Bowdon’s quest for a fourth consecutive state championship kicks into high gear Friday night when the Red Devils open the Class A Division II playoffs with a home game against Wilcox County. Bowdon has won its first-round game each of the past six seasons and is 16-9 all-time in the round of 32. Brooks County, last year’s runner-up is making its 18th consecutive playoff appearance and will host Taylor County in the first round.

The first round of the Class 2A playoffs will match some unfamiliar foes, as 13 of the 16 games will be between teams that have never met. Among the teams playing an opponent for the first time are No. 1 seed Carver-Atlanta (vs. Butler), No. 3 seed Carver-Columbus (vs. Redan) and No. 5 seed Appling County (vs. Hart County). On the other hand, No. 3 seed Morgan County will face Westside-Macon in a rematch of a regular-season game.

The Class 4A bracket is filled with playoff regulars. Among the teams with long streaks of postseason appearances are Ware County (24 consecutive seasons), Tucker (19), Kell (18), Benedictine (15), Blessed Trinity (15), Warner Robins (15) and Cartersville (14). No one, however, has more than Marist, which is in the playoffs for the 32nd consecutive season. The War Eagles face Starr’s Mill at home Friday night.

Top-ranked Grayson will begin the defense of its 2024 Class 6A championship when it meets playoff regular Norcross in the first round of the playoffs Friday night. This is Grayson's 12th consecutive playoff appearance. The Rams won their first-round game each of the past 11 seasons and are 19-1 all-time in the round of 32.