Daily Dive: Where the top four teams in each class stand in the football semifinals

The GHSA football playoffs are heading into the final rounds, and some of the biggest games of the season are on the horizon. However, many of the teams we expected to be in the hunt are now sitting at home.

In Class 6A, two of the top four ranked teams are already out of the playoffs. Top-ranked Grayson fell last week to Carrollton in a battle of top-three teams, 34-14. The Rams entered the quarterfinals as the top team in the country, but a dominant performance from Carrollton gave the Trojans the victory. The other top-four team out of the playoffs is McEachern; the Indians were upset by Walton in the first round, 28-24. The battle of Cobb County teams was very different from the game in Week One, when the Indians won 50-17. However, second-ranked Buford and third-ranked Carrollton are still on a quest for a championship.

In Class 5A, because of the delay in the playoffs, all the top four teams are still alive. However, one of the top four, Hughes or Gainesville, will not make the semifinals because they will face each other in a delayed quarterfinal game.

In Class 4A, only two of the top three remain in the playoffs. Second-ranked North Oconee lost last week to fifth-ranked Marist, 23-20, in a championship rematch from last year, while third-ranked Cartersville lost last week to Kell in a 48-21 game. It was both teams’ first loss of the season. However, top-ranked Creekside and fourth-ranked Benedictine are still in the hunt.

In Class 3A, only one team is remaining from the top four. Calhoun was upset in the second round, 16-0, by Douglass-Atlanta. Third-ranked North Hall fell in the second round to LaGrange, 52-28, in a slight upset. Fourth-ranked Peach County was upset by Jenkins; however, Jenkins was the higher-seeded team. Top-ranked Sandy Creek is still in the hunt and has yet to play a close game in the playoffs.

In Class 2A, only defending champion Carver-Columbus remains from the top four. Morgan County lost in the last round to Hapeville Charter, 34-22. Craver-Atlanta, the third-ranked team and top overall seed, lost last week to Sumter County, 39-20. Lastly, Rockmart lost to defending runner-up Burke County in a 41-40 shootout.

In Class A-DI has three of the top four in the playoffs. The only team of the top four not in the final four is Northeast, which lost to second-ranked Toombs County, 24-6, in the quarterfinals, while the top three of Worth County, Toombs County, and Heard County are preparing for the semifinals.

In Class A-DII, the only team of the top four that has not made the final four is Johnson County, which lost in the second round to Brooks County, 14-7. The top two of Lincoln County and Clinch County, along with fourth-ranked and three-time defending champion Bowdon, remain in the playoffs.

In Class A-3A Private, the top three of Hebron Christian, Fellowship Christian, and Calvary Day are all still in the playoffs, while fourth ranked Holy Innocents’ lost in the second round to Athens Academy, 48-37.