The 2024 high school football season is approaching its thrilling conclusion, with significant playoff games taking place this week. Key semifinal matches in Georgia highlight the action: No. 10 Buford will host No. 5 Carrollton in the 6A bracket, while No. 25 Lee County (Leesburg) heads out on the road to challenge No. 2 Milton in the 5A division.
A key concern for Carrollton is the status of their four-star quarterback, Julian Lewis. He managed to play a little over a quarter during last week’s commanding 46-6 victory over Hillgrove (Powder Springs) but exited the game in the second quarter due to a hand injury. In his absence, Dylan Bishop stepped in and threw for 123 yards on 10 of 14 passes, securing three touchdowns.
Buford has been on a roll, securing 12 straight victories since their narrow 13-10 loss to No. 2 Milton at the start of the season. Last week, the Wolves dominated North Gwinnett (Suwanee), handing them their only defeat with a resounding 43-7 scoreline.
Meanwhile, Milton rides a 23-game winning streak heading into the semi-finals. Four-star quarterback Luke Nickel showcased his skills in the quarterfinals against Houston County (Warner Robins), completing 16 of 24 passes for 327 yards and five touchdowns. Lee County improved to 13-0 with a dominating 64-0 win over Sprayberry (Marietta).
The third key matchup is set to occur in Texas, where No. 6 North Shore will face No. 20 Atascocita in the Class 6A Division 1 quarterfinals. Their regular-season matchup was a nail-biter, with Kaleb Bailey finding Quanell Farrahkan Jr. for the decisive touchdown just six seconds before the final whistle, clinching a 27-23 victory.
Additionally, both state title games in Alabama’s largest classifications are on the agenda for this week. Thompson (Alabaster) will take on Central (Phenix City) in the 7A championship game on Wednesday, and on Friday, Saraland will face off against Parker (Birmingham) in the 6A championship.
Top 10 Football Games of the Week
1. No. 5 Carrollton (Ga.) at No. 10 Buford (Ga.)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Top Players:
Carrollton: QB Julian Lewis (6-1, 175), WR Ryan Mosley (6-3, 190), DB Dorian Barney (6-1, 175), DB Zelus Hicks (6-3, 190), DB Shamar Arnoux (6-2, 180)
Buford: LB Jadon Perlotte (6-4, 215), DL Bryce Perry-Wright (6-3, 255), RB Justin Baker (5-11, 190), WR Jordan Allen (5-8, 170), LB Mantrez Walker (6-1, 225)
Lewis has had a stellar season with 3,272 passing yards and 44 touchdowns, making his potential absence a significant blow to the Trojans. Should he not play, Bishop will take the reins. Carrollton’s defense has been impressive lately, limiting five of their last six opponents to 13 points or fewer. Buford has been dominant in the playoffs, outscoring their three opponents 142-23.
These two teams have met three times in the playoffs since 2016, with Buford winning all of them, including the latest encounter in the 2021 6A semifinals. The victor will move on to face Douglas County (Douglasville) or Grayson (Loganville) in the 6A state championship on December 18.
2. No. 25 Lee County (Leesburg, Ga.) at No. 2 Milton (Ga.)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Top Players
Lee County: RB Ousmane Kromah (6-2, 210), QB Weston Bryan (6-4, 225), DL Jeramiah McCloud (6-3, 280), LB Greg Batson (6-1, 205), DB Lasiah Jackson (6-3, 175)
Milton: QB Luke Nickel (6-2, 215), WR C.J. Wiley (6-4, 195), TE Ethan Barbour (6-3, 235), RB T.J. Lester (5-10, 200), LB Hayden Tumminia (5-11, 220)
Football fans should brace themselves for an exciting clash as these two teams battle for a spot in the 5A state championship. Milton enters the game averaging an impressive 42.2 points per contest, while Lee County boasts an even more staggering average of 55.2 points. This matchup is packed with talent, showcasing two of the nation’s best quarterbacks. Nickel’s stats reveal 3,033 passing yards and 36 touchdown passes, adding 152 rushing yards and four additional touchdowns.
On the flip side, Bryan has recorded 2,357 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, coupled with an astonishing 1,241 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns. The winner will face either Langston Hughes (Fairburn) or Coffee (Douglas) in the 5A championship on December 17.
3. No. 6 North Shore (Houston) vs. No. 20 Atascocita (Humble, Texas)
Saturday, 2 p.m. at Thorne Stadium
Top Players
North Shore: DB Devin Sanchez (6-2, 170), QB Kaleb Bailey (6-2, 190), LB Charles Ross (6-2, 210), WR Quanell Farrahkan Jr. (5-11, 185), WR Deion Deblanc (5-10, 180)
Atascocita: RB Tory Blaylock (5-11, 190), QB Cardae Mack (5-10, 195), DB Brandon Washington (5-11, 170), WR C.J. Toney (5-10, 175), WR Brodrick Malone (6-5, 200)
North Shore holds a commanding advantage over Atascocita in their ongoing rivalry, seeking their 10th consecutive victory in this matchup. Although Atascocita almost broke that streak during their regular-season clash, they were missing star running back Tory Blaylock for much of that game. Blaylock made a remarkable return last week, carrying the ball 10 times for 152 yards and five touchdowns in a nail-biting 47-42 victory against Fulshear.
The Mustangs come off a solid 42-28 victory over Katy, highlighted by Bailey’s impressive 281 yards passing and five touchdowns. The victor of this game will advance to face either Westlake (Austin) or Lake Travis (Austin) in the Class 6A Division 1 semifinals.
4. Saraland (Ala.) vs. Parker (Birmingham, Ala.)
Friday, 7 p.m. at Protective Stadium
Top Players
Saraland: QB K.J. Lacey (6-1, 175), DL Antonio Coleman (6-3, 265), WR Carson Gill (5-8, 155), RB Santae McWilliams Jr. (5-9, 170), ATH Deshawn Spencer (5-11, 165)
Parker: ATH Naeem Offord (6-1, 185), DL Jourdin Crawford (6-3, 275), DB Timothy Merritt (6-2, 175), DL Vodney Cleveland (6-3, 295), RB Terence Gaines Jr. (5-10, 195)
Saraland is aiming for their third consecutive 6A state championship game appearance. The Spartans clinched the title in 2022 and were runners-up last season. Parker, on the other hand, is making its first appearance in a state championship game in 44 years and is in pursuit of its inaugural title.
This matchup showcases two athletes vying for the 2024 Alabama Player of the Year award. Lacey has amassed 2,817 passing yards and 38 touchdowns, complemented by two rushing touchdowns. Offord has excelled across multiple facets of the game, totaling 936 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns while adding 46 tackles and four interceptions defensively.
5. Basha (Chandler, Ariz.) vs. Liberty (Peoria, Ariz.)
Saturday, 6 p.m. at Arizona State University
Top Players
Basha: RB Noah Roberts (6-1, 200), DL Bleu Dantzler (6-3, 230), OL Jake Hildebrand (6-6, 285), WR Gio Richardson (5-11, 170), LB Eli Cramer-Cronin (6-1, 205)
Liberty: LB Hudson Dunn (6-1, 210), QB Hayden Fletcher (6-2, 170), WR Braxton Huynh (5-11, 175), OL Nick Spence (6-6, 280), DB Zeth Thues (6-0, 185)
This matchup has been highly anticipated throughout the season in Arizona, culminating in the Open Division championship. Both teams faced defeats at the hands of nationally-ranked, out-of-state rivals. Navi Bruzon spearheaded Liberty’s last season victory in the Open Division, while Demond Williams led Basha to their sole Open Division title in 2022.
6. Hough (Cornelius, N.C.) at Grimsley (Greensboro, N.C.)
Friday, 7 p.m.
Top Players
Hough: DB Samari Matthews (6-0, 180), WR Tyran Evans (6-3, 170), QB Trey Blakeney (6-2, 210), LB Ayden Bell (6-0, 200), WR Sean Brady (5-9, 165)
Grimsley: QB Faizon Brandon (6-4, 200), DL Bryce Davis (6-3, 240), RB Mitchell Summers (5-8, 175), ATH Kaden Catoe (6-0, 165), DB Kosci Barnes (6-3, 190)
The North Carolina 4A bracket is packed with talent, and this quarterfinal clash features two teams represented in our expanded top 100. The only other ranked team is Weddington (Matthews), the defending 4A state champion. Together, Brandon and Davis compose one of the top duos in the nation. Brandon has recorded 2,820 total yards and 35 touchdowns while Davis boasts 78 tackles, including 24 tackles for loss and 17 sacks. Hough is currently riding a 12-game winning streak after their season-opening loss to Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) and has outscored its first three playoff opponents by an astounding 140-3 margin.
7. Avon (Ohio) vs. Anderson (Cincinnati)
Thursday, 7 p.m. at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium
Top Players
Avon: QB Nolan Good (6-2, 200), DB Jakob Weatherspoon (5-10, 175), OL Jeremiah Kelly (6-3, 300), DL Sam Toniolo (6-4, 240), OL Maximus Hauck (6-3, 285)
Anderson: WR Trace Jallick (6-3, 175), QB Justice Burnam (6-0, 190), TE Caden Piening (6-4, 240), LB Antwoine Higgins (6-4, 225), DB Jayonn Saunders (5-10, 170)
Anderson secured their spot in the finals with a hard-fought 28-24 victory over Big Walnut (Sunbury) in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Avon delivered a powerful performance last week, defeating Archbishop Hoban (Akron) 35-10, breaking a streak where the Knights had eliminated them in five of the last seven playoffs. Anderson is aiming for their first state championship since 2007, while Avon seeks its inaugural title, following a runner-up finish in 2011 during their only previous championship appearance.
8. Douglas County (Douglasville, Ga.) at Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
Friday, 7:30 p.m. – Watch live on NFHS Network
In last week’s contest, Douglas County edged out Grayson with a close score of 28-35. Both teams are jockeying for a spot in the MaxPreps Top 25, with Douglas County currently sitting at No. 30 in the extended top 100, just above Grayson at No. 39. The Rams have been on a roll, winning their last 12 games, including a victory over Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.) last week, finishing 38-14. Douglas County’s two setbacks came against No. 5 Carrollton and No. 10 Buford.
The road to the 6A semifinals for Douglas County included tough matches against Mill Creek (Hoschton), North Cobb (Kennesaw), and West Forsyth (Cumming). An important question as game day approaches is the status of quarterback D.J. Bordeaux, who exited last week’s match in the third quarter due to an injury.
9. Folsom (Calif.) at Pittsburg (Calif.)
Friday, 7:30 p.m. – Watch live on NFHS Network
In a recent matchup, Pittsburg triumphed over Folsom, concluding the game at a score of 28-27. Folsom has been a dominant force since its only loss to Serra (San Mateo), stringing together 11 consecutive wins with an impressive average margin of victory of 43.6 points. Conversely, Pittsburg faced two narrow defeats, one against nationally-ranked No. 7 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) and another in the nail-biting contest against No. 22 De La Salle (Concord) in the North Coast Section Open Division championship.
The last time these two teams crossed paths was in last year’s NorCal Division 1-A championship, where Folsom emerged victorious 28-25. The outcome of this game will lead the winner to face off against Lincoln (San Diego) or Newbury Park in the Division 1-A state championship set for December 13.
10. Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.) vs. Central (Phenix City, Ala.)
Wednesday, 7 p.m. at Protective Stadium – Watch live on NFHS Network
In their latest match, Thompson claimed a solid win against Central, wrapping up the match at a score of 21-7. This championship game marks the seventh consecutive appearance in the 7A state finals for Thompson, a program that has celebrated victories in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, in addition to their 1982 title win. Central, on the other hand, aims to repeat their recent glory after clinching their third state title last season, adding to their previous wins in 1993 and 2018. This championship matchup also represents the fourth encounter between these two esteemed programs in the 7A state finals since 2018.
