Defending State Champ Clinch County will visit Lincolnton next week after nipping Mitchell County 20-19. Clinch's last trip to Lincoln County was for the 2006 championship which was won by our Red Devils.
The Panthers (8-3) held a 12-0 lead over the Eagles in Camilla before the home team scored 19 unanswered points in just four minutes. Clinch then scored with 33 seconds left, and new quarterback Fred Tiller dove in for two points and the win by a point. Albany Herald game story
In other first round action, Aquinas won its first home playoff game with a 38-13 whipping of Athens Academy, thanks to five Spartan turnovers. Chronicle game story
As a reward, the Fighting Irish must travel to Rochelle to take on tough Wilcox County. The 2-A champs battered Calhoun County 39-6. Albany Herald playoff roundup: Wilcox, Charlton game recaps
Charlton County overcame an early Miller County lead to keelhaul the Pirates 38-14. The Indians will head north from the swamp to Oconee County next Friday to take on Prince Avenue Christian, 21-8 winners over Washington-Wilkes. The Tigers end their season at 5-6, their third consecutive losing season and fourth in the last five years. Athens B-H game story: PAC vs W-W
Wilkinson County dispatched George Walton Academy 41-21; the Warriors will travel southwest to take on Seminole County, 62-21 winners over Bacon County.
The winner next Friday's game in Lincolnton will face the winner of Bowdon at Savannah Christian. The Western Red Devils upset Holy Innocents 57-43 in a slugfest, and now must travel to the coast to face the tough defense of Savannah Christian. The private school whitewashed Dooly County 37-0 for the Raiders fifth shutout of the season. Savannah Christian game
If Lincoln and Bowdon win, it will be Red Devils vs Red Devils in Lincolnton. If Lincoln and Savannah Christian win, there will be a coin flip to determine the location of the quarterfinal game. The Savannah school knocked our Devils out of the playoffs the past two seasons.
Bremen beat First Presbyterian Day 43-28, and Marion County pounded Johnson County 35-3. Those winners will meet in Buena Vista.
Greenville upended ECI 47-43 and ELCA trounced Mt. Paran Christian 34-14, setting up a visit by Greenville to McDonough.
Landmark Christian edged Darlington 17-14 and Calvary Day defeated Brookstone 27-17, so Landmark will head to Savannah this Friday.
Thomson, undefeated with an overpowering offense through nine games, was upset by Henry County 28-7. In their last two games, the Bulldogs managed a total of 15 points.
Over in the Palmetto State, Abbeville hasn't been seriously challenged since its 24-13 loss to our Devils in August. The Panthers won their 10th straight with a 55-12 victory over Landrum this week. Their first playoff win was 55-13. If they win over Chesterfield next week, they will play for the Class A Division 1 state title on November 25; they are the defending champs.
McCormick won their last two regular season games to earn a playoff berth, then won its first playoff game before losing to Williston-Elko this week.