High School Football Playoff and Semifinal Scores in North Florida and South Georgia

High school football across North Florida and South Georgia hit a fever pitch this week as the postseason brackets officially opened.

According to WCTV, ten North Florida programs are currently eyeing a trip to Miami, while fifteen South Georgia teams remain focused on reaching the state finals in Atlanta. The intensity was palpable across the region, with the opening round of the FHSAA and GHSA playoffs dictating the trajectory for programs that have spent months preparing for this specific stretch of the calendar.

Beyond the state-run brackets, local interest centered on two semifinals. Maclay successfully hosted Episcopal in the SSAA 11-Man semifinals, while Valwood welcomed Briarwood Academy for a GIAA AA semifinal showdown. These matchups, occurring in the backyard of the Big Bend, showed the regional talent currently vying for titles.

Walton at Westlake: 2026 GHSA Football Playoffs – Round One — GPB Sports

The Florida slate featured a mix of tightly contested battles and decisive victories. In the 4A division, Rickards edged out Ed White 28-24, while St. Augustine dominated Lincoln with a 42-7 finish. The 3A and 2A brackets saw similar disparities; Godby shut out Palatka 42-0, and Florida High secured a commanding 42-6 win over Andrew Jackson.

Matchup	Result
4A: (6) Rickards @ (3) Ed White	Rickards 28-24
4A: (7) Lincoln @ (2) St. Augustine	St. Augustine 42-7
3A: (1) Godby @ (8) Palatka	Godby 42-0
2A: (5) Andrew Jackson @ (4) Florida High	Florida High 42-6
2A: (6) Gadsden County @ (3) Walton	Walton 39-6
1A: (8) Chipley @ (1) Madison County	Madison County 36-6
1A: (7) Marianna @ (2) Blountstown	Blountstown 40-0
1A: (5) Taylor County @ (4) Holmes County	Holmes County 40-20
SSAA 11-Man: (3) Episcopal @ (1) Maclay	Maclay 45-21

Across the border in Georgia, the competition proved equally rigorous. Valdosta delivered a statement performance in the 7A division, dismantling West Forsyth 63-7. Thomas County Central continued its undefeated streak with a 56-6 victory over Veterans, while Thomasville handled Utopian Academy for the Arts 47-12.

The GIAA 2A bracket featured a shutout as well, with Valwood defeating Briarwood Academy 45-0. Meanwhile, Thursday night action saw Cairo advance past Bainbridge with a 39-7 scoreline.

7A: Lowndes 62, South Forsyth 27; Colquitt County 52, Lambert 26.
2A: Dodge County 41, Berrien 22; Cook 28, Fannin County 21; Laney 50, Brooks County 0.
1A: Mitchell County 30, Miller County 22; Clinch County 42, McIntosh County Academy 7; Macon County 35, Early County 7; Taylor County 38, Seminole County 14.

These outcomes reflect the high-pressure environment inherent in the transition from regular-season play to the elimination-focused postseason. For programs like Madison County and Blountstown, victories resulted in lopsided scores that ended their opponents’ campaigns.

As the brackets narrow, the focus shifts to the next round of travel and preparation. With regional pride and state aspirations on the line, the remaining teams must now recalibrate for opponents that have survived the initial cull. The road to Miami and Atlanta remains long, but for the victors of this week, the path is at least clear for another seven days.