The higher-ranked teams won 27 of 32 games in the quarterfinals of the Georgia high school football state playoffs Friday.
Defending champions Warner Robins and Fitzgerald won in overtime while Dutchtown, St. Francis and Schley County made in the semifinals for the first time, and Fellowship Christian advanced as the only unranked team.
Warner Robins, the two-time reigning Class 5A champion, beat No. 2 Creekside 31-28. Warner Robins is ranked No. 8, an uncommonly low position brought on by the Demons’ 1-4 start, but now, the team has won eight straight games to go with its 13-game winning streak in the playoffs. Warner Robins is the first 5A team this season to beat Creekside, which finished 10-3 after an 0-2 start.
Fitzgerald, the 2021 Class 2A champion, beat No. 7 Rockmart 21-14 in one extra period.
Defending champions Benedictine in 4A and Cedar Grove in 3A also won. Benedictine, ranked No. 4, beat unranked Stockbridge 34-14 while Cedar Grove, ranked No. 1, beat No. 2 Calvary Day 30-0.
Dutchtown, St. Francis and Schley County will be the only ones of 32 semifinal teams making their first appearances.
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