GHSA football playoffs: Lee County, Dougherty to host first-round games

Randolph-Clay and Mitchell County also open at home, while Westover and Worth County hit the road.

ALBANY — Uyl Joyner knew exactly how far Dougherty had come when he saw the state football playoff bracket.

“We were number 32 last year, and we are in the top ten this year, so that’s good,” the Dougherty coach said.

The Trojans landed at No. 6 in Class 4A, a climb that brings the playoffs to Albany. Dougherty will host No. 27 Gilmer in the first round Friday, Nov. 13, and will get another home game if it wins.

Dougherty closed the regular season with a 62-0 win over Hardaway after clinching the Region 1-4A title a week earlier against Westover. Its first playoff opponent went 5-5. Gilmer will make a roughly five-hour bus ride from Ellijay in the north Georgia mountains. A Dougherty win would bring either Hampton or Woodland of Stockbridge to Albany in the second round.

Lee County has an even longer runway at home. The Trojans earned the No. 2 seed in Class 6A and can play at Trojan Field through the semifinals as long as they keep winning.

Asked about his team’s 49-7 homecoming win over Houston County, Lee County coach Dean Fabrizio summed up the regular-season finale in two words: “Good performance.”

The win sent Lee County into the playoffs at 9-1, with a familiar opponent coming to Leesburg. The Trojans beat first-round opponent Northside-Warner Robins 37-0 on Oct. 9. If they beat the Eagles again, they’ll host the winner of Houston County and Kell.

Randolph-Clay also earned the chance to open with back-to-back home games. The Red Devils beat Pelham 40-6 Friday to finish 10-0 under coach Charles Truitt. They drew the No. 4 seed in Class A and will host No. 29 Telfair County. A win would bring either Hawkinsville or Schley County to Randolph-Clay in the second round.

Mitchell County opens at home as well. The ninth-seeded Eagles will host No. 24 Miller County in Class A.

For Westover and Worth County, the final stretch changed where they’ll open. Westover had been in the top 10 but lost its final two regular-season games and fell to No. 17 in Class 4A. The Patriots will travel to No. 16 West Laurens. Worth County also drew a No. 17 seed after Friday’s 42-14 loss to Carver dropped the Rams in the Class 3A postseason rankings. They’ll open at No. 16 Lamar County.

Elsewhere in the area, Bainbridge visits Cairo in Class 4A, and Crisp County travels to Stephens County in Class 3A. In Class A, Early County opens at Macon County and Seminole County visits Taylor County.

The second round is scheduled for Nov. 20, followed by the quarterfinals Nov. 27 and the semifinals Dec. 4.