The GHSA flag football playoffs begin on Thursday, marking the first step in crowning four state champions at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

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There are 268 high schools competing in flag football in 2024 -- Division 4 has 60 teams, Division 3 has 66 teams, Division 2 has 70 teams and Division I has 72 teams. There were only two statewide classifications when the sport was sanctioned in 2020.

Because of the growing number of teams, an additional classification was created this season.

The first two rounds of the playoffs will be contested on Thursday, with the quarterfinals on Dec. 9 and the semifinals on Dec. 12.

The state championship will be Dec. 16 for Division 1 and Division 2, Dec. 17 for Division 3 and Dec. 18 for Division 4. All flag football championships will be televised on GPB-TV and streamed at GPB.org.

The three defending state champions from last season -- Pope, Greenbrier and Southeast Bulloch --  all qualified for the playoffs.

Pope (Division 3) won the Area 6 championship and will face Chattahoochee in the first round. The Greyhounds are 21-2 and finished the season with a 14-game winning streak.

Greenbrier (Division 2) won the Area 1 title and will play Mt. Zion of Jonesboro in the opening round. Greenbrier is 16-1 and has not lost a game since dropping the season opener against Allatoona.

Southeast Bulloch (Division I) won the Area 4 championship and will open the tournament against Wheeler County. The Hornets have won three straight state championships and had never lost a flag football game until dropping a 7-0 decision to Calvary Day.

The top-ranked team this season in Division 4 has been McEachern. The Indians bring a 23-0 record into the playoffs.

Streaming this week: GPB.org will stream the first two rounds of the Division 4 playoffs from Cherokee High School on Thursday. The first game features Cherokee vs Valdosta at 5 p.m., followed by Alexander vs. Central Gwinnett at 6 p.m. The winners will meet in the second-round game at 7 p.m.