Round 2 of the GHSA state football playoffs provided a few surprises along with several favorites picking up big wins, all of which set up some battles between heavyweights in the quarterfinals this week.
Speaking of heavyweights, none of the big-name programs from Region 1 in Class 6A that usually dot the playoffs during Thanksgiving week will be playing in Round 3.
Elsewhere, some powerhouse blueblood programs that have experienced a quicker-than-expected exit from the playoffs in recent years are hoping this will be the year that they meet expectations.
Carrollton, Buford Looking to Avoid Repeat Early Playoff Exits
Carrollton and Buford have dominated their regular season schedules over the past few years, but each program has seen its state title aspirations end before reaching Game 15, the state championship game.
The Carrollton Trojans are 12-0 after blasting the Valdosta Wildcats last week 49-13 in their Round 2 playoff win. However, after defeating the Wildcats last year at the same point of the 2023 state playoffs, the Trojans were eliminated the very next week by Walton in a 56-35 blowout.
Carrollton and head coach Joey King will meet the Hillgrove Hawks this week in the quarterfinals, and the Trojans are the heavy favorite to advance to the semifinals.
Carrollton has not won a state championship since 1998.
The Buford Wolves defeated the Lowndes Vikings last week 42-7 and, quite frankly, are playing as well as any team in the state. This week the Wolves host the North Gwinnett Bulldogs, who are led by head coach Eric Godfree. These neighboring teams haven’t faced each other since 1999.
Like Carrollton, Buford has fallen short of the state championship round each of the last two seasons despite being the overwhelming favorite to win it all. With arguably the best quarterback in the nation in Dylan Raiola last year, Buford was undefeated before losing to Grayson in the quarterfinal round of the 2023 playoffs. Two years ago, in 2022, Buford fell to Walton in the second round.
Buford last won a football state championship in 2021.
Region 1 Shut Out of Quarterfinals in Class 6A
It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Region 1 will not have a team in this year’s quarterfinals in Class 6A.
Colquitt County, Valdosta, and Lowndes were all eliminated this past week in Round 2 of the 2024 GHSA football state playoffs. Camden County lost in the first round.
Expectations were high for the Valdosta Wildcats heading into this season with the return of QB Todd Robinson and a roster full of talented skill position players.
But Robinson’s recurring ankle injury, which he suffered in last season’s opening game at Massillon in Ohio and which he re-aggravated in Valdosta’s region-opener this year against Camden County, hampered Valdosta’s explosive offense. The result was a 13-point performance against Carrollton last week.
Lowndes fell in the second round to Buford, while Colquitt County lost a rare home game to Collins Hill.
It will be interesting to see what the pecking order will look like next season in Region 1-6A with the emergence of Tift County under head coach Jeff Littleton, whose Blue Devils showed vast improvement with a team full of underclassmen.
Richmond Hill is also a team to watch heading into 2025. Under head coach Matt LeZotte, Richmond Hill continues to show glimpses of the program’s improvement, including their three-touchdown win this season against Valdosta.
Region 2 Going Strong in Class 5A
It’s no surprise that Region 2 in Class 5A still has all four teams playing Thanksgiving week. We all knew when the region teams were announced after realignment that this could be a possibility, and that has turned into reality: Lee County, Houston County, and defending state champions Thomas County Central and Coffee have each bulldozed their way through the playoffs so far.
Can they keep it going?
The Houston County Bears of head coach Jeremy Edwards have the toughest challenge this week, trying to upset Milton, the defending state champion and overall favorite in Class 5A.
HoCo is the only No. 4 seed still alive in the playoffs across all classifications, giving further credit to the parity of the teams in Region 2-5A.
The Lee County Trojans of head coach Dean Fabrizio are the heavy favorite this week against Sprayberry as Lee County looks to return to the state quarterfinals behind the play of the “Bruise Brothers,” quarterback Weston Bryan and running back Ousmane Kromah.
Coffee, the defending state champion from Class 4A, has survived a tough regular season schedule after moving to Class 5A. Their only loss so far this season came against the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets. With a win over Sequoyah this week, Coffee could earn a rematch against the Yellow Jackets in the semifinals.
Head coach Justin Rogers’s Thomas County Central squad looks every bit the dominating program they proved themselves to be last season when they won the state title in Class 6A. With an offense that no one can seem to stop, the Yellow Jackets’ only loss this season came against Lee County in a game played earlier this year. This week’s opponent will be a tough test as they travel to Hughes to take on the Panthers and head coach Daniel “Boone” Williams.
Could we be looking at all Region 2 winners in the Class 5A state quarterfinals?
We’ll be back next week for a recap of Round 3 of the 2024 GHSA football playoffs and a look at the semifinals.
