Quarterfinal previews: Classes 6A and 5A

Class 6A

Grayson (12-0) at Carrollton (12-0)

Seeding: Grayson is the No. 1 seed from Region 4. Carrollton is the No. 1 seed from Region 2.

Rankings: Grayson is ranked No. 1. Carrollton is ranked No. 3.

Last week: Grayson beat Colquitt County 31-10. Grayson scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to break open a close game. Deuce Smith was 15-of-22 passing for 218 yards. Dawson Quarterman had seven receptions for 126 yards. Ashton Turner rushed for 106 yards. Carrollton beat Harrison 51-6. Cam Wood rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. C.J. Cypher was 8-of-8 passing for 140 yards and three touchdowns. Carrollton led 37-6 at halftime.

Last meeting/series: Grayson won 38-24 in the 2024 finals. Grayson leads the series 1-0.

Playoff history: This is Grayson's eighth straight quarterfinal appearance. Grayson is trying to reach the semifinals for the third straight time. Grayson is 9-5 all-time in quarterfinals. This is Carrollton's 10th straight quarterfinal appearance. Carrollton is trying to reach the semifinals for the second straight time. Carrollton is 14-15 all-time in quarterfinals.

Score vs. schedule: Grayson's average score is 43-9 against the 21st-hardest schedule in Class 6A. Carrollton's average score is 49-13 against the 16th-hardest schedule in Class 6A.

Maxwell Ratings' projection: Carrollton 27, Grayson 26

North Gwinnett (11-1) at West Forsyth (10-2)

Seeding: North Gwinnett is the No. 1 seed from Region 7. West Forsyth is the No. 1 seed from Region 6.

Rankings: North Gwinnett is ranked No. 8. West Forsyth is unranked.

Last week: North Gwinnett beat Lowndes 29-17. North Gwinnett led 22-3 at halftime. Elam Rahman passed for 143 yards and two touchdowns, one an 80-yarder to Evan Hawkins. North Gwinnett led 320-272 in total yards. West Forsyth beat Hillgrove 20-17. Max Walraven passed for 209 yards and two touchdowns and scored on an 8-yard run for a 20-17 lead midway in the fourth quarter to put West Forsyth in the quarterfinals as an unranked team for the second year in a row.

Last meeting/series: North Gwinnett won 31-6 in the 2023 first round. North Gwinnett leads the series 2-1.

Playoff history: This is North Gwinnett's second straight quarterfinal appearance. North Gwinnett is trying to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2019. North Gwinnett is 4-7 all-time in quarterfinals. This is West Forsyth's second straight quarterfinal appearance. West Forsyth is trying to reach the semifinals for the first time. West Forsyth is 0-3 all-time in quarterfinals.

Score vs. schedule: North Gwinnett's average score is 40-9 against the 18th-hardest schedule in Class 6A. West Forsyth's average score is 35-21 against the 36th-hardest schedule in Class 6A.

Maxwell Ratings' projection: North Gwinnett 34, West Forsyth 10

Walton (7-5) at Valdosta (11-1)

Seeding: Walton is the No. 4 seed from Region 5. Valdosta is the No. 1 seed from Region 1.

Rankings: Walton is unranked. Valdosta is ranked No. 5.

Last week: Walton beat East Coweta 49-14. Noriega Thompson rushed for 266 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries while playing only the first half, when Walton took a 42-7 lead. Valdosta beat Brookwood 49-26. Valdosta took a 23-3 lead in the first half, and Brookwood got no closer than 13 points from there. Marquis Fennell scored five touchdowns, rushed for 196 yards on 24 carries and had three receptions for 43 yards.

Last meeting/series: Valdosta won 35-27 in the 2024 first round. The series is tied 1-1.

Playoff history: This is Walton's first quarterfinal appearance since 2023. Walton is trying to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2023. Walton is 5-2 all-time in quarterfinals. This is Valdosta's first quarterfinal appearance since 2020. Valdosta is trying to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2020. Valdosta is 18-12 all-time in quarterfinals.

Score vs. schedule: Walton's average score is 29-26 against the 11th-hardest schedule in Class 6A. Valdosta's average score is 45-16 against the 23rd-hardest schedule in Class 6A.

Maxwell Ratings' projection: Valdosta 34, Walton 14

Douglas County (9-3) at Buford (12-0)

Seeding: Douglas County is the No. 2 seed from Region 2. Buford is the No. 1 seed from Region 8.

Rankings: Douglas County is ranked No. 7. Buford is ranked No. 2.

Last week: Douglas County beat North Cobb 30-24. Douglas County trailed 21-0 in the first half and got into overtime when North Cobb missed a 40-yard field goal try at the end of regulation. Adryan Cole intercepted a North Cobb pass in the first overtime, and Zamarcus Lindley scored the game-winner on a 10-yard run. Lindley rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. Mike Johnson passed for 201 yards. Freshman Jeremiah Mathis had six receptions for 123 yards. Buford beat Newton 31-14. Dayton Raiola's 8-yard run with 1:59 left in the third quarter started a 17-0 run that took Buford’s lead from 14-7 to 31-7. Raiola was 13-of-21 passing for 143 yards and two touchdowns.

Last meeting/series: Buford won 34-26 in 2025. Buford leads the series 3-0.

Playoff history: This is Douglas County's third straight quarterfinal appearance. Douglas County is trying to reach the semifinals for the third straight time. Douglas County is 3-4 all-time in quarterfinals. This is Buford's third straight quarterfinal appearance. Buford is trying to reach the semifinals for the second straight time. Buford is 25-11 all-time in quarterfinals.

Score vs. schedule: Douglas County's average score is 30-21 against the fourth-hardest schedule in Class 6A. Buford's average score is 47-10 against the 13th-hardest schedule in Class 6A.

Maxwell Ratings' projection: Buford 28, Douglas County 14

Class 5A

Woodward Academy (10-2) at Thomas County Central (12-0)

Seeding: Woodward Academy is the No. 1 seed from Region 4. Thomas County Central is the No. 1 seed from Region 2.

Rankings: Woodward Academy is unranked. Thomas County Central is ranked No. 2.

Last week: Woodward Academy beat Statesboro 24-8. Ryan Harrigan passed for 167 yards. Woodward held Statesboro to 56 yards rushing and 11-of-28 passing for 145 yards. Thomas County Central beat Villa Rica 55-14. Thomas County Central led 28-0 at halftime. Jaylen Johnson was 13-of-16 passing for 136 yards and three touchdowns.

Last meeting/series: Thomas County Central won 49-28 in the 2023 finals. Thomas County Central leads the series 2-0.

Playoff history: This is Woodward Academy's first quarterfinal appearance since 2023. Woodward Academy is trying to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2023. Woodward Academy is 8-10 all-time in quarterfinals. This is Thomas County Central's fourth straight quarterfinal appearance. Thomas County Central is trying to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2023. Thomas County Central is 12-5 all-time in quarterfinals.

Score vs. schedule: Woodward Academy's average score is 34-13 against the 28th-hardest schedule in Class 5A. Thomas County Central's average score is 54-8 against the 16th-hardest schedule in Class 5A.

Maxwell Ratings' projection: Thomas County Central 33, Woodward Academy 7

Roswell (11-1) at Sequoyah (11-1)

Seeding: Roswell is the No. 1 seed from Region 7. Sequoyah is the No. 1 seed from Region 6.

Rankings: Roswell is ranked No. 3. Sequoyah is ranked No. 9.

Last week: Roswell beat Clarke Central 50-7. Roswell led 35-0 at halftime. Trey Smith was 12-of-14 passing for 137 yards and three touchdowns. Nick Peal rushed for 106 yards. Wills Campbell had seven receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Sequoyah beat Newnan 48-28. Will Rajecki's 13-yard touchdown run midway in the fourth quarter gave Sequoyah a 34-21 lead. Rajecki rushed for 136 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries. Kolby Martin was 17-of-20 passing for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Brooks Darling had seven receptions for 116 yards.

Last meeting/series: Sequoyah won 29-23 in 2005. Sequoyah leads the series 5-3.

Playoff history: This is Roswell's first quarterfinal appearance since 2023. Roswell is trying to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2022. Roswell is 7-4 all-time in quarterfinals. This is Sequoyah's second straight quarterfinal appearance. Sequoyah is trying to reach the semifinals for the first time. Sequoyah is 0-3 all-time in quarterfinals.

Score vs. schedule: Roswell's average score is 45-21 against the 17th-hardest schedule in Class 5A. Sequoyah's average score is 42-14 against the 21st-hardest schedule in Class 5A.

Maxwell Ratings' projection: Roswell 34, Sequoyah 22

Gainesville (10-2) at Hughes (12-0)

Seeding: Gainesville is the No. 2 seed from Region 7. Hughes is the No. 1 seed from Region 3.

Rankings: Gainesville is ranked No. 4. Hughes is ranked No. 1.

Last week: Gainesville beat Brunswick 42-0. Gainesville went up 35-0 early in the third quarter. Marshall Leonard rushed for 94 yards. The game was ended with 1:57 left in the third quarter after a fight broke out. The GHSA is investigating and could suspend players involved. Hughes beat Lee County 49-31. Qwantavius Wiggins rushed for 141 yards. Darnell Kelly passed for 209 yads and rushed for 88 with four total touchdowns. Xavier Tiller had TD receptions of 57 and 49 yards.

Last meeting/series: Hughes won 35-28 in the 2022 finals. Hughes leads the series 1-0.

Playoff history: This is Gainesville's first quarterfinal appearance since 2023. Gainesville is trying to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2022. Gainesville is 17-9 all-time in quarterfinals. This is Hughes' second straight quarterfinal appearance. Hughes is trying to reach the semifinals for the second straight time. Hughes is 3-1 all-time in quarterfinals.

Score vs. schedule: Gainesville's average score is 43-15 against the 15th-hardest schedule in Class 5A. Hughes' average score is 45-13 against the 18th-hardest schedule in Class 5A.

Maxwell Ratings' projection: Hughes 33, Gainesville 21

Rome (10-2) at Jackson County (11-1)

Seeding: Rome is the No. 1 seed from Region 5. Jackson County is the No. 1 seed from Region 8.

Rankings: Rome is ranked No. 7. Jackson County is unranked.

Last week: Rome beat Houston County 38-28. The score was 28-28 entering the fourth quarter, and Aidan McPherson's 60-yard pass to Kaiden Watters was the winning touchdown. McPherson was 19-of-31 passing for 316 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 113 yards on 25 carries. J.J. Winston had seven receptions for 104 yards and three touchdowns. Watters had four receptions for 111 yards. Jackson County beat Milton 24-19. Daylan Maxwell rushed for 193 yards on 25 carries, and his second touchdown, a 3-yard run with 2:21 left, gave Jackson County a 24-7 lead. Milton scored two touchdowns in a minute but failed to recover the second onside kick. R.J. Knapp was 9-of-14 passing for 100 yards and rushed for 25 yards. The victory ended Milton's two-year reign as a state champion.

Last meeting/series: This is the teams' first meeting.

Playoff history: This is Rome's first quarterfinal appearance since 2023. Rome is trying to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2022. Rome is 5-7 all-time in quarterfinals. This is Jackson County's first quarterfinal appearance.

Score vs. schedule: Rome's average score is 46-17 against the second-hardest schedule in Class 5A. Jackson County's average score is 44-11 against the 40th-hardest schedule in Class 5A.

Maxwell Ratings' projection: Rome 28, Jackson County 20