Phil Jones gives his score predictions for the top six games being played in Round 2 of the 2025 Georgia high school football playoffs.
Grayson vs. Colquitt County
This is a big second-round playoff game for the Colquitt County Packers as they make yet another long road trip to North Georgia for the second straight week.
ITG Next’s No. 1-ranked Grayson Rams host the No. 17 Colquitt County Packers in Loganville, Georgia. The Rams are undefeated this season and are ranked as the No. 2 team in the nation by MaxPreps.
Colquitt County will need another great performance from quarterback Cohen Lawson, who was ITG Next’s October 2025 Georgia Male Athlete of the Month, and running back Jae Lamar if they are to upset the Rams.
Despite losing four-star recruit Travis Burgess early in the season, Grayson has not missed a beat as junior Deuce Smith stepped up to lead the Rams’ offense.
Can Colquitt County keep their season going and pull off the upset? Even if they don’t, look for the Pack to make things interesting by the final whistle.
Phil’s Pick: Grayson 38, Colquitt County 28
Rome vs. Houston County
This is one of the best early-round playoff matchups of any classification so far as the 10-1 Houston County Bears visit the Rome Wolves, who are 9-2 after their Round 1 playoff win over Lovejoy.
Both teams feature standout receivers with the Bears’ MJ Mathis and the Wolves’ JJ Winston. Both players are coming off big-time performances in their respective team’s Round 1 playoff games and will be crucial to their teams once again in this matchup.
The two head coaches are also among the best in the state in Rome’s John Reid and Houston County’s Jeremy Edwards.
Barron Stadium can be tough on visitors, but I think the Bears will be up to the challenge.
Phil’s Pick: Houston County 35, Rome 28
North Gwinnett vs. Lowndes
Both teams are coming off big wins in last week’s opening-round playoff matchups. Lowndes defeated a talented Collins Hill squad at home 37-16, and North Gwinnett outlasted in-county rival South Gwinnett 49-16.
As the No. 2 seed from Region 1-6A, Lowndes will now have to hit the road to take on Region 7-6A champion North Gwinnett for what promises to be an exciting second-round matchup.
This will be a chess match of the Vikings’ potent offense with quarterback Jayce Johnson and wide receiver Bubba Brown facing off against the Bulldogs’ defense led by all-state linebacker Jake Godfree and fellow linebacker Ethan Robinson.
Can Lowndes overcome the long bus ride and take care of business in Suwanee, Georgia?
Phil’s Pick: Lowndes 24, North Gwinnett 21
Hughes vs. Lee County
Lee County seems to have finally settled in at the most important position on the field with quarterback Marcus Snipes looking quite comfortable running the offense. He’s thrown for over 1,250 yards and rushed for 133 yards with a total of 13 TDs.
Speaking of rushing, the Lee County run game is looking deep and impressive as the team has progressed into the final weeks of the regular season and the early rounds of the playoffs. The Trojans’ running back group is as deep as any in the state with a number of backs who can run the ball with authority, including Jordan Bush, Dominique Ball, Canton Williams, and JR Walker. It’s a true running back by committee.
Lee County also welcomes the return of wide receiver Jaden Upshaw to the team this week after missing last week’s playoff game at Sprayberry.
Hughes, however, is playing very well and considered by many as the favorite to win it all in Class 5A this season. They too have quite a talented rushing game led by running backs Qwantavius “Fat Boy” Wiggins and Carsyn Baker.
Can one of the top playoff teams in the state make the trip to Fairburn, Georgia, and pull off the upset?
Yes.
Phil’s Pick: Lee County 35, Hughes 34
Carver-Atlanta vs. Pierce County
The 9-2 Pierce County Bears travel to Atlanta to take on the Carver Panthers in their second-round playoff game.
Carver is led by one of the best overall athletic players in the state in Terrious Favors, who scored six touchdowns last week in Carver’s Round 1 playoff win against Butler.
The run-heavy Pierce County Bears are led by running back Jaevon Williams, who is averaging 131 yards per game. He led Pierce County in their Round 1 playoff win on the road over Ringgold 45-7.
Can Pierce County head coach Ryan Herring’s team knock off undefeated Carver?
Phil’s Pick: Carver-Atlanta 35, Pierce County 21
Worth County vs. Bleckley County
The Rams of head coach Jeff Hammond are enjoying one of the best seasons in the history of the Worth County program, and they are off to a dominant start in these 2025 Class 1A-Division I playoffs after defeating McNair last week 68-0.
The competition will get a bit tougher this week as Bleckley County comes calling to Sylvester, Georgia, for a key second-round playoff game. Bleckley County defeated Jeff Davis last week 26-7 to advance to Round 2 of the playoffs.
The Royals are 9-2 on the season with losses to Dublin and Dodge County, while the Rams are undefeated at 11-0 on the season.
Phil’s Pick: Worth County 35, Bleckley County 20
That’s our 2025 Georgia high school football playoff predictions for Round 2.
