First-round preview: Class A Division I
East Laurens (3-7) at Heard County (10-0)
Seeding: East Laurens is the No. 32 seed. Heard County is the No. 1 seed.
Rankings: East Laurens is unranked. Heard County is ranked No. 3.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Playoff history: This is East Laurens' first playoff appearance since 2023. East Laurens made the second round most recently in 2000. East Laurens is 1-7 all-time in the round of 32. This is Heard County's 21st straight playoff appearance. Heard County is trying to make the second round for the second season in a row. Heard County is 13-11 all-time in the round of 32.
Score to schedule: East Laurens' average score is 18-22 against the 15th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I. Heard County's average score is 40-14 against the 32nd-hardest schedule in Class A Division I.
Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Heard County by 27
Social Circle (6-4) at Haralson County (7-3)
Seeding: Social Circle is the No. 17 seed. Haralson County is the No. 16 seed.
Rankings: Both are unranked.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Playoff history: This is Social Circle's sixth straight playoff appearance. Social Circle made the second round most recently in 2022. Social Circle is 2-12 all-time in the round of 32. This is Haralson County's first playoff appearance since 2021. Haralson County made the second round most recently in 2021. Haralson County is 1-6 all-time in the round of 32.
Score to schedule: Social Circle's average score is 34-21 against the 29th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I. Haralson County's average score is 31-15 against the 33rd-hardest schedule in Class A Division I.
Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Haralson County by 1
ACE Charter (5-5) at Fitzgerald (7-3)
Seeding: ACE Charter is the No. 24 seed. Fitzgerald is the No. 9 seed.
Rankings: ACE Charter is unranked. Fitzgerald is ranked No. 8.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Playoff history: This is ACE Charter's fifth straight playoff appearance. ACE Charter has never made the second round. ACE Charter is 0-4 all-time in the round of 32. This is Fitzgerald's 26th straight playoff appearance. Fitzgerald has won its first-round game each of the past seven seasons. Fitzgerald is 22-3 all-time in the round of 32.
Score to schedule: ACE's average score is 24-24 against the 22nd-hardest schedule in Class A Division I. Fitzgerald's average score is 29-12 against the fifth-hardest schedule in Class A Division I.
Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Fitzgerald by 29
Washington County (5-5) at Dublin (8-2)
Seeding: Washington County is the No. 25 seed. Dublin is the No. 8 seed.
Rankings: Washington County is unranked. Dublin is ranked No. 9.
Last meeting: Dublin won 14-7 in 2025.
Playoff history: This is Washington County's 18th straight playoff appearance. Washington County made the second round most recently in 2018. Washington County is 15-13 all-time in the round of 32. This is Dublin's 10th straight playoff appearance. Dublin has won its first-round game each of the past three seasons. Dublin is 14-10 all-time in the round of 32.
Score to schedule: Washington County's average score is 23-21 against the 16th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I. Dublin's average score is 32-14 against the 18th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I.
Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Dublin by 15
Fannin County (5-5) at Northeast (8-2)
Seeding: Fannin County is the No. 28 seed. Northeast is the No. 5 seed.
Rankings: Fannin County is unranked. Northeast is ranked No. 4.
Last meeting: Northeast won 48-39 in the 2024 quarterfinals.
Playoff history: This is Fannin County's eighth straight playoff appearance. Fannin County is trying to make the second round for the second season in a row. Fannin County is 4-7 all-time in the round of 32. This is Northeast's sixth straight playoff appearance. Northeast is trying to make the second round for the second season in a row. Northeast is 6-10 all-time in the round of 32.
Score to schedule: Fannin County's average score is 23-25 against the 36th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I. Northeast's average score is 30-8 against the 17th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I.
Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Northeast by 35
Bacon County (5-5) at Swainsboro (8-2)
Seeding: Bacon County is the No. 21 seed. Swainsboro is the No. 12 seed.
Rankings: Bacon County is unranked. Swainsboro is ranked No. 7.
Last meeting: Swainsboro won 47-0 in the 2022 first round.
Playoff history: This is Bacon County's fourth straight playoff appearance. Bacon County has never made the second round. Bacon County is 0-8 all-time in the round of 32. This is Swainsboro's eighth straight playoff appearance. Swainsboro made the second round most recently in 2023. Swainsboro is 11-10 all-time in the round of 32.
Score to schedule: Bacon County's average score is 19-30 against the 10th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I. Swainsboro's average score is 28-22 against the No. 1-hardest schedule in Class A Division I.
Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Swainsboro by 27
Putnam County (5-5) at Thomasville (7-3)
Seeding: Putnam County is the No. 20 seed. Thomasville is the No. 13 seed.
Rankings: Putnam County is unranked. Thomasville is ranked No. 5.
Last meeting: Thomasville won 14-6 in the 1999 first round.
Playoff history: This is Putnam County's seventh straight playoff appearance. Putnam County made the second round most recently in 2022. Putnam County is 7-12 all-time in the round of 32. This is Thomasville's 10th straight playoff appearance. Thomasville has won its first-round game each of the past eight seasons. Thomasville is 17-9 all-time in the round of 32.
Score to schedule: Putnam County's average score is 26-22 against the 27th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I. Thomasville's average score is 44-21 against the second-hardest schedule in Class A Division I.
Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Thomasville by 27
Temple (5-5) at Toombs County (9-1)
Seeding: Temple is the No. 29 seed. Toombs County is the No. 4 seed.
Rankings: Temple is unranked. Toombs County is ranked No. 2.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Playoff history: This is Temple's fourth straight playoff appearance. Temple is trying to make the second round for the second season in a row. Temple is 2-9 all-time in the round of 32. This is Toombs County's fourth straight playoff appearance. Toombs County has won its first-round game each of the past two seasons. Toombs County is 8-11 all-time in the round of 32.
Score to schedule: Temple's average score is 30-29 against the 34th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I. Toombs County's average score is 42-14 against the sixth-hardest schedule in Class A Division I.
Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Toombs County by 48
McNair (3-7) at Worth County (10-0)
Seeding: McNair is the No. 30 seed. Worth County is the No. 3 seed.
Rankings: McNair is unranked. Worth County is ranked No. 1.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Playoff history: This is McNair's second straight playoff appearance. McNair made the second round most recently in 2006. McNair is 3-5 all-time in the round of 32. This is Worth County's fourth straight playoff appearance. Worth County is trying to make the second round for the second season in a row. Worth County is 7-11 all-time in the round of 32.
Score to schedule: McNair's average score is 20-32 against the 30th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I. Worth County's average score is 42-12 against the 24th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I.
Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Worth County by 45
Jeff Davis (7-3) at Bleckley County (8-2)
Seeding: Jeff Davis is the No. 19 seed. Bleckley County is the No. 14 seed.
Rankings: Jeff Davis is unranked. Bleckley County is ranked No. 10.
Last meeting: Bleckley County won 21-6 in 2005.
Playoff history: This is Jeff Davis's third straight playoff appearance. Jeff Davis is trying to make the second round for the second season in a row. Jeff Davis is 4-7 all-time in the round of 32. This is Bleckley County's seventh straight playoff appearance. Bleckley County has won its first-round game each of the past five seasons. Bleckley County is 7-5 all-time in the round of 32.
Score to schedule: Jeff Davis's average score is 32-22 against the 14th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I. Bleckley County's average score is 38-15 against the 26th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I.
Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Bleckley County by 7
Oglethorpe County (6-4) at Elbert County (4-6)
Seeding: Oglethorpe County is the No. 22 seed. Elbert County is the No. 11 seed.
Rankings: Both are unranked.
Last meeting: Elbert County won 27-0 in 2025.
Playoff history: This is Oglethorpe County's first playoff appearance since 2023. Oglethorpe County made the second round most recently in 1996. Oglethorpe County is 1-4 all-time in the round of 32. This is Elbert County's 13th straight playoff appearance. Elbert County has won its first-round game each of the past three seasons. Elbert County is 9-14 all-time in the round of 32.
Score to schedule: Oglethorpe County's average score is 23-24 against the 25th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I. Elbert County's average score is 23-20 against the 12th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I.
Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Elbert County by 4
Towers (4-6) at Gordon Lee (9-1)
Seeding: Towers is the No. 27 seed. Gordon Lee is the No. 6 seed.
Rankings: Both are unranked.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Playoff history: This is Towers' first playoff appearance since 2009. Towers has never made the second round. Towers is 0-4 all-time in the round of 32. This is Gordon Lee's third straight playoff appearance. Gordon Lee made the second round most recently in 2020. Gordon Lee is 4-10 all-time in the round of 32.
Score to schedule: Towers' average score is 19-26 against the 38th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I. Gordon Lee's average score is 41-12 against the 42nd-hardest schedule in Class A Division I.
Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Gordon Lee by 37
Gordon Central (7-3) at Jasper County (9-1)
Seeding: Gordon Central is the No. 26 seed. Jasper County is the No. 7 seed.
Rankings: Both are unranked.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Playoff history: This is Gordon Central's second straight playoff appearance. Gordon Central has not advanced beyond the round of 32 since a quarterfinal appearance in 1995. Gordon Central is 0-6 all-time in the round of 32. This is Jasper County's fourth straight playoff appearance. Jasper County is trying to make the second round for the second season in a row. Jasper County is 1-8 all-time in the round of 32.
Score to schedule: Gordon Central’s average score is 24-23 against the 46th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I. Jasper County's average score is 34-12 against the 37th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I.
Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Jasper County by 37
Bremen (5-5) at Pepperell (6-4)
Seeding: Bremen is the No. 23 seed. Pepperell is the No. 10 seed.
Rankings: Both are unranked.
Last meeting: Pepperell won 21-10 in 2025.
Playoff history: This is Bremen's 12th straight playoff appearance. Bremen made the second round most recently in 2023. Bremen is 15-11 all-time in the round of 32. This is Pepperell's first playoff appearance since 2023. Pepperell made the second round most recently in 2019. Pepperell is 9-15 all-time in the round of 32.
Score to schedule: Bremen's average score is 27-19 against the 31st-hardest schedule in Class A Division I. Pepperell's average score is 33-24 against the 21st-hardest schedule in Class A Division I.
Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Pepperell by 6
Dodge County (7-3) at Rabun County (8-2)
Seeding: Dodge County is the No. 18 seed. Rabun County is the No. 15 seed.
Rankings: Both are unranked.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Playoff history: This is Dodge County's second straight playoff appearance. Dodge County is trying to make the second round for the second season in a row. Dodge County is 10-9 all-time in the round of 32. This is Rabun County's 14th straight playoff appearance. Rabun County made the second round most recently in 2023. Rabun County is 11-4 all-time in the round of 32.
Score to schedule: Dodge County's average score is 32-18 against the 23rd-hardest schedule in Class A Division I. Rabun County's average score is 39-20 against the 28th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I.
Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Rabun County by 2
Berrien (3-7) at Lamar County (10-0)
Seeding: Berrien is the No. 31 seed. Lamar County is the No. 2 seed.
Rankings: Berrien is unranked. Lamar County is ranked No. 6.
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Playoff history: This is Berrien's first playoff appearance since 2022. Berrien made the second round most recently in 2022. Berrien is 1-3 all-time in the round of 32. This is Lamar County's fourth straight playoff appearance. Lamar County has won its first-round game each of the past three seasons. Lamar County is 10-6 all-time in the round of 32.
Score to schedule: Berrien's average score is 24-36 against the seventh-hardest schedule in Class A Division I. Lamar County's average score is 29-10 against the 35th-hardest schedule in Class A Division I.
Maxwell Ratings’ projection: Lamar County by 32