This is where state championship dreams continue – or get crushed. The winners of this week’s semifinal games get a chance to play for a title, while the losers put away their equipment – ending the football career for hundreds of athletes.

It promises to be filled with drama – and surprises. It always is.

Here are five of the top games to watch in this week’s state semifinals. The winners advance to the state championships, Dec. 16-18, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

FFIG

Carrollton at Buford: No. 1-ranked Carrollton (13-0) travels to play No. 2 Buford (12-1) in the Class 6A showdown. The game will be shown on GPB-TV’s Football Fridays in Georgia broadcast.

Carrollton defeated Hillgrove 46-6 in the quarterfinals, although all-state quarterback Julian Lewis injured his throwing hand and left the game with an injury in the first quarter. He did not return to the game but was back on the sidelines in the second half wearing a cast.

Buford scored the first four times it had the ball in the second half to blow open a close game and beat North Gwinnet 43-7. The Wolves are back in the semifinals for the first time since 2021, the last year they won a state championship.

Buford and Carrollton have played four times – all in the playoffs -- with the Wolves winning each game. Their last meeting came in the 2021 semifinals with Buford winning 21-6.

Lee County at Milton: The two top-ranked teams in Class 5A square off in the semifinal round. No. 2 Lee County (13-0) hammered Sprayberry 64-0 in the quarterfinals, while No. 1 Milton (13-0) downed Houston County 56-14. Lee County has scored 717 points this season and has not been held to fewer than 35 this season. Milton won last year’s Class 7A championship and is ranked as high as No. 3 in the country. This is the first meeting between the two teams.

Blessed Trinity at North Oconee: In a Class 4A showdown, No. 4 Blessed Trinity (11-1) travels to No. 5 North Oconee (13-0). Blessed Trinity dispatched Benedictine 24-10 in the third round, while North Oconee eliminated previously unbeaten Cartersville 28-26.  The game promises to match Blessed Trinity’s top-ranked defense against North Oconee’s high-scoring offense. Blessed Trinity won the only previous meeting 35-10 in the second round of the playoffs in 2018.

Toombs County at Dublin: No. 3 Dublin (13-0) will host No. 2 Toombs County (11-1) in a Class A Division I match between two Middle Georgia powers. Dublin ran past Thomasville 35-13 in the third round, while Toombs County routed Elbert County 56-17. Toombs will be looking for its first win in 10 tries against is regional rival. They haven’t met since 2018 when Dublin prevailed 49-14 in a first-round playoff game.

Irwin County at Bowdon: Two-time defending state champion and No. 2-ranked Bowdon (11-2) will have its hands full with No. 3 Irwin County (12-1) in the Class A Division II semifinals. Bowdon defeated Clinch County 31-13 in the quarterfinals, while Irwin County eliminated Trion 40-30 and has reached the semifinals for the 10th time in 12 seasons. This is the first meeting between the two teams.

Here is this week’s semifinal schedule:

Class 6A: Carrollton at Buford; Douglas County at Grayson.

Class 5A: Lee County at Milton; Coffee at Hughes

Class 4A: Creekside at Marist; Blessed Trinity at North Oconee

Class 3A: LaGrange at Jefferson; Stephenson at Calhoun.

Class 2A: Burke County at Rockmart; Appling County at Carver-Columbus

Class A Division I: Fitzgerald at Northeast; Toombs at Dublin.

Class A Division II: Irwin County at Bowdon; Brooks County at Manchester.

Private: North Cobb Christian at Prince Avenue; Hebron Christian at Fellowship Christian.