---
title: "Augusta-Area Teams Set for GHSA Football Playoff Openers"
url: https://www.hereaugusta.com/2026/11/08/augusta-area-ghsa-football-playoff-first-round-matchups/
date: 2026-11-08T07:36:47-05:00
modified: 2026-11-08T07:36:47-05:00
author: "Sandeep Pope"
categories: ["Sports"]
site: "HERE Augusta"
attribution: "HERE Augusta"
---

# Augusta-Area Teams Set for GHSA Football Playoff Openers

> AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Georgia High School Association regular season is over, and several Augusta-area football teams now turn to the state playoffs, with first-round games set for Friday. Four of them will play at home. Richmond Academy (8-2) earned a home date in Class 5A by winning 35-21 at Jenkins in Savannah on Friday,

*Source: [HERE Augusta](https://www.hereaugusta.com/2026/11/08/augusta-area-ghsa-football-playoff-first-round-matchups/) — November 8, 2026 by Sandeep Pope*

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Georgia High School Association regular season is over, and several Augusta-area football teams now turn to the state playoffs, with first-round games set for Friday. Four of them will play at home.

Richmond Academy (8-2) earned a home date in Class 5A by winning 35-21 at Jenkins in Savannah on Friday, and the No. 14 Musketeers will host No. 19 Statesboro.

Hephzibah (8-2) lost its last regular-season game to Thomson but still locked up a top-16 seed, so it will open the Class 3A bracket at home against Pike County. Hephzibah High School sits in the town of Hephzibah, about 10 miles south of downtown and inside the consolidated Augusta-Richmond County.

In Class 2A, Lucy Craft Laney High School (6-4) gets Brooks County at The Boulevard. In Class A, Lincoln County is the No. 1 seed and will welcome No. 32 Irwin County. The Red Devils reached the Class A Division II title game last season and finished second to Bowdon.

Burke County, seeded 18th, goes on the road to No. 15 Carver of Columbus.

Aquinas High School, the private Catholic school in Augusta, drew a first-round bye in the Private Class. The Fightin’ Irish will wait to see whether 14th-seeded Kings Ridge or 19th-seeded Athens Academy comes out of that first-round game, then play the winner.

Teams need five straight wins to claim a GHSA title. The state finals are scheduled for Dec. 15 and 16 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Across the Savannah River, North Augusta comes off a first-round bye in the South Carolina playoffs and will host Irmo, which shut out South Aiken 39-0 in its opener.