The Quarterfinals produced 4 of our local teams – though only one remains after this week. Here’s what happened under the lights.

#2 Savannah Christian 42, #1 Lumpkin County 21

The Indians fell behind early as the Raiders came up with a 21-6 first half in which 5-star and #1 overall recruit for 2025 Elijah Griffin played phenomenal defense. Will Staples had a pair of first-half field goals. Coming out of the break, Cal Faulkner and Mason Sullens went to work, and broke through with a pair of TDs (passes from Faulkner to Nolan Matthews and Luke Evans). A 2PC pass to Sullens after a 5-yd TD pass to Matthews made it a 21-14 game, and a 20-yd TD to Evans made it 28-21. Lumpkin forced and recovered a fumble and had a chance to tie it in the fourth, but came away empty.

#1 Jefferson 35, #1 Harris County 12

The Dragons overcame an early 6-0 deficit before pulling away on the road. Sammy Brown’s 31-yd TD run in the first gave Jefferson a 7-6 lead. In the second, Brown, Zay Minish, and Dallas Russell led a big drive that netted another 7 points. The defense played well, as the Dragons held a slim 14-12 halftime lead. On the first drive of the second half, Justin Beatty had an interception before Jefferson marched down the field and scored on a Gavin Markey to Minish TD, pushing it up to 21-12. Beatty got another pick in the third, and Brown’s 5-yd TD run made it 28-12 to open the fourth. A fumble recovery resulted in another Brown TD, this time from 36 yards out for the 35-12 lead, which proved to be the final.

#1 Bryan County 24, #1 Commerce 16

The Tigers were scoreless with Bryan County after the first, and the slugfest was just getting started. Bryan went ahead 8-0 in the second before Jacari Huff had a 2-yd score. It was tied at 8 apiece at the break. The home team again went ahead before a TD by Tysean Wiggins with 8:40 left in the game. Jaiden Daniels had a 2PC as well, though Bryan County edged out the 24-16 victory.

#1 Brooks County 39, #3 Rabun County 13

Rabun County’s season came to a close with a 39-13 loss at Brooks County. The Cats held it to a scoreless first quarter, though Brooks County went up 6-0 early in the second. They extended it to 14-0 (TD plus 2PC) a few minutes later, and knocked in a field goal to make it a 17-0 game going into the break. Ty Truelove got Rabun County on the board with a TD run midway through the third. A safety had Brooks up 19-7, and a pick six made it 26-7 to start the fourth. A deep TD pass pushed it to 32-7, but Truelove connected with Paul Picciotti for a TD after the latter had missed over half the season to injury. It was a great moment for the senior, as Rabun pulled within 32-13. Brooks scored another TD in the closing seconds.

OTHER LOCAL GAMES

#1 Grayson 19, #2 Buford 14
#1 Woodward Academy 20, #1 Gainesville 17