As the Georgia High School Association football state playoffs resumed on Friday with semifinal match ups, five of the nine Atlanta Metro area teams competing ended the night a win a state title game birth. In Class 7A, Grayson, the No. 5 team in the nation, was on the road at Norcross, the No. 17 team in the nation, and would pick up a 28-0 win over the Blue Devils, but it was a hard fought win as Grayson would only score one touchdown in each quarter. The Rams defense came up big Friday night as they kept Norcross’ offense off the board. Jake Garcia would throw for two touchdowns in the Rams win.
On the other side of the 7A bracket, the Collins Hill Eagles would reign victorious as they picked up a 31-14 win over the Lowndes Vikings.
Despite this one being close in the first half, as the Eagles led 14-7 at the half, it would be a 14 point third quarter for Collins Hill and shutdown defense throughout the second half that held the Vikings to seven second half points that would allow the Eagles to pick up the win. The Collins Hill and Grayson wins now set up an all Gwinnett County championship game for the 7A state title
In 6A, the Buford Wolves would dominate the Rush Propst led Valdosta Wildcats as the Wolves would pick up the 45-26 win. Buford will now take on Lee County, who defeated Westlake, for the 6A title. And in 5A, Cartersville held off Coffee for a 24-17 win setting them up for a showdown with Warner Robins, who defeated Jones County 56-21. And in 4A, Marist also had a dominating win as they defeated Bainbridge 42-0. The War Eagles will face Jefferson for the 4A title.
In addition to Westlake and Norcross, Greater Atlanta Christian and Wesleyan were the other remaining metro area teams to lose on Friday night.
