15 teams that pulled off upsets in first round of Georgia high school football playoffs
Fifteen underdogs won first-round games, according to the computer Maxwell Ratings. There were 17 last season. Here are this year’s upset winners with their projected margins of defeat.
- Luella d. Westover (-21)
- Archer d. Harrison (-15)
- Sequoyah d. Gainesville (-13)
- Ringgold d. Hart Co. (-13)
- Dutchtown d. Decatur (-11)
- Providence Christian d. Landmark Christian (-11)
- Mount Paran Christian d. Greater Atlanta Christian (-9)
- King’s Ridge Christian d. Darlington (-7)
- Jones Co. d. East Forsyth (-7)
- West Forsyth d. Brookwood (-6)
- Cambridge d. Cedartown (-6)
- Bleckley Co. d. Social Circle (-6)
- Peachtree Ridge d. North Atlanta (-4)
- Jasper Co. d. ACE Charter (-3)
- Wilcox Co. d. McIntosh Co. Academy (-2)
Georgia high school football
Photos from the championship games
Milton in Fulton County to finish No. 2 in six national high school football polls
The playoffs:
- Key details for each of the championship games played Dec. 16-18
- Grayson defense lowers the boom on Carrollton to claim 6A championship
- Calhoun shuts down Jefferson in Class 3A final to win first state title since 2017
- In Class 5A final, champion Milton tested, runner-up Hughes dignified
- Hebron Christian gets redemption over Prince Avenue Christian, claims 1st state title
- Carver-Columbus too much for Burke County in 52-14 rout
- North Oconee flips the script to beat No. 1 Marist for first state title
- Big-play Polke’s TD return sends Toombs to first state title
- ‘Relentless’ Bowdon’s 27-point run against Brooks County leads to three-peat state title
Full high school football coverage
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About the Author
Todd Holcomb covers high school sports across the state. He rejoined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2025 and has worked with the AJC in varying capacities since 1985. He is a co-founder and editor of Georgia High School Football Daily.
