The Grayson Rams, the defending Class 6A State Champions and the top ranked team in the country by several polls, were upset by Carrollton 34-14 in the Georgia high school football quarterfinals in a rematch of last year’s 2024 state title game.
Despite falling behind 14-0 to start the game, Carrollton would not allow another point while reeling off 34 unanswered points on the way to the 20-point victory over the Rams.
North Gwinnett Advances With Win over West Forsyth
The Trojans will now play North Gwinnett in one of the two class 6A semifinals next weekend.
That’s because the Bulldogs of head coach Eric Godfree outlasted a stubborn West Forsyth Wolverines squad 25-15 after the two teams were tied at 15 apiece heading into the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs outscored the Wolverines 10-0 in the final quarter to get the hard-earned win and move into the semifinal round next week.
“The game was a dogfight,” North Gwinnett head coach Eric Godfree told ITG Next following the game.
“It was a grinder-type game and we showed up well in the fourth quarter. We finally started moving the ball there in that fourth quarter, and our defense took care of business, as usual,” he said.
Godfree said he and his Bulldogs team are looking forward to the challenge of playing Carrollton, but knows it’s a very good team his guys will be facing.
“We know we’ll have our hands full. It will be by far the best offense we have faced all year long, and we have faced some really good offenses this season. They have weapons all over the field and a really good offensive line to go along with their skill guys. Defensively, they have lots of dudes as well that fly to the ball, too.
Godfree admits it will take complete focus as his team prepares for the Trojans.
“It is going to take a great effort from our team and the right amount of attention in everything we do this week in our preparation,” Godfree said.
Valdosta Survives Walton
The Valdosta Wildcats jumped out to a 17-0 lead and appeared to be heading to an easy victory Friday night at Bazemore Hyder Stadium before the visiting Raiders got their offense going and came roaring back as both teams went back and forth trading points until the very end, as the Wildcats tried a quick kick that hit one of their players and was recovered by Walton, who turned it into six points to draw to within three points, 45-42.
Valdosta would hang on for the win, and will now advance to host Buford in next week’s semifinals.
Buford defeats Douglas County To Advance
Buford led Douglas County 9-0 at the half on the back of three Andrew Ivaniciuc first half field goals from 43, 39 and 43 yards. The Wolves would respond to a Douglas County third quarter touchdown which cut the lead to 9-7 with three touchdowns of their own to pull away and defeat the Tigers for the second time in 2025.
With the win, Buford will travel to Valdosta for a Class 6a semifinal contest next week at Bazemore Hyder Stadium.
During a week that was dominated by the talk of Gainesville and Hughes High School football teams and whether they would play or not, the statewide quarterfinals gave Georgia high school football fans some of the most exciting football of 2025, including perhaps the biggest upset of the season.
Class 5A
Will GHSA Postpone Roswell vs Thomas County Central Semifinal?
Rome Wins, But Semifinal Matchup Remains Up In The Air
UPDATE
On Saturday morning, the GHSA released a statement that said Executive Director Dr Tim Scott had notified the remaining 5A playoff teams that the Thomas County Central-Roswell semifinal playoff game, scheduled for December 5th, could potentially be postponed.
It also included the following:
On Monday afternoon, GHSA will meet virtually with all parties involved -including Thomas County Central, Roswell, and the district athletic directors -to determine the next steps and finalize a plan moving forward.
Rome defeated Jackson County 31-17 in the Class 5a quarterfinals, but when and if they get to play again is a mystery.
And Rome head coach John Reid isn’t happy.
“We are hearing nothing (regarding their next game).”
“All teams left after the Gainesville vs Hughes game have to play on the same day. That is my demand. Rome has worked all year for this great achievement and it’s unfair that we do not have a plan,” Reid said.
For now, there remains an empty line in the GHSA Class 5A Playoff brackets for Rome’s next semifinal opponent.
Roswell Offense Keeps Rolling Against Sequoyah
Roswell quarterback Trey Smith led yet another stellar offensive output for his Roswell team, and he and the Hornets would need every point as Sequoyah mounted a late offensive surge of their own to close a 3-touchdown lead to one score.
But, Roswell would hold on and win 42-35 to advance to play Thomas County Central- depending on the pending GHSA decision.
Thomas County Central Overcomes Early Deficit To Win Easily
The Yellow Jackets fell behind by two touchdowns before finishing with a 49 point barrage the rest of the game to win 49-19 over Woodward Academy
A Roswell and Thomas County Central semifinal matchup remains uncertain at this point
Class 4A
Two Major Upsets Highlight 4A Georgia Quarterfinals
Kell and Marist Pull Off Stunning Upsets
Kell and Marist each pulled off major upsets in their respective quarterfinal matchups Friday night.
Bobby Mays’ Kell High School won a stunner in the Georgia high school football quarterfinal playoffs with their 48-21 win over favored Cartersville.
The Purple Hurricanes had won their first two playoff games by a combined 117-0 score with wins over Jackson Atlanta and Warner Robins in rounds one and two.
But, it would be the Longhorns who flexed their playoff offensive muscle, combined with solid defense in their defeat of Cartersville.
Kell will now meet Creekside next week in the class 4A semifinals. The Seminoles rolled once again with their 35-7 win over Lithonia.
The Marist War Eagles ended the hopes of a North Oconee state championship repeat with a last second 34 yard FG from junior kicker Tyler Baradel as time expired to lift Alan Chadwick’s team to a 23-20 win.
Baradel had 3 FG’s in the game along with 2 extra points.
The War Eagles will meet Benedictine in the semifinals after the Cadets scored 80 points in their 80-32 win over Central Carrollton.
Class 3A
Jefferson defeated Cairo 47-28 in the quarterfinals and will now meet West Laurens in the 3A semifinals after their win over Jenkins last week.
Sandy Creek and LaGrange will meet in the other semifinals after the Patriots 38-0 shutout win over the Astros of Douglass High School, and the Grangers win over Stephenson.
Class 2A
Sumter County’s season will continue after the Panthers from Americus defeated Carver Atlanta 39-20. Coach Will Rogers’s team will now move on to play Hapeville, who defeated Morgan County 34-22. The Sumter Coach said he and his team are enjoying every moment of what has been quite the turnaround for them.
“We don’t want this season to end just yet, our kids are enjoying the grind and the journey so far until this point,” Rogers said. “Our approach each week is to live in the moment and prepare for success daily on and off the field.”
Carver Columbus and Burke County will meet once again in a rematch of last year’s 2A State Championship game as both teams won their quarterfinal matchups.
Burke County slipped by Rockmart 41-40 to advance, while carver Columbus defeated Thomson 36-10.
Class 1A D-I
Heard County won 39-38 on a last second FG to defeat Fitzgerald and advance to the semifinals where they will meet defending state champion Toombs County, who defeated North East Macon.
Pepperell, who finished 2-8 last year, upset the favored Rabun County 34-0 last week in the Georgia Quarterfinals and will now meet the undefeated Worth County Rams, who defeated Gordon Lee 17-7.
Class 1A D-II
Clinch and Bowdon to meet in semifinals
Bowdon, winners of the last three state championships, will take on Clinch County, who have won eight state titles in school history, but none since 2018. Jim Dickerson, who last led the Panthers to that state championship, along with two other state titles, is back as the Clinch head coach, and will match Witts with Red Devils Rich Findley, who will try to make it four straight this season.
Early County and Lincoln County will meet on the other side of the bracket after their wins last week. The Bobcats defeated Screven in the Georgia Quarterfinals while the Red Devils of Lincoln County defeated Brooks County 52-16.
Class A-3A Private
The Private Class also had an upset in the Georgia Quarterfinals as Greater Atlanta Christian surprised Athens Academy 49-14. They’ll meet defending state champ Hebron Christian after their win over Prince Avenue Christian.
Fellowship Christian defeated Savannah Christian 45-14 to advance to the Private semifinals where they will meet Calvary Day School, who won 52-7 over Whitefield Academy
