It’s quarterfinal time in the Georgia High School Association playoffs.
The second round of the postseason went pretty much expected for the top seeds. That is except for three-time defending state champ Buford, playing in its first-ever 7A tournament. The Wolves, who entered the game No. 1 in the state and No. 2 in the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football, lost to Walton 42-35.
According, to Georgia High School Football Daily, The Walton win snapped plenty of Buford streaks.
Coming into the contest, the Wolves had won 22 straight overall with 22 in a row in the second round of the playoffs. Buford’s overall playoff win streak was snapped at 16 and their home win streak ended at 28.
Related: HSFA 300 national rankings
In the national rankings, Walton climbs from No. 71 to No. 49. Buford falls 26 spots to No. 28 in the latest rankings.
All eight of the 7A quarterfinalists are in the Top 300.
Up next for Walton on Friday is a road date with undefeated Carrollton. The Trojans are ranked No. 87 in our national rankings. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Colquitt County is now the highest-ranked team in Georgia. In the quarters, our 2015 national champs will host North Gwinnett. CC is currently ranked No. 17 in America. The Bulldogs are currently No. 212 in the nation.
This is a rematch up the 2017 7A championship game that was won by North Gwinnett 19-17 on a last second field goal.
On the other side of the bracket, No. 22 Mill Creek will host No. 113 Westlake. The winner of that one faces the winner of the other quarterfinal matchup between No. 81 Milton and No. 142 Grayson. Both of those games feature teams that have never played each other.
All eight teams in the 6A quarterfinals are also national ranked by High School Football America.
Roswell is the highest-ranked 6A team at No. 108. The Hornets will be on the road against No. 126 Thomas County Central. Both teams enter the game without a loss.
Gainesville, No. 238 in America, will host No. 185 Houston County. It’s Gainesville’s first quarterfinal appearance since 2014. Houston County, a No. 4 seed, is making its first appearance in the quarters since 2019.
2021 6A runner-up Langston Hughes is currently ranked No. 20 in America. The Panthers host No. 140 Woodward Academy. With 659 points so far this season, LH is one hundred points away from breaking the state record set by Rome in 2017, according to GHSF Daily.
Speaking of Rome, the Wolves are currently ranked No. 111 in the country. Friday night, Rome hosts No. 178 Marist at historic Barron Stadium.
There’s an interesting matchup in 5A between two-time reigning state champ Warner Robins and No. 68 Creekside. This is a rematch of the 2021 semifinal game won by WR 40-15. After a 1-4 starting, Warner Robins has won seven straight. The Demons began the year ranked No. 22 in the HSFA preseason national rankings.
Below are all of the quarterfinal matchups:
7A
Quarterfinals
North Gwinnett at Colquitt County
Walton at Carrollton
Westlake at Mill Creek
Grayson at Milton
6A
Quarterfinals
Roswell at Thomas County Central
Houston County at Gainesville
Woodward Academy at Langston Hughes
Marist at Rome
5A
Quarterfinals
Calhoun at Ware County
Mays at Dutchtown
Warner Robins at Creekside
Coffee at Cartersville
4A
Quarterfinals
Cedartown at Bainbridge
Wayne County at North Oconee
Benedictine at Stockbridge
Troup at Holy Innocents’
3A
Quarterfinals
Carver, Atlanta at Thomasville
Sandy Creek at Savannah Christian
Calvary Day at Cedar Grove
Oconee County at Carver, Columbus
2A
Quarterfinals
Rockmart at Fitzgerald
Pierce County at Fellowship Christian
Appling County at Callaway
Thomson at South Atlanta
1A Division I
Quarterfinals
Mount Pisgah Christian at Irwin County
Rabun County at Swainsboro
Metter at Prince Avenue Christian
Bleckley County at St. Francis
1A Division II
Quarterfinals
Bowdon at Early County
Dooly County at Lincoln County
Clinch County at Johnson County
Wilcox County at Schley County
