Here’s what went down in the quarterfinals:
PRIVATE
Upper Left Bracket
No. 1 Athens Academy 25, No. 8 Calvary Day 19
Len'Neth Williams scored on a 1-yard run, his second of the game, with just under five minutes left in regulation as the Spartans (12-0) got by the Cavaliers (10-2) to advance to the semifinals. The game was a back-and-forth nail biter, as the lead changed hands five times. Calvary Day led 7-3 at halftime, according to the Athens Banner Herald. With five minutes left in the third quarter, Palmer Bush tossed a 40-yard touchdown pass to Deion Colzie to put the Spartans on top, 10-7. Calvary Day answered with a 27-yard touchdown pass to take a 13-10 lead with less than a minute to go in the third quarter. Williams scored on a 12-yard run with 10:56 to go to make it 17-13 in favor of the Spartans. Midway through the quarter, Calvary Day returned a fumble for a touchdown to make it 19-17, before Whitehead's late touchdown and a two-point conversion provided the final score. Next: vs. No. 4 Prince Avenue Christian
Lower Left Bracket
No. 4 Prince Avenue Christian 48, No. 5 North Cobb Christian 20The Wolverines (11-1) outscored the Eagles (10-2) 21-7 in the second half to take a decisive victory, according to the Athens Banner Herald. Sophomore QB Brock Vandagriff had a hand in three touchdowns and Christian Parrish was responsible for two for Prince Avenue, including an 80-yard interception return for a score with five minutes left in the game. Vandagriff scored on a 4-yard run in the first quarter, a 2-yard run in the second quarter and threw a touchdown to Mack Simmons. Parrish also scored on a 20-yard run late in the third quarter and Tyler Payne reached the end zone on a 2-yard run midway through the third quarter. Next: at No. 1 Athens Academy
Upper Right Bracket
No. 2 Savannah Christian 35, No. 7 Fellowship Christian 7The Raiders (11-1) took a three-touchdown advantage against the Paladins (10-2) just 10 minutes into the game as Savannah Christian advanced to the state semifinals for the first time since 2011 – the same year the Raiders won their first and only GHSA state title. Offensively, Savannah Christian went 54 yards and 60 yards for touchdowns on its first two offensive possessions – Marquell Brown, who finished with 101 yards on 15 carries, capped the first six-play scoring drive with an 8-yard TD run, and Omar Burroughs hauled in the first of quarterback Spencer Robicheaux's two TD passes, a 9-yarder, to make it 14-0, according to the Savannah Morning News. Paladin QB Joey Archer completed just 5 of 25 passes and suffered three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns by Burroughs and Nate Moon. Fellowship Christian played the game without injured 1,700-yard rusher Murphy Reeves. Next: vs. No. 3 ELCA
Lower Right Bracket
No. 3 Eagle's Landing Christian 42, No. 6 Darlington 0Junior RB Keaton Mitchell scored four touchdowns, three in the first quarter, and the Charger defense collected its sixth shutout of the season. Mitchell went over 2,000 yards rushing and boosted his touchdown total to 45 for ELCA (11-1), which is in search of its fourth consecutive state title. Darlington's (9-3) best chance to score came midway through the second quarter, but the Tigers were denied on four downs from inside the ELCA 10-yard line. Next: at No. 2 Savannah Christian
PUBLIC
Upper Left Bracket
No. 1 Irwin County 26, No. 9 Commerce 23Commerce nearly pulled the upset, as Caleb Mason scored on a 48-yard fourth-down run to put the Tigers up 23-19 with three minutes left in regulation. But Irwin scored a touchdown on a 3-yard run with 26 seconds left to advance to the semifinals for the six consecutive season. Next: vs. No. 4 Pelham
Lower Left Bracket
No. 4 Pelham 49, No. 5 Greene County 20 Next: at No. 1 Irwin County
Upper Right Bracket
No. 2 Marion County 34, No. 7 Schley County 27Junior QB Trice McCannon accounted for all five Eagle touchdowns – four passing and one rushing – to lead Marion County (12-0) into the semifinals. McCannon hooked up with Josh Rodgers for two touchdowns in the final seven minutes to put Marion County into the lead for good. Next: vs. No. 6 Clinch County
Lower Right Bracket
No. 6 Clinch County 35, No. 3 Mt. Zion-Carroll 7Next: at No. 2 Marion County
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