FRIDAY NIGHT PLAYOFFS RECAP — NO. 4 GAINESVILLE COMES OUT ON TOP OF LONG-AWAITED QUARTERFINALS SHOWDOWN WITH TOP-RANKED LANGSTON HUGHES, ADVANCES WITH 40-32 VICTORY OVER PENALTY-PLAGUED PANTHERS

The fourth-ranked Gainesville roster traveled in its entirety to face No. 1 Langston Hughes, pulling away early en route to a 40-32 victory. The triumph capped an eventful two weeks since the Red Elephants’ controversial second-round victory against Brunswick and secured a semifinals showdown with Rome on Thursday.

The Panthers (12-1) led for much of the first quarter following touchdowns from Carsyn Baker and Qwantavius Wiggins, but a 28-0 run put the Red Elephants (11-2) out front for the rest of the game. While Hughes drives were repeatedly snuffed out by false start penalties, Gainesville got four touchdown passes from quarterback Kharim Hughley — one apiece to Legend Wilmont, Jeremiah Proctor, Sergio Ruiz and freshman Trent Wilcox.

On the defensive side, Darryn Williams took his sixth interception of the season 67 yards for a touchdown and a 27-13 edge heading into halftime, and Jamarion Matthews’ fourth-quarter fumble recovery nearly put the game away.

“The defense did a really good job and that helped a lot,” praised Hughley, the night’s Robbie Hunter MVP Award winner. “I think we all were just happy to play. I just love them guys and can’t wait to go to the next round with them.”

Hughes got a late spark on offense with Baker’s second score and Wiggins’ two-point run, but a pair of Gainesville field goals and a failed onside attempt following Darnell Kelly’s touchdown completion to Jamarion McKinney in the final minute of regulation kept the comeback out of reach. This marks the Red Elephants’ first trip to the semifinals since 2022, and just their second since 2013.

“Our kids are connected,” said fourth-year head coach Josh Niblett after the win. “Our motto for the whole playoffs is ‘Lock in, lock out.’ Lock in the things that matter, lock out the things that don’t matter. They love to play this sport, but they love each other more. They truly love playing with each other and I think you can see that when you watch them.”

See the link to the full playoff scoreboard or check out the class-by-class recaps below.

Class 6A Semifinals

Carrollton 48, North Gwinnett 21

Third-ranked Carrollton put together another emphatic postseason win, this time defeating the visiting Bulldogs by a margin of 48-21. The undefeated Trojans have won every matchup this season by at least three scores, save for a 28-21 win over Class 5A contender Rome in Week 3. CJ Cypher had a touchdown on the ground and another on a pass to Peyton Zachary, and the Trojans got a pair of scores apiece from Cam Wood and Nick Archer, along with another from Mason Holtclaw. Carrollton returns to the championship game for the third time in four years and looks to secure its first state title since 1998 when the Trojans take on Buford next week.

Buford 39, Valdosta 7

No. 2 Buford is returning to the state championship game for the first time since winning three straight from 2019-21, closing out Friday’s matchup at Valdosta with 28 unanswered points for a 39-7 victory over the No. 5 Wildcats. The Wolves got touchdowns from Jameer Cantrell, Dylan McCoy, Tyriq Green, Torre Costin and Brian Stokes, and the Buford defense hauled in three picks off Valdosta quarterback Tyrieke Wade, who entered the contest having thrown just two interceptions all season.

Class 4A Semifinals

Creekside 35, Kell 6

No. 1 Creekside is moving on to the state title game for the second time in three years following a comfortable 35-6 win over the fifth-ranked Longhorns. The Seminoles have outscored four postseason opponents by a combined margin of 189-20, this time holding Kell to a pair of field goals. Quarterback Cayden Benson connected with Armani Hill for a pair of touchdowns and Eric Paul Jr for another, and Ced Kelley and Gary Walker contributed touchdown runs in the second and fourth quarters, respectively.

Benedictine 28, Marist 20

The fourth-ranked Cadets will play for a fifth state title under longtime head coach Danny Britt following hard-fought semifinals win over visiting Marist. Benedictine built a 21-7 lead with an 80-yard Eron Mallard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage and rushing scores from Stanley Smart Jr and Stephen Cannon, and Tyler Baradel completed a 51-yard field goal for Marist just before the break. The War Eagles added a Parks Kaiser touchdown in the third before Cannon connected with Bennett Conaway for a 28-17 edge. Baradel hit a 35-yarder to make it a one-score game with 4:10 to play, but the Benedictine defense forced a punt and a turnover on downs at midfield on Marist’s final two possessions to seal the win.

Class 3A Semifinals

Jefferson 17, West Laurens 13

State runner-up Jefferson will try again after coming up short in the championship game last season and a field goal by Taylor McCall with 11 minutes left in the game proved the difference for the Dragons. Jefferson went ahead 7-0 on a 19-yard run from Darren Pinkard in the first quarter. Colton Grant scored on a short run to give Jefferson a 14-7 lead in the second quarter. The Dragons have won one state championship – Class 2A in 2012 – and appeared in five championship games – 1975, 1977, 2012, 2020 and 2024.

Sandy Creek 42, LaGrange 24

Top-ranked Sandy Creek has a shot at the program’s fifth state title and first since 2022 while completing the program’s second-ever undefeated season (2010) after besting LaGrange in the semifinals. Darius Smiley took over Sandy Creek in 2023 after Brett Garvin’s departure and led the program to the first round, the second round and the championship game in that order. Sandy Creek led 6-3 after the first quarter and were nursing a 21-10 advantage at the half. The Patriots traded touchdowns with LaGrange in the third quarter before outscoring the Grangers 14-7 in the fourth quarter to pull away. Caleb Hill passed to Corey Hadley Jr. for a 65-yard touchdown to put the Patriots ahead 7-3. Hill scrambled for a 10-yard touchdown to expand the lead to 14-3 with 10:33 left in the first half. LaGrange scored on a 35-yard run to cut into the lead but Hill’s four-yard run made it a 21-10 game. The Grangers capped a 73-yard drive with seven minutes left in the third quarter to cut into the lead 21-17. Amari Latimer scored on a 42-yard run to give the Patriots a 28-17 advantage with 3:40 left in the third quarter. Hill’s eight-yard scamper expanded the lead to 35-17. With 4:20 remaining, LaGrange narrowed the margin to 35-24, but a 17-yard touchdown run from Latimer put the game away with 2:19 remaining.

Class 2A Semifinals

Hapeville Charter 24, Sumter County 18

Hapeville Charter – which started the season 1-4 after losing to Cartersville 42-6, Lee County 28-13, Westlake 13-7 and Carver-Atlanta 14-7 -- outlasted Sumter County in overtime on the road to secure the program’s second championship appearance. A fumble recovery on Sumter County’s first overtime possession secured the victory. The program’s first title appearance in 2017, also under head coach Winston Gordon, resulted in the program’s first-ever title. Gordon built the program beginning in 2011 and led the Hornets to the semifinals in 2916, his sixth year at the helm. In the semifinals, Hapeville trailed 3-0 at the half before tying the game at 10-10 early in the fourth quarter. The teams entered overtime tied at 18 and

Carver-Columbus 33, Burke County 14

Defending-champion Carver won its first state title in 2007 with a roster that featured Jarvis Jones, who played at the University of Georgia and was the 17th overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft. Jones played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2013-2016 and the Arizona Cardinals in 2017. Following Pierre Coffey’s departure last season, Jones took over the head coaching duties at his alma mater and in his first year at the helm, the Tigers are back in the championship game, trying for the program’s third. Carver led 13-7 at the half and expanded the lead to 33-14 entering the fourth quarter against Burke County.

Class A-Division I Semifinals

Worth County 32, Pepperell 12

Worth County won its only state championship in 1987 and after outlasting Pepperell in the semifinals, the Rams have a shot at another. The Rams went head on a 95-yard pass from Lyndon Worth to Jaquaveon Nelson midway through the first quarter. Worth’s defense forced a safety early in the second quarter to expand the lead and on the ensuing drive, a short run from Treshaun Jones put Worth ahead 16-0. Brodey Hancock kicked a 27-yard field goal to push the lead to 19-0 with seven minutes left in the third quarter. Kaden Chester scored on a seven-yard run late in the third quarter to give Worth a 25-6 lead. Following an interception by DeWhite Council, Worth expanded the lead on a nine-yard run from Chester with nine minutes left in the game. Pepperell’s Chance Hopper scored on a nine-yard run to cap scoring. Before last year’s quarterfinals appearance under Jeff Hammond, who took over in 2022, the Rams had not been that deep in the playoffs 1997’s quarterfinals exit. Worth last appeared in a title game in 1989 and 1990.

Toombs County 40, Heard County 14

Defending champion Toombs County led 7-0 after the first quarter and 14-7 at the half before outscoring Heard County 26-7 in the second half to advance to the championship game. Buddy Martin took over the head coaching duties in 2023 and led Toombs to the quarterfinals in his first season before winning the state championship last year.

Class A-Division II Semifinals

Bowdon 45, Clinch County 6

Bowdon will try for the program’s fourth-straight and sixth overall championship after beating Clinch County in the semis. Bowdon led 14-0 after the first quarter and 28-0 at the half in the romp. The program previously won titles in 1971 and 1992. Head coach Rich Fendley took over at Bowdon in 2018 and led the Red Devils to the second round in his first three seasons before winning three straight Class A-Division II championships.

Lincoln County 34, Early County 0

Lincoln County has a chance at the program’s 12th state title after moving past Early County 34-0 in the semis. The Red Devils led 7-0 after the first quarter, 21-0 at the half and 34-0 entering the fourth quarter. The Red Devils have not won a title since 2006, when it won back-to-back Class A titles. Lincoln also won championships in 1976, 1977, 1985-1987, 1989-1990, 1993 and 1995.

Class 1A-3A Private Semifinals

Calvary Day 24, Fellowship Christian 7

Calvary Day will have a chance at the program’s first-ever state championship after moving past Fellowship Christian on the road in the semifinals in Jason Cameron’s first year as head coach. The Cavaliers outscored Fellowship 14-0 to enter the half leading 17-7 following a blocked punt and a fumble recovery. Calvary Day lost in the state championship game in 2013 and last made the semifinals in 2023 under head coach Mark Stroud.

Hebron Christian 50, Greater Atlanta Christian 24

Defending-champion Hebron led 28-10 after the first quarter and 50-17 entering the fourth quarter in a romp of Greater Atlanta Christian. The Lions went ahead on a 30-yard run from Devon Caldwell. He rushed in for 75 yards to expand the lead. Caldwell put Hebron ahead 21-10 on a 10-yard run and with a minute left in the first quarter, he rushed in for two yards to regain momentum. Caldwell added another touchdown run with 10 minutes left in the third quarter and a pass to Fletcher Turk on the 2-point conversion attempt put Hebron ahead 36-10. Jarvis Mathurin scored on a kick returned for a touchdown to give the Lions a 43-17 lead. Gray Costello passed 93 yards to Turk to cap scoring for Hebron with five minutes left in the third quarter. Hebron will play for the program’s second state championship after winning its first last season.

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