Big upsets, historic victories highlight first round of playoffs

Unranked Walton, Berrien and Washington-Wilkes beat heavily favored top-10 opponents Friday night, and Centennial won as a 36-point underdog in the first-round’s biggest upset.

Walton’s 28-24 victory over undefeated McEachern resonated loudest around the state, as McEachern, ranked No. 4 in Class 6A, had won nine of its 10 games by 21 points or more, and Walton had lost to the Indians 50-17 in the opening game. Walton rallied after trailing 24-13 late in the third quarter.

In Class A Division I, Berrien beat previously unbeaten and No. 6 Lamar County 7-0 as a 32-point underdog. Berrien – a No. 31 seed – entered with a 3-7 record and sixth-place finish in its own region, albeit the toughest in its class with top-10 teams Worth County, Fitzgerald and Thomasville.

The victory was Berrien’s first over a top-10 opponent from the same classification since 1993, against Waycross.

In Class A Division II, Washington-Wilkes (5-6) beat No. 9 Seminole County 32-23. Seminole County (8-3) was a 22-point favorite.

The night’s biggest upset, per the Maxwell Ratings, was Centennial’s 28-21 victory over Locust Grove in a game between unranked teams. Centennial (7-4) was the fourth-place finisher in Region 6-4A while Locust Grove (9-2) had just won its first region title in history.

Only four top-10 teams lost in the first round, which is not uncommon, and some of the top teams were ruthless about it. No. 1 Creekside of Class 4A beat Dalton 70-7, and No. 1 Worth County of Class A Division I beat McNair 69-0. No. 2 Thomas County Central of 5A beat Woodstock 73-14.

In the lone game between top-10 teams, Lee County, the No. 8 team in Class 5A, beat No. 10 Sprayberry 34-21. It was Lee County’s 10th consecutive first-round victory.

A few teams got historic victories.

Jackson County won its first playoff game in its 46 seasons with a 50-7 victory over Glynn Academy. Miller Grove, in its 21st season, won its first playoff game with a 20-9 win over Spencer.

Lithonia won its first playoff game since 1994 with a 27-8 victory over Griffin. Wheeler County advanced for the first time since 1999 with a 55-20 victory over Manchester.