The opening round of the GHSA 2025 football playoffs began this past weekend, and at least two upsets proved that anything can happen under the bright lights of the playoffs.
That was the case with the biggest upsets of the night occurring in the highest and smallest classifications Friday night as two undefeated teams lost for the first time in Round 1 of the state playoffs.
Class 6A Has Major Upset
In Class 6A, undefeated McEachern lost to a No. 4 seed Walton team that they defeated 50-17 earlier this year in Week 1. McEachern was the clear favorite to repeat that same feat in Round 1 of the playoffs, but Walton scored on a short touchdown run in the game’s final moments to erase a McEachern 24-21 lead and upset the Indians 28-24.
McEachern head football coach Kareem Reid said he thought the biggest difference in this game versus the Week 1 matchup with the Raiders was the special teams. Walton opened the scoring with a punt return for a touchdown that Reid said was not a good sign as far as he was concerned.
“They played really well on special teams in this game compared to our game earlier in the season, and I feel that was the difference,” Reid said. “I always tell our guys that special teams can determine if you win or if you lose, and I think that was the case with this game for sure.”
It was the first loss of the season for the Indians, but unfortunately this loss means there is no opportunity to make amends, at least not in 2025.
Walton will travel to East Coweta in the second round of the state playoffs.
Elsewhere in Class 6A Playoffs
Three of the four Region 1-6A playoff teams won their opening-round games and advance to Round 2. Colquitt County, Valdosta, and Lowndes all took care of business in their playoff matchups, with Lowndes defeating the visiting Collins Hill Eagles 37-16; Valdosta defeating Dacula 56-28 at home; and Colquitt County making the long four-hour bus ride to Hoschton, Georgia, and defeating Mill Creek 35-17.
Colquitt County will stay on the road and travel to Grayson in Round 2 to take on the 11-0 Rams. Grayson defeated Norcross 44-7 in Round 1.
Lowndes will also travel as they will meet North Gwinnett in Suwanee, Georgia, next week. The Bulldogs are region champs from Region 7-6A, and they defeated South Gwinnett 49-16 to advance to Round 2.
Valdosta will remain at home to host Brookwood, which knocked off Archer 42-21 in Round 1.
Richmond Hill, which was the No. 4 seed, lost at Buford 45-0.
Class 1A-Division I Playoffs
No. 31 Seed Berrien Knocks off No. 2 Seed Lamar County
In Round 1 of the Class 1A-Division I playoffs, Berrien pulled off a jaw-dropping upset with a 7-0 win over the previously undefeated and top 10-ranked Lamar County. Berrien was listed as a 32-point underdog entering the game, but it’s clear that head football coach Jackson Dean and his Rebels weren’t paying attention.
“Our kids showed up with grit and determination and left it all on the field,” Dean said of his team’s Herculean effort Friday night.
He also praised the Berrien fans for their support.
“The community from the time we left to the final horn rallied behind them and caused chaos all game for Lamar,” said Dean, who is in his first year as head coach at Berrien.
He praised his defensive staff for a great game plan.
“Coach Cain and the defensive staff did a heck of a job pitching a shutout,” Dean said. “I couldn’t be more proud to say that I’m a part of this amazing program.”
Dean added his signature rallying cry, which has been a part of the movement to turn around the culture at Berrien: “Go, Rebels! Raise the bar!”
Berrien will now travel to No. 15-seeded Rabun County for Round 2 after they defeated Dodge County 56-21.
Battle of Bulldogs in Class 1A-Division I
Thomasville will meet Toombs County in a key second-round playoff matchup in Lyons, Georgia. Toombs County is the defending state champion, and Thomasville is considered one of the top challengers to make a deep run in this year’s playoffs.
Thomasville defeated Putnam County 38-0 in Round 1, and Toombs County won 50-6 over Temple.
Class 1A-Division II Playoffs
Washington-Wilkes upset Seminole County 32-23 in the top upset of Round 1 in Class 1A-Division II. Seminole was 8-2 in the regular season and was favored by 22 points to defeat 4-6 Washington-Wilkes.
Washington-Wilkes will now try to get another upset as they take on the defending three-time state champion Bowdon Red Devils in Round 2.
Class 2A Playoffs
The only mild upset in Class 2A involved No. 14 seed Crisp County losing to No. 19 seed Stephens County 24-21. Crisp County actually led the game 21-0 but allowed Stephens County to score 24 points unanswered to beat the Cougars and advance to the second round, where Stephens County will meet No. 3 seed and defending state champion Carver-Columbus. The Tigers defeated Redan 56-0 in Round 1.
Key Matchup in Round 2
Pierce County defeated Ringgold and will meet No. 1 seed Carver-Atlanta in a second-round matchup that could prove to be interesting.
The Bears are the No. 16 seed in Class 2A, but with two state championships in the past five years (2020 and 2023), Pierce County remains a formidable opponent and a team that is quite capable of defeating just about anyone in the classification. They were 8-2 in the regular season, with a 28-16 win over Brooks County among their brightest spots in 2025.
Carver-Atlanta is undefeated and looking for its first state championship since 1967. The Panthers advanced to the 2021 Class 3A state finals but lost to Cedar Grove 56-26.
Class 3A Playoffs
The only Round 1 playoff game in Class 3A that saw a higher-seeded team defeat a lower (favored) team was No. 20 seed Oconee County knocking off No. 13 seed Northwest Whitfield 39-37. All other favored teams won and advanced to the second round.
Class 4A Playoffs
Things went about as expected in Round 1 of the Class 4A state playoffs, but Round 2 will provide a slate of must-see matchups.
Ware County defeated Flowery Branch in Round 1 and will now travel to Creekside to face the Seminoles, who easily defeated Dalton 70-7 in their own Round 1 game.
The question facing the Gators may not be if they can win, but if they can find a way to hold back a potent Creekside offense that has scored 70 or more points in five of their 11 wins so far this season. That includes the past two games against the Catamounts and Midtown two weeks ago.
Other key matchups in Round 2 include Warner Robins versus Cartersville, Marist versus Blessed Trinity, Benedictine versus Cass, and Cambridge versus Central-Carroll.
Class 5A Playoffs
All Favored Teams Win, But Key 2nd Round Matchups Await
There were no surprises in Class 5A in Round 1 of the playoffs, but things will get decidedly more interesting with Round 2. Here’s a look at the most noteworthy second-round football playoffs matchups.
Lee County at Langston Hughes
Lee County defeated Sprayberry for the second straight postseason. Last year, Lee County defeated Sprayberry 64-0 in the third round but had a bit of a tougher time in their Round 1 matchup this year. It was Lee County’s 10th-straight Round 1 football playoffs win.
Hughes defeated East Paulding 45-28 in their Round 1 football playoffs game, and the undefeated Panthers will now host the Trojans in the second round.
Houston County at Rome
Both the Houston County Bears and the Rome Wolves took care of business in a big way in their respective Round 1 matchups and will now meet each other at Barron Stadium in Rome, Georgia, in what promises to be one of the most anticipated Round 2 playoff games in not only Class 5A but in the entire state.
Houston County defeated Creekview 59-14 behind wide receiver MJ Mathis’ 135 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Rome defeated Lovejoy 47-16 in the Georgia Class 5A football playoffs.
Private (Class 1A-3A) Playoffs
The only mild upset in Round 1 of the Private (Class 1A-3A) football playoffs was No. 18 seed Trinity Christian defeating No. 15 seed Lovett 30-8.
Nine teams earned byes in the opening round to make Round 2 of the playoffs the first full round of matchups with 16 teams taking part in eight games.
Trinity Christian will travel to defending state champion Hebron Christian, and top-seeded Fellowship Christian takes on No. 16 seed Mt. Vernon.
