The state football finals are returning to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which will host championship games in all eight classifications and the flag football finals in three divisions on Dec. 11-13. Here’s a recap of last week’s 16 semifinals and the significance of the results for both the winning and losing teams.

Here are the scores from the fourth week of the playoffs. If you have corrections, please contact us. Check out our Scores & Schedules page for all scores from the 2023 season and a schedule of the GHSA championship games.

The longest winning streak in state history and the longest active streak in the country came to end Thursday night when Valwood defeated John Milledge Academy 42-21 in the GIAA Class 3A championship game at Mercer’s Five Star Stadium in Macon. John Milledge (12-1) had won 62 consecutive games and four straight state championships.

GHSA executive director Robin Hines announced Wednesday that he will retire Aug. 1. Hines shared the news at the end of an executive committee meeting in which the GHSA ratified reclassification for 2024-26 and adopted a playoff format and rankings formula for classes 3A to A Division I. Also approved at the Thomaston meeting were four schools’ appeals to move down in classification for the 2024-26 academic years.

The two highest-ranked teams in Class 3A - No. 1 Calvary Day and No. 2 Cedar Grove - will battle for a spot in the state final when they meet Friday night at Buck Godfrey Stadium in Decatur. The winner will face Savannah Christian or Carver of Columbus for the championship at 1 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In the Class 2A semifinals, Fitzgerald will travel to Pierce County and Cook will play at Rockmart.

The Class 5A playoffs have played out according to form as the top four ranked teams - Coffee, Creekside, Jefferson and Cartersville - survived the first three rounds to reach the semifinals. In Class 4A, Stockbridge will try to take down two-time defending champion Benedictine this week, and Perry will face Starr’s Mill for a shot at the state final.

Four teams ranked in the national top 25 of both USA Today and MaxPreps failed to get out of Georgia’s quarterfinals last week. Upended were Mill Creek, Buford, Colquitt County and Carrollton. Their conquerors were Camden County, Grayson, Milton and Walton. Bryan County and Telfair County from Class A also made headlines, advancing to the semifinals for the first time.