The matchups are set, and Phil Jones gives his score predictions for every game being played in the semifinals (plus the much-disputed 5A quarterfinal contest between Gainesville and Hughes, who will finally play each other this week after the dispute between Gainesville and the GHSA) of the 2025 Georgia high school football playoffs.
PRIVATE (1A-3A)
Hebron Christian vs. Greater Atlanta Christian
In the Class 1A-3A Private semifinals, the Hebron Christian Lions continue their march toward defending their Private state title from 2024.
They’ll have to get past a red hot Greater Atlanta Christian Spartans team that has found its way back to the semifinals for the first time in six years. GAC got here by winning its last six games, including last week’s quarterfinals stunner over the favored Athens Academy 49-14.
Phil’s Pick: Hebron Christian 33, Greater Atlanta Christian 14
Fellowship Christian vs. Calvary Day
In the other Private semifinal contest, Fellowship Christian is seeking a return to the state championship game after falling to Hebron Christian last season by a touchdown in the 2024 final.
Phil’s Pick: Fellowship Christian 45, Calvary Day 28
CLASS 1A-DIVISION II
Clinch County vs. Bowdon
One of the most anticipated semifinal matchups will be in Class 1A-Division II between Bowdon and Clinch County, who met last year in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs. The Red Devils won that game en route to their third straight state championship in 2024, but now the stakes are a bit higher in this 2025 rematch, with a trip to the championship game awaiting the winner.
Phil’s Pick: Bowdon 35, Clinch County 28
Early County vs. Lincoln County
In the other Class 1A-Division II semifinal game, Lincoln County and Early County have picked a monumental game for the first ever meeting of the two teams.
Phil’s Pick: Lincoln County 47, Early County 21
CLASS 1A-DIVISION I
Worth County vs. Pepperell
In Class 1A-Division I, the Worth County Rams have been considered a front runner for the state title with their stellar play all season long, but their opponent has one of the best Cinderella stories of the 2025 season.
The Pepperell Dragons, who finished 2-8 last season and started off this year at 1-4, have won eight straight games as they enter this semifinals battle against the Rams in Sylvester., Georgia
Phil’s Pick: Worth County 35, Pepperell 21
Heard County vs. Toombs County
In the other Class 1A-Division I semifinal game, defending state champion Toombs County takes on Heard County, who defeated Fitzgerald last week in a 39-38 quarterfinals thriller.
Phil’s Pick: Toombs County 33, Heard County 31
CLASS 2A
Carver-Columbus vs. Burke County
In a rematch of last year’s Class 2A state championship match, Burke County meets Carver-Columbus in the 2025 Georgia high school football semifinals with a chance at payback after the Tigers defeated the Bears to claim the 2024 title.
Phil’s Pick: Carver-Columbus 42, Burke County 35
Sumter County vs. Hapeville
The other Class 2A semifinals contest pits the Sumter County Panthers against the Hapeville Charter Hornets in a game that marks the first semifinals appearance ever for Sumter County head coach Will Rogers’ team. Hapeville will be making its first visit to the Final Four since 2017.
Phil’s Pick: Sumter County 35, Hapeville 33
CLASS 3A
Sandy Creek vs. LaGrange
In the 2025 Georgia high school football semifinals for Class 3A, the LaGrange Grangers and Sandy Creek Patriots will meet for the second time this season. The two teams are Region 2 foes, and in their first meeting earlier this season, the Patriots won 23-7.
Phil’s Pick: Sandy Creek 28, LaGrange 13
Jefferson vs. West Laurens
West Laurens and Jefferson will meet in the other Class 3A semifinal game.
Phil’s Pick: Jefferson 49, West Laurens 28
CLASS 4A
Creekside vs. Kell
In Class 4A, the powerful Creekside Seminoles will meet the Kell Longhorns, who pulled off one of the biggest upsets in last week’s quarterfinals with a stunning win over Cartersville.
These two teams met in the second round of the state playoffs last year, with Creekside edging out Kell by a touchdown.
Phil’s Pick: Creekside 40, Kell 28
Benedictine vs. Marist
Speaking of upsets, there will be a new state champion in Class 4A after Marist knocked off defending champ North Oconee on a last-second field goal by kicker Tyler Baradel to lift the War Eagles to the road win over the Titans.
Marist head coach Alan Chadwick’s team will now meet Benedictine head coach Danny Britt and his team for the right to advance to the Class 4A state championship, which will be played in two weeks in Atlanta.
Phil’s Pick: Benedictine 35, Marist 31
CLASS 5A
Hughes vs. Gainesville (Quarterfinals)
In Class 5A, there will be no semifinal game played this week after the GHSA decided to move both of the semifinal matches to Dec. 11.
Instead, we will finally get to see the delayed quarterfinals matchup between Gainesville and Hughes after the GHSA met with the two schools on Dec. 1 and decided to allow Gainesville to move forward with the game and with an almost full roster.
The winner of this quarterfinals game will play Rome in one of the two semifinal matchups next week.
Phil’s Pick: Hughes 35, Gainesville 33
Thomas County Central vs. Roswell (Semifinals)
Roswell and Thomas County Central are in the other Class 5A semifinals contest, which will be played on Dec. 11 as well.
Phil’s Pick: Thomas County Central 38, Roswell 35
CLASS 6A
Valdosta vs. Buford
The Class 6A semifinals will feature a battle of titans as the undefeated Buford Wolves travel to Valdosta to take on the Wildcats in what is looking to be a rainy night battle in South Georgia.
Phil’s Pick: Buford 38, Valdosta 35
Carrollton vs. North Gwinnett
The other side of the Class 6A bracket pits the North Gwinnett Bulldogs against the Carrollton Trojans.
Carrollton is coming off a monumental quarterfinals upset over Grayson, who was the top ranked team not only in Georgia, but in the country.
The Trojans’ celebration was short-lived, as they can not look past a North Gwinnett team that won its match against West Forsyth last week to advance to the 2025 Georgia high school football semifinals.
Phil’s Pick: Carrollton 28, North Gwinnett 21
That’s our 2025 Georgia high school football semifinals playoff predictions.
