Northeast—making its first-ever semifinal appearance—led 18-0 at the half and punched its ticket to the finals with a 46-14 win over visiting Fitzgerald. The Raiders got on the board with a 27-yard field goal with 8:15 left in the opening quarter. Northeast padded the lead with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Reginald Glover to Keandre Jackson to push the lead to 10-0. Northeast recovered two Fitzgerald fumbles in the first half and the second recovery set up Glover to find Nick Woodford for a 26-yard touchdown on the next snap to increase Northeast’s advantage to 18-0 heading into the half. Woodford finished the first half with 182 rushing yards in addition to his 26-yard touchdown reception. After converting a fourth and inches near midfield, Woodford capped another Raiders scoring drive with a 20-yard touchdown run. Fitzgerald got on the board to cut the deficit to 25-7 on the following possession with Victory Copeland’s 80-yard touchdown run. Fitzgerald cut the deficit to 25-14 with 4:21 left on a 1-yard touchdown run. Woodford added a 16-yard touchdown run and then on Fitzgerald’s next possession, senior Decorian Brundage wrestled the ball out of the receiver’s hand for an interception to set up a 4-yard Woodford touchdown run. Woodford scored his fourth touchdown run and fifth total touchdown in the opening seconds of the final quarter on a 38-yard run to increase the lead to 46-14.
Toombs County (12-1) advanced to the finals for the first time in program history and served host Dublin (13-1) its first loss of the season. The Bulldogs capped their opening drive with a 6-yard touchdown run by Alex Scott. Quarterback TJ Stanley connected with Lagonza Hayward for a 14-yard score to push the lead to 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. Dublin answered with a 2-yard run by Willie Batts touchdown run and two-point conversion midway through the second quarter, but Stanley hooked with Hayward for a 5-yard Toombs County touchdown to put the Bulldogs up 21-8 at the half. Dublin was stopped on its first possession of the second half and Stanley capped a lengthy Toombs County drive with a 1-yard touchdown to grow the lead to 28-8. Toombs County completed a 95-yard scoring drive to start the fourth quarter that was fueled by a 60-yard run by Stanley and capped off with a 39-yard touchdown pass to Mike Polke. Dublin’s Micah O’Neal scored an 8-yard run to shrink the deficit to 35-15, but Toombs County returned to the endzone on a 26-yard Justin Powell touchdown run for the final tally.
The last private school, Fellowship Christian was eliminated in a 24-17 loss to Hebron Christian. Thomas Stallworth opened the scoring with a rushing touchdown, giving the Lions a 7-0 lead with 10:19 left in the first quarter. Late in the first, Devon Caldwell extended Hebron’s lead to 14-0 with a 21-yard touchdown run. Synir Fields cut the Lions’ lead to 14-6 with a touchdown run late in the second quarter. Hebron responded with a 33-yard field goal from Cam Ron to take a 17-6 lead into halftime. The Paladins narrowed the gap in the third quarter with a 21-yard field goal from Drew Collins, making it 17-9. Al Thompson later tied the game at 17-17 with a touchdown run. With the game on the line, Hebron’s running back delivered the game-winning score on a spectacular 77-yard touchdown run with 8:51 remaining. The Lions’ defense clamped down in the fourth quarter, holding the Paladins scoreless to secure the 24-17 victory. Hebron will now face Prince Avenue for the second time this season. In their first matchup, Hebron fell 34-31.
Class A-Div. I State Championship
Tuesday, Dec. 17
At Mercedes-Benz Stadium
[8] Northeast-Macon vs. [6] Toombs County, 1 p.m.
UPDATED RECORDS AND SEMIFINAL PAIRINGS
Class A Div. 1 Seeds are placed in [Brackets]
Class A/3A Private Seeds are placed in <Arrows>
REGION 1
Worth County 5-1, 7-3, 9-4 [4]
Thomasville 5-1, 8-2, 10-3 [7]
Fitzgerald 4-2, 7-3, 10-3 [12]
Jeff Davis 3-3, 7-3, 8-4 [16]
Bacon County 1-5, 4-6, 4-7 [20]
Brantley County 2-3, 2-8
Berrien 1-4, 1-9
First Round
Friday, Nov. 15
[4] Worth County 54, [29] Coosa 14
[7] Thomasville 48, [20] Bacon County 6
[12] Fitzgerald 42, [21] Rabun County 21
[16] Jeff Davis 33, [17] Washington County 17
Second Round
Fri. Nov. 22
[4] Worth County 63, [13] Dodge County 23
[7] Thomasville 42, [10] Temple 10
[12] Fitzgerald 28, [28] Bleckley County 24
[1] Fannin County 28, [16] Jeff Davis 21
Quarterfinals
Fri. Nov. 28
[12] Fitzgerald 42, [4] Worth County 38
[2] Dublin 35, [7] Thomasville 13
Semifinals
Friday, Dec. 6
[8] Northeast 46, [12] Fitzgerald 14
REGION 2
Dublin 9-0, 10-0, 13-0 [2]
Northeast 8-1, 8-2, 11-2 [8]
Dodge County 7-2, 8-2, 9-3 [13]
Washington County 6-3, 6-4, 6-5 [17]
ACE Charter 5-4, 6-4, 6-5 [18]
Southwest 4-5, 4-6, 4-7 [27]
Bleckley County 3-6, 4-6, 5-7 [28]
East Laurens 2-7, 3-7
Jefferson County 0-8, 1-9
Central-Macon 0-9, 0-10
First Round
Friday, Nov. 15
[2] Dubin 63, [31] Gordon Central 9
[8] Northeast 46, [25] Swainsboro 7
[13] Dodge County 40, [20] Chattooga 14
[16] Jeff Davis 33, [17] Washington County 17
[15] Jasper County 41, [18] ACE Charter 31
[6] Toombs County 62, [27] Southwest 8
[28] Bleckley County 41, [5] Social Circle 16
Second Round
Friday, Nov. 22
[2] Dublin 42, [15] Japser County 7
[8] Northeast 21, [9] Lamar County 10
[4] Worth County 63, [13] Dodge County 23
[12] Fitzgerald 28, [28] Bleckley County 24
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 28
[2] Dublin 35, [7] Thomasville 13
[8] Northeast 48, [1] Fannin County 39
Semifinals
Friday, Dec. 6
[2] Dublin vs. [6] Toombs County
[8] Northeast vs. [12] Fitzgerald
REGION 3
Savannah Christian 4-0, 9-0, 10-1 <1>
Toombs County 3-1, 8-1, 11-1 [6]
Sav. Country Day 1-3, 4-6, 5-7 <17>
Swainsboro 2-2, 3-7, 3-8 [25]
Vidalia 0-4, 3-7, 3-8 [32]
First Round
Friday, Nov. 15
[6] Toombs County 62, [27] Southwest 8
[1] Fannin County 41, [32] Vidalia 7
[[8] Northeast 46, [25] Swainsboro 7
<1> Savannah Christian BYE
<17> Savannah Country Day 23, <16> Mount Vernon 17
Second Round
Friday, Nov. 22
[1] Savannah Christian 31, [17] Savannah Country Day 3
[6] Toombs County 49, [11] Commerce 21
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 28
<8> North Cobb Christian 30 <1> Savannah Christian 27
[6] Toombs County 56, [19] Elbert County 17
Semifinals
Friday, Dec. 6
[6] Toombs County 42, [2] Dublin 15
REGION 4
Social Circle 5-1, 7-3, 7-4 [5]
Lamar County 5-1, 8-2, 9-3 [9]
Jasper County 4-2, 7-3, 8-4 [15]
Putnam County 4-2, 5-5, 5-6 [23]
McNair 2-4, 4-6, 4-7 [30]
Towers 1-5, 3-6
Utopian Academy 0-6, 0-10
First Round
Friday, Nov. 15
[28] Bleckley County 41, [5] Social Circle 16
[9] Lamar County 51, [24] Dade County 10
[15] Japser County 41, [18] ACE Charter 31
[10] Temple 40, [23] Putnam County 27
[3] Heard County 45, [30] McNair
Second Round
Friday, Nov. 22
[8] Northeast 21, [9] Lamar County 10
[2] Dublin 42, [15] Jasper County 7
REGION 5
Sub Region A
Fellowship Christian 5-0, 8-2, 10-2 <2>
Wesleyan 4-1, 8-2, 10-3 <10>
King’s Ridge 2-3, 7-3, 8-4 <15>
Mount Vernon 3-2, 5-4, 5-5 <16>
Mt. Pisgah 1-4, 2-8, 2-9 <23>
St. Francis 0-5, 0-10
Mount Bethel 0-0, 5-1 ++
Sub Region B
Whitefield Academy 4-0, 7-3, 7-4 <9>
Landmark Christian 2-2, 7-3, 7-4 <12>
Mount Paran 3-1, 7-3, 8-4 <13>
B.E.S.T. Academy 1-3, 4-6
Walker 0-4, 2-8
First Round
Friday, Nov. 15
<2> Fellowship Christian BYE
<9> Whitefield Academy BYE
<10> Wesleyan 41, <23> Mt. Pisgah 21
<21> Providence Christian 27, <12> Landmark Christian 24
<13> Mount Paran 32, <20> Greater Atlanta Christian 29
<15> King’s Ridge 35, <18> Darlington 0
<17> Savannah Country Day 23, <16> Mount Vernon 17
Second Round
Friday, Nov. 22
<8> North Cobb Christian 40, <9> Whitefield Academy 7
<2> Fellowship Christian 35, <15> King’s Ridge 7
<10> Wesleyan 22, <7> Christian Heritage 15
<4> Calvary Day 48, <13> Mt. Paran 7
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 28
<2> Fellowship Christian 28, <10> Wesleyan 14
Semifinals
Friday, Dec. 6
<6> Hebron Christian 24, <2> Fellowship Christian 17
REGION 6
Heard County 6-0, 8-2, 9-3 [3]
Temple 5-1, 8-2, 9-3 [10]
Darlington 3-3, 5-5, 5-6 <18>
Bremen 4-2, 6-4, 6-5 [22]
Pepperell 2-4, 2-8
Model 1-5, 3-7
Haralson County 0-6, 1-9
First Round
Friday, Nov. 15
[3] Heard County 45, [30] McNair 13
[10] Temple 40, [23] Putnam County 27
<15> King’s Ridge Christian 35, <18> Darlington 0
[11] Commerce 35, [22] Bremen 28
Second Round
Friday, Nov. 22
[19] Elbert County 26, [3] Heard County 24
[7] Thomasville 42, [10] Temple 10
REGION 7
Fannin County 7-0, 10-0, 12-1 [1]
Christian Heritage 6-1, 8-2, 8-3 <7>
Gordon Lee 5-2, 7-3, 7-4 [14]
Chattooga 3-4, 6-4, 6-5 [20]
Dade County 3-4, 4-6, 4-7 [24]
Coosa 2-5, 4-6, 4-7 [29]
Gordon Central 2-5, 4-6, 4-7 [31]
Armuchee 0-7, 3-7
First Round
Friday, Nov. 15
[1] Fannin County 41, [32] Vidalia 7
[19] Elbert County 28, [14] Gordon Lee 13
[13] Dodge County 40, [20] Chattooga 14
[9] Lamar County 51, [24] Dade County 10
[4] Worth County 54, [29] Coosa 14
[2] Dublin 63, [31] Gordon Lee 9
<7> Christian Heritage BYE
Second Round
Friday, Nov. 22
[1] Fannin County 28, [16] Jeff Davis 21
<10> Wesleyan 22, <7> Christian Heritage 15
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 28
[8] Northeast 48, [1] Fannin County 39
REGION 8
Athens Academy 6-0, 10-1 <3>
Commerce 5-1, 7-3, 8-4 [11]
Elbert County 4-2, 5-5, 7-6 [19]
Rabun County 3-3, 6-4, 6-5 [21]
Providence Christian 1-5, 2-8, 3-9 <21>
Banks County 2-4, 2-8
Oglethorpe County 0-6, 0-10
First Round
Friday, Nov. 15
[11] Commerce 35, [22] Bremen 28
[19] Elbert County 28, [14] Gordon Lee 13
<21> Providence Christian 27, <12> Landmark Christian 24
[12] Fitzgerald 42, [21] Rabun County 21
Second Round
Friday, Nov. 22
<14> Aquinas 31, <3> Athens Academy 20
[6] Toombs County 49, [11] Commerce 21
[19] Elbert County 26, [3] Heard County 24
<5> Prince Avenue Christian 62, <21> Providence Christian 14
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 28
[6] Toombs County 56, [19] Elbert County 17
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