ITG Next’s Phil Jones gives his score predictions for six of the top games being played in Round 1 of the 2026 Georgia high school football playoffs.
Parkview vs. South Gwinnett | Class 7A
Friday, Nov. 13
Parkview head coach Adam Clack and his Panthers enter the Class 7A playoffs as the No. 14 seed with plenty of confidence and momentum after winning five of their final six regular-season games.
The lone loss during that stretch came against the North Gwinnett Bulldogs in last week’s regular-season finale. Parkview was on the verge of pulling off an upset before a last-second field goal by North Gwinnett kicker Wesley Rogers gave the Bulldogs a dramatic 57-55 walk-off victory.
The No. 19 South Gwinnett Comets are Parkview’s first-round playoff opponent. South Gwinnett enters the postseason at 6-4 after closing out the regular season with a 56-21 loss to Newton.
However, the Comets have shown they can compete against some of the state’s toughest teams. In Week 6, South Gwinnett defeated two-time defending Class 2A state champion Carver-Columbus 56-35.
Parkview and South Gwinnett previously met in Week 2 of the regular season, with Parkview defeating South Gwinnett 55-29 in Snellville, Georgia.
Can South Gwinnett turn things around this time?
Phil’s Pick: Parkview 42, South Gwinnett 21
Stephens County vs. Crisp County | Class 3A
Friday, Nov. 13
It’s a rematch of last year’s Class 2A first-round playoff matchup, which saw the Stephens County Indians travel to Cordele, Georgia, to face the Crisp County Cougars.
Crisp County jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead, only to see Stephens County battle back with 24 unanswered points to claim a heartbreaking 24-21 victory over the Cougars.
Now, the two teams will meet again, this time in Toccoa, Georgia, as Crisp County head coach Justin Newman and his No. 19 Cougars travel to face the No. 14 Indians.
Can Crisp County avenge last year’s heartbreaking playoff loss and advance to the second round?
I think so.
Phil’s Pick: Crisp County 28, Stephens County 21
Carver-Columbus vs. Burke County | Class 3A
Friday, Nov. 13
The No. 18 Burke County Bears will travel to face the No. 15 Carver-Columbus Tigers in what will be the third consecutive postseason meeting between the two programs.
In last year’s GHSA Class 2A semifinals, Carver-Columbus defeated Burke County 33-14 to advance to the state championship game, where the Tigers defeated Hapeville Charter to claim their second consecutive state title.
The previous season, the two teams met in the 2024 GHSA Class 2A state championship game, with Carver-Columbus winning 52-14 to capture the first of its back-to-back titles.
Now, these familiar playoff opponents will meet again, but this time in the first round.
Carver-Columbus head coach Jarvis Jones and his 6-4 Tigers will host Burke County head coach Franklin Stephens and his 7-3 Bears.
Both teams enter the postseason with plenty of momentum. Burke County has won five consecutive games, while Carver-Columbus has won four straight, including last week’s 41-14 victory over defending state champion Worth County.
Can Burke County finally stop the streak?
Phil’s Pick: Carver-Columbus 28, Burke County 21
Laney vs. Brooks County | Class 2A
Friday, Nov. 13
They call the playoffs the second season, and that’s exactly what Brooks County head coach Josh McFather and his Trojans are looking forward to as the No. 21 seed prepares for a first-round matchup against No. 12 Laney.
The regular season had its ups and downs for the Trojans from Quitman, Georgia, who lost five of their first six games. However, Brooks County rebounded with back-to-back victories over Cook and Berrien, giving the Trojans three wins in a four-game stretch. Brooks County closed out the regular season with losses to Fitzgerald and Jeff Davis, finishing 3-7 overall.
But this is a chance for redemption as the Trojans travel to Augusta, Georgia, to take on the 6-4 Laney Wildcats.
It’s time for a playoff upset.
Phil’s Pick: Brooks County 23, Laney 21
Fannin County vs. Cook | Class 2A
Friday, Nov. 13
This looks like a pretty evenly matched contest as the No. 17 Cook Hornets travel to Blue Ridge, Georgia, to face the No. 16 Fannin County Rebels.
Cook enters the playoffs at 4-6 but has won two of its final four games, including a 21-14 victory over Fitzgerald and a 35-7 win over Bacon County. The Hornets nearly pulled off another upset in their regular-season finale against No. 2 Thomasville. After scoring a touchdown in overtime, Cook elected to attempt a 2-point conversion for the win but came up just short in a 28-27 loss.
The Hornets underwent an offensive scheme change midway through the season, and it’s paying off with a much-improved offense under first-year head coach Cornelius “Pig” Brown.
Fannin County finished the regular season 6-4, including a 5-1 mark in Region 7-2A, to capture the region championship. The Rebels lost three of their first four games but have suffered just one defeat since.
Who rides the wave of momentum to a first-round playoff victory?
Phil’s Pick: Cook 35, Fannin County 28
Grayson vs. Camden County | Class 7A
Friday, Nov. 13
The No. 21 Camden County Wildcats will travel to Loganville, Georgia, to face the No. 12 Grayson Rams in a battle between two of Georgia’s most accomplished high school football programs.
These two teams have a history of high-profile playoff matchups, including their most recent meeting in 2022, when Grayson defeated Camden County 28-10 in the second round of the GHSA Class 7A playoffs.
Together, the Rams and Wildcats have won seven state championships. Grayson has captured four state titles, and Camden County has won three.
Despite the history of these two championship programs, neither team has enjoyed one of its best regular seasons this year. Grayson enters the playoffs at 6-4, and Camden County is 5-5. Both teams are led by first-year head coaches, with Greg Carswell taking over the Grayson program and Tucker Pruitt in his first season at Camden County.
Can Camden County pull off the upset and set up a possible second-round rematch with Region 1-7A rival Lowndes?
