Power-packed semifinal in Class AA

Published 12:03 am Tuesday, December 15, 2020

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By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

It’s a power-packed final four.

There are four teams remaining in the Class AA state playoffs, and they all bring impressive resumes to the field.

Callaway, Rabun County, Fitzgerald and Jefferson County are all region champions, and each team has had an impressive playoff run.

While Callaway will host Rabun County in one semifinal game, Fitzgerald will be at home against Jefferson County in the other semifinal.

The winners will meet in Atlanta on Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. in the championship game.

The only unbeaten team among the semifinalists is Fitzgerald (13-0), which won the Region 1-AAAA title.

In the playoffs, Fitzgerald has beaten Oglethorpe County (58-12), Northeast (35-18) and Fannin County (48-14) to reach the semifinals.

One of Fitzgerald’s wins came in week two against Jefferson County.

In a game played at Jefferson County, Fitzgerald won a hard-fought game 14-12.

Jefferson County (10-2), which has won 10 straight games since losing to Fitzgerald, won the Region 4-AA championship, and it has beaten Cook County (36-22), Jeff Davis (42-29) and Bremen (33-10) in the state playoffs.

On the other side of the bracket, Rabun County (12-1) is looking to make it to the state-championship game for the second time in four years.

In 2017, Rabun County reached the championship game before losing to Hapeville-Charter 35-23.

This year’s Rabun County team is one win away from getting back to Atlanta for the title game.

Rabun County (12-1), which won the Region 8-AA title, had blowout wins over Haralson County (35-7) and Model (35-0) before outlasting Bleckley County 27-24 in overtime last week.

Rabun County’s opponent will be a Callaway team that is in the semifinals for the third consecutive season.

Callaway (10-1), the Region 5-AA champion, won by forfeit in the first round because Banks County was unable to play.

Callaway beat Lovett 16-9 and Thomasville 34-21 to get back to the semifinals.

SEMIFINAL GAMES

CALLAWAY VS. RABUN COUNTY

WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Callaway Stadium

FITZGERALD VS. JEFFERSON COUNTY

WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Fitzgerald