Buford, Benedictine and Thomasville won games between No. 1- and No. 2-ranked teams in last week’s quarterfinals, while Hughes and North Oconee made history by reaching the semifinals for the first time. Cedartown and Swainsboro also scratched itches, getting past the third round for the first time in 20 years or longer.
In the No. 1-vs.-No. 2 games, Buford was the only visiting or No. 1-ranked team to win. The Wolves of Class 6A defeated Lee County 27-0. It was a rematch of a 2020 state final, which Buford also won. Buford (12-1) became the first team to shut out Lee County (11-2) since 2007.
Benedictine, the No. 2 team in 4A, beat No. 1 Marist 24-21. It was Benedictine’s first victory over a No. 1-ranked team since beating Greater Atlanta Christian for the Class 2A championship in 2014. Benedictine has won 11 consecutive games after an 0-2 start against out-of-state teams.
Thomasville, ranked No. 2 in Class 2A, defeated No. 1 Rabun County 49-24. That put Thomasville (12-1) two victories from its first state title since 1988 while blocking Rabun County’s bid for a first state championship.
Malik Harper puts Thomasville on the board first as he barrels into the end zone for the touchdown! Bulldogs lead 7-0 early over Rabun County in the Drive for the .@OfficialGHSA State Title! .@Mansell247 pic.twitter.com/8Rn3Gquyxi
— SCORE Atlanta (@scoreatlanta) November 27, 2021
The result also ended the high school career of quarterback Gunner Stockton, who set the state record for career touchdown passes and fell about 250 yards short of Trevor’s Lawrence’s career record for passing yards. Rabun County was 46-7 in Stockton’s four years as a starter, including 11-2 this season.
Still alive are Hughes and North Oconee. They’ll be the only two of 32 semifinalists making their first final-four appearances.
Hughes, ranked No. 3 in Class 6A, beat Northside of Warner Robins 48-7. Hughes is 12-1, a winner of 12 consecutive games since an opening loss to Newton.
North Oconee, the No. 5 team in Class 4A, beat 10th-ranked Bainbridge 29-24. North Oconee has won nine consecutive games after a 1-3 start.
Cedartown of Class 4A beat Perry 39-25 to do what even Nick Chubb’s Cedartown teams couldn’t do – reach a state final four. Cedartown’s trip to Carver of Columbus will be the Bulldogs’ first semifinal since 2001.
Swainsboro of Class 2A reached the semis for the first time since its 2000 state championship with a 12-9 double-overtime victory over Northeast of Macon. Ja’Quavious Lattimore blocked a Northeast field goal attempt while Daron Coleman kicked the winning 32-yarder for Swainsboro in the extra periods.
The only more dramatic quarterfinal was probably Carrollton’s 37-32 victory over Westlake in Class 6A. Westlake rallied from a 24-0 third-quarter deficit and led 32-31 late in the fourth quarter, but Carrollton won on M.J. Morris’ 33-yard pass to Bryce Hicks with 41 seconds left. Under new coach Joey King, the Trojans are in the semifinals after losing in the quarters five straight years.
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