The 2025 GHSA Regular Season is over, and all of the speculation of who could be playing whom in which round of the state playoffs is over.
Earlier, we gave you a look at some of the most interesting playoff matchups in Class 5A and 6A.
Now, we take a look at the 3A and 4A playoffs and the games that bear watching.
Class 4A Playoffs
Four Must See Matchups in Round One
Ware County (8-2) at Flowery Branch (7-3)
At first glance, this looks like a Ware County victory all the way, but not so fast.
Flowery Branch is actually the higher seeded team as the #2 seed from Region 8-4A. Ware is the #3 seed from Region 1-4A, finishing behind Benedictine and Warner Robins, the two teams they lost to this season.
Ware may be considered by most observers as the favorite, but travelling from South Georgia to the northeast part of the state can be an equalizer of sorts.
Host Flowery Branch is 7-3 overall, 4-2 in Region 8. They finished 2nd behind Region
Behind region champ and defending state champion North Oconee, who they lost to in a close one, 21-14.
Eastside (6-4) at Warner Robins (6-4)
The Demons of Shane Sams have rebounded from a bit of a shaky first half of the season, and are playing their best football at just the right time, as they prepare to host a first round playoff game against Eastside.
Warner Robins finished 6-4 overall, but they finished strong with impressive wins over Ware County and Perry in the final two weeks of the regular season to rise to the #2 seed, so they enter the playoffs with a surge of momentum and confidence.
Will that be enough to defeat the Eagles of Eastside, who are 6-4 overall but finished 4-2 in Region 8, behind North Oconee and Flowery Branch?
The Eagles gave the defending state champions their closest game in two years in a 1-point 14-13 loss.
This is going to be a solid first round matchup.
Ola (8-2) at Cambridge (8-2)
The Mustangs of Ola finished 8-2 , including a 7-2 region record. Their two losses were to 9-1 Locust Grove and 8-2 Stockbridge, the teams who finished just ahead of Ola.
Those two loses place them 3rd in the region, which means travelling to Cambridge, who also finished 8-2, but their 3-1 region record was good enough for the #2 seed and a first round home playoff game. The Bears finished one game behind region winner Kell, and despite losing to Kell 45-18 in their 9th game, Cambridge rebounded nicely with a 31-28 win over Blessed Trinity in the final game of the regular season.
Cambridge has two of the most dangerous receivers in the state in seniors Craig Dandridge and Hudson Cocchiara, along with quarterback Connor Langford, who has passed for 27 touchdowns and 2350 yards so far in the regular season.
Cambridge could make some noise in these playoffs.
Beware of the Bears.
Perry (4-6) at North Oconee (10-0)
Most attractive first round game in all classifications?
This could be the most attractive #1 vs #4 seed opening round matchup of any other playoff game in the state.
You have the two teams who have claimed the state championship in Class 4A over the past two years.
The defending state champion North Oconee Titans bring their 25 game win streak into a first round playoff game against the Perry Panthers, who won the 4A state title in 2023.
North Oconee is making a strong bid to repeat as the 4A state champion in 2025, but their first round playoff opponent is not your average #4 seed.
At first glance, you may think differently.
Perry is 4-6 overall, and finished in 4th place in Region 1-4A with a 2-3 record
But, 3 straight region losses to end the season has placed Perry in a pickle entering the playoffs.
That included 7-point losses to Ware and Warner Robins, along with a lopsided 41-17 loss to Benedictine.
Still, Perry has the weapons to make this interesting.
The question is will they?
Class 3A Playoffs
Four Must See First Round Matchups
While 3A uses the points-based format deciding the seeding in 3A, you still have the scenario of higher seeded teams facing the lower seeded teams, so there will be some obvious favorites among the first round matchups.
But, here are the four games I think are well worth watching.
Westover (6-3) at Troup (9-1)
The 6-3 Patriots finished as the #3 team out of Region 1-3A, and are the #24 seed headed into the first round. They’ll travel to number 9 seed Troup County, who at 9-1 overall are enjoying one of their best seasons in recent years with Tanner Glisson. The Tigers finished 7-1 in Region 2-3A as the #2 team, finishing 1 game behind region champ Sandy Creek.
The Tigers were one of the teams I had predicted back in the preseason as one of the teams in 3A that could make some noise, and they certainly have done that.
But, Westover is a solid team and I think to overlook them would be a big mistake.
Cherokee Bluff (6-4) at Peach County (9-1)
A fantastic round one matchup pits the Bears of Cherokee Bluff against the Peach County Trojans at Fort Valley.
Cherokee Bluff is 6-4 overall and are the #21 team in Class 3A. They were the 4th place team from Region 8-3A, with a 2-3 region record
Peach County is the #12 seeded team, 9-1 overall and the Trojans finished 4-1 in Region 1-3A. They suffered an upset loss to Cairo, the ultimate region 1-3A champion, their only loss of the regular season. They fought off a Monroe team last week in their final regular season game by a 42-34 final, so Peach County is looking a bit vulnerable heading into this opening round home matchup with Cherokee Bluff.
Keep an eye on this one.
Liberty County (7-3) at Cairo (8-2)
At first, you may not think a #25 team like Liberty taking on #8 Cairo would be a very attractive game, but I think there is more than meets the eye with this matchup.
Liberty County is 7-3 overall, and finished with a 6-3 record in Region 3-3A. The Syrupmakers finished the regular season 8-2, including a perfect 5-0 region mark in Region 1-3A.
David Coleman’s squad are one of the hottest teams in the state after starting the season with consecutive losses.
They have elevated their play over the last couple of months of the season, including a 38-31 win over #1 ranked Peach County.
Cairo has a difference maker in Running Back/Free Safety Bryian Duncan, who can affect the game in all three phases.
I think Cairo is the better team, but Liberty County could keep it close.
North Clayton (8-2) at LaGrange (8-2)
A battle of two 8-2 teams with #18 seed North Clayton at #15 seed LaGrange
North Clayton is 8-2 overall and finished the regular season with a 5-1 record in Region 5-3A. Douglass and Stephenson also finished the regular season with a 5-1 region record, but the tie breaker gave the Astros and Jaguars the higher seeds.
Still, North Clayton can score points in bunches with an explosive offense led by 4-Star standout junior quarterback Justin Murphy. He has led North Clayton to their first playoff berth since 2016, and the best regular season finish since 2010.
The dual threat QB will try to lead his Eagles to an upset win against the Grangers from Region 2-3A, who have a pretty good QB of their own in senior Dylan Barber.
LaGrange’s two losses came against Sandy Creek and rival Troup County.
Big time players tend to rise up in big games. Will Justin Murphy step it up and lead North Clayton to the upset win at Callaway Stadium?
Next up: We look at the GHSA Class 2A and Class A D-II football playoffs
