1A DI
#15 Rabun County vs #18 Dodge County
Rabun is in the playoffs for a 14th straight season. Last year was the first time in 10 years the Wildcats did not make it out of the first round. The senior-laden Wildcats look to revert to their old ways.
Other local games of interest
#1 Buford vs #4 Richmond Hill
#1 Jackson County vs #4 Glynn Academy
#1 North Oconee vs #4 Perry
#2 Gainesville vs #3 Dunwoody
#2 North Hall vs #31 Mt. Zion, Jonesboro
#2 Flowery Branch vs #3 Ware County
#3 Clarke Central vs #2 Effingham County
#4 Winder-Barrow at #1 Brunswick
#20 Oconee County vs #13 Northwest Whitfield
#21 Cherokee Bluff at #12 Peach County
#22 Oglethorpe County at #11 Elbert County
#26 East Jackson at #7 Columbia
#28 Hart County at #5 Appling County
