During a week that was dominated by the talk of whether or not Gainesville and Hughes would play in their Round 3 playoff matchup, 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 6A
Grayson, nation’s No. 1 team, upset by Carrollton in quarterfinals
The Grayson Rams, the defending Class 6A state champions and the top-ranked team in the country by several polls, were upset by the Carrollton Trojans 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 did not allow another point while reeling off 34 points on the way to the 20-point victory over the Rams.
North Gwinnett advances with win over West Forsyth
Carrollton will now play the North Gwinnett Bulldogs in the Class 6A semifinals. That’s because the Bulldogs outlasted a stubborn West Forsyth Wolverines squad 25-15 after the two teams were tied at 15 apiece heading into the fourth quarter of their quarterfinals matchup. The Bulldogs outscored the Wolverines 10-0 in the final quarter to get the hard-earned win and move into the semifinal round of the 2025 GHSA state playoffs.
“The game was a dogfight,” Eric Godfree, North Gwinnett head football coach said after the match against West Forsyth. “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.”
Godfree said he and his Bulldogs team are looking forward to the challenge of playing Carrollton, but know it’s a good team his guys will be facing.
“We know we’ll have our hands full (with Carrollton),” Godfree said. “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 said it will take complete focus from his team as they prepare 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 Walton Raiders got their offense going and came roaring back. Both teams went back and forth trading points until the very end. The Wildcats tried a quick kick that hit one of their players and was recovered by Walton, which turned it into 6 points to draw to within 3 points 45-42.
Valdosta hung on for the win and now advances to the semifinals to host the Buford Wolves.
Buford defeats Douglas County to advance
The Buford Wolves led the Douglas County Tigers 9-0 at the half on the back of three field goals by Andrew Ivaniciuc from 43 yards, 39 yards, and 43 yards, respectively. The Wolves responded 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 at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
Class 5A
Will GHSA postpone Roswell vs. Thomas County Central semifinal?
According to a statement released by the GHSA via Facebook on Nov. 29, GHSA Executive Director Dr. Tim Scott had notified the teams still in the Class 5A playoffs that the Thomas County Central versus Roswell semifinal game, scheduled for Dec. 5, could be postponed.
The statement also said: “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.”
Roswell offense keeps rolling against Sequoyah
Roswell quarterback Trey Smith led yet another stellar offensive output for his Roswell team, and the Hornets needed every point as Sequoyah mounted a late offensive surge of their own to close a three-touchdown lead to one score.
Roswell held on and won 42-35 to advance to play Thomas County Central, pending the GHSA’s decision.
Thomas County Central overcomes early deficit to win easily
The Thomas County Central 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.
Rome wins quarterfinal match, but semifinal game remains up in the air
Rome defeated Jackson County 31-17 in the Class 5A quarterfinals, but when and if they get to play again is a mystery.
Rome head football coach John Reid isn’t happy.
“We are hearing nothing (regarding their next game),” Reid said. “All teams left after the Gainesville versus 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.”
For now, there remains an empty line in the Class 5A playoff bracket for Rome’s next semifinal opponent.
UPDATE: In a statement released via Facebook on Dec. 1, the GHSA announced that Gainesville and Hughes will play their quarterfinal game on Dec. 5 and that all 34 Gainesville players who were suspended will play.
According to the GHSA’s statement, both semifinal games in Class 5A have been moved to Dec. 11. That means Thomas County Central and Roswell have an extra week to prepare for their matchup, while Rome awaits the results of Gainesville-Hughes to find out who their semifinal opponent will be.
The GHSA’s statement also noted that the Class 5A state finals will now be played on Dec. 17, while the Class 6A state finals will now be played on Dec. 16.
Class 4A
Kell, Marist pull off stunning upsets
Kell and Marist each pulled off major upsets in their respective quarterfinal matchups Friday night.
Head football coach Bobby Mays’ Kell squad won a stunner in the 2025 Georgia high school football quarterfinal playoffs with their 48-21 win over favored Cartersville. Cartersville won its first two playoff games by a combined 117-0 score with wins over Jackson-Atlanta in Round 1 and Warner Robins in Round 2, but the Kell Longhorns flexed their own offensive muscles, combined with solid defense, in their defeat of Cartersville.
The Kell Longhorns will now meet the Creekside Seminoles in the Class 4A semifinals. The Seminoles rolled once again with their 35-7 win over Lithonia in the quarterfinals.
The Marist War Eagles ended the hopes of a North Oconee state championship repeat with a last-second, 34-yard field goal from junior kicker Tyler Baradel as time expired to lift Marist head coach Alan Chadwick’s team to a 23-20 win. Baradel made three FGs in the game along with two extra-point kicks.
The War Eagles will meet the Benedictine Cadets 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 Class 3A semifinals after West Laurens’ win over Jenkins last week.
The Sandy Creek Patriots and LaGrange Grangers will meet in the other Class 3A semifinal match after the Patriots’ 38-0 shutout win over the Douglass Astros and the Grangers’ win over the Stephenson Jaguars.
Class 2A
Sumter County’s season will continue after defeating Carver-Atlanta 39-20. Sumter County head football coach Will Rogers’ team now moves on to play Hapeville, which defeated Morgan County 34-22 in the quarterfinals. Rogers 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,” Rogers said. “Our kids are enjoying the grind and the journey so far until this point. 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 in the semifinals in a rematch of last year’s Class 2A state championship game as both teams won their quarterfinal matchups. Burke County slipped by Rockmart 41-40 to advance, and Carver-Columbus defeated Thomson 36-10.
Class 1A-Division I
Heard County won 39-38 on a last-second field goal to defeat Fitzgerald and advance to the semifinals, where they will meet defending state champion Toombs County, which defeated Northeast in the quarterfinals.
Pepperell, which finished 2-8 last season, upset favored Rabun County 34-0 in the 2025 Georgia high school football quarterfinals and will meet undefeated Worth County in the semifinals. Worth County defeated Gordon Lee 17-7 in the quarterfinals.
Class 1A-Division II
Clinch, Bowdon to meet in semifinals
Bowdon, winner of the last three state championships in Class 1A-Division II, will take on Clinch County, which has won eight state titles in school history but none since 2018, in the semifinals. Clinch County head football coach Jim Dickerson, who led the Panthers to that last state championship in 2018 along with two other state titles, will match wits with Bowdon head football coach Rich Fendley, who will try to make it four straight state titles this season with the Red Devils.
The Early County Bobcats and Lincoln County Red Devils will meet on the other side of the bracket in the semifinal round of the playoffs. The Bobcats defeated Screven County in the 2025 Georgia high school football quarterfinals, and the Red Devils defeated Brooks County 52-16.
Private, Class 1A-3A
The Private classification also had an upset in the 2025 Georgia high school football quarterfinals as Greater Atlanta Christian surprised Athens Academy 49-14. GAC will meet defending state champion Hebron Christian in the semifinals after the Lions’ win over Prince Avenue Christian in the quarterfinals.
Fellowship Christian defeated Savannah Christian 45-14 to advance to the semifinals, where they will meet Calvary Day School, which won 52-7 over Whitefield Academy.
