By Score Atlanta
For the third straight year, Archer sent the 7-time dual state champion Collins Hill Eagles into the consolation bracket of the dual state meet. Archer used a 38-25 win over the Eagles on Friday to advance to the semifinals, which extended its dual meet winning streak to 94 consecutive matches. The win over Collins Hill set up a semifinal match with Pope, which the Tigers won 46-13. Archer’s finals opponent comes as a surprise to many as North Forsyth got revenge and pulled off a huge 26-23 win over two-time Area 7 champion Mountain View in the semifinals. Mountain View eliminated North Forysth 31-20 in the consolation bracket last year. Collins Hill stayed alive momentarily with a 44-28 win over East Coweta in the loser’s bracket but was eliminated the following match by Lambert 33-30. Lambert will face Mountain View and Pope will face Tift County and the winners will play for third place.
In Class AAAAA, defending champion Camden County followed its 64-3 opening round win over Luella with a 76-3 win over Starr’s Mill and a 58-12 victory over Clarke Central in the semifinals to set up a rematch with Woodland-Cartersville in the finals on Saturday. Woodland held off Allatoona with an impressive 56-12 win in the semifinals. Camden County won last year's championship meeting with Woodland 40-19.
In Class AAAA, six-time defending champion Gilmer is set to take on 2014 Class AAA dual state champion Buford in the finals on Saturday. Gilmer faced a tall task in the quarterfinals with North Hall, but prevailed 40-30 before using a 50-27 win over Locust Grove in the semis. Buford held off West Laurens 42-31 in the quarterfinals and sent Marist to the consolation bracket with a 41-24 semifinal victory. Marist and North Hall and Locust Grove and West Laurens will faceoff in the consolation semis tomorrow.
Jefferson advanced to the Class AAA finals and will face Jackson County for a shot at a 15th straight dual state championship. Jackson County followed up its 79-0 shutout over Glenn Hills on Thursday with a 41-24 win over Rockmart in the quarterfinals and a 45-22 win over Ringgold in the semis. Lumpkin County, Calhoun, Ringgold and McNair remain alive for a shot at third place.
The state’s smallest two classifications opened their eight-team brackets on Friday and the result will be two more championship rematches tomorrow. In Class AA, defending champion Social Circle outscored East Laurens and Armuchee a combined 140-12 to advance to the finals and Bremen opened with a 62-9 decision over Jeff Davis before battling past Lovett 28-21 in the semis return to the championship stage. Bremen challenged Social Circle in last year’s final before falling 34-31.
Class A defending champion Commerce outscored Turner County 60-10 before scoring a 69-6 win over Trion in the semis to return to the finals and last year's runner-up Mt. Zion used a 45-34 win over Treutlen in the semis to set up the rematch. Commerce clinched the title with a 54-24 win over the Eagles last year.
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