Mill Creek, Colquitt County and Buford fall in Georgia playoffs

Nationally ranked powers all stunned short of the Georgia high school football state semifinals

It was rough night for Georgia football powers ranked in the SBLive Sports Illustrated Power 25 national rankings, as No. 8 Mill Creek, No. 11 Colquitt County and No. 12 Buford all fell in the third round of the Class 7A playoffs, Friday night.

Here are summaries of each contest:

Milton 39, Colquitt County 37

Colquitt County came into the contest undefeated and the Packers took advantage of two Luke Nickel first half interceptions to build an early 15-7 lead. Nickel, however, eventually found his groove and passed for 296-yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 119-yards and another score to lead the way for Milton.

The Packers maintained the lead throughout the first half, but it dwindled to 25-22 just prior to the half on a 9-yard TD run by Nickel. The Eagles then went in front for good on the first possession of the second half on a 29-yard TD toss from Nickel to Tristen Payne.

Milton (11-2) extended its lead to 36-25 on a 28-yard TD toss from Nickel to CJ Wiley. Alex Nover then booted a 21-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to help the Eagles maintain their advantage.

Neko Fans passed for three touchdowns to lead Colquitt County. Milton will face Grayson next week.

Grayson 19, Buford 14

Grayson (11-2) took on Buford and the nation’s No. 1 quarterback, Dylan Raiola, Friday night, and came out on top because its defense was the best unit on the field.

The winning score came after a fourth-and-eight play from the Buford 48-yard line in the fourth quarter, as Grayson quarterback JD Davis converted the first down with a throw to a diving Alexander Sanchez. Two plays later the Rams were in the end zone with a 3-yard run from Amari Alston.

Raiola, who will play at the University of Georgia next year, had one final chance to rally the Wolves, but he was sacked by the Eagles on both third and fourth down as the Eagles took over on downs with just 28 seconds to play.

In all, Raiola was sacked six times and the Eagle defense forced and recovered three fumbles in the contest.

Grayson opened the scoring with a 32-yard field goal from Haran Cufurovic, but Buford’s KJ Bolden returned the ensuing kickoff 97-yards for a touchdown to put the Wolves in front.

Grayson countered with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Davis to Sanchez and a 28-yard field goal by Cufurovic to lead 13-7 at the half. Buford regained the lead on a 5-yard TD run by Kobi Blackwell, the only score of the third quarter.

Camden County 39, Mill Creek 20

Camden County took down the defending 7A champs and the current No. 1 team in the state with ease.

Despite a 666-mile round-trip the Wildcats (10-3) had the closing stamina to break loose from a 17-17 third quarter tie and pull away for the 19-point victory over the previously undefeated Hawks.

Parks Riendeau completed a touchdown throw to Elyiss Williams to give the Wildcats the lead, on the team’s first pass of the contest. Antonio Laws then helped close things out with a pair of touchdown runs in the fourth quarter.