Playoff shootouts becoming more common

It has happened 25 times in GHSA history that teams have combined to score 90 points or more in a playoff game. It has happened 12 times in just the past three seasons, as spread offenses are sweeping the state.

It happened four times Friday night, the most ever in the first round. The highest was the 113 points scored in Chattahoochee’s 65-48 victory over Habersham Central. Bowdon beat Holy Innocents’ 57-43 for 100 points. Two games had the same 47-43 score – Greenville over ECI and Griffin over Jonesboro.

In 2010, four games hit 90 points, but only one in the first round. Colquitt was involved in two of those four – 48-47 over M.L. King in the second round and a 52-38 loss to Brookwood in the Class AAAAA final, the highest-scoring championship game in history.

In 2009, Lassiter and record-setting quarterback Hutson Mason were involved in two of the 90-point games – a 62-37 victory over North Forsyth in the first round and a 70-49 victory over South Gwinnett in the second.

Perhaps not coincidentally, Lassiter’s head coach was Chip Lindsey, a former offensive coordinator at Hoover High in Alabama under Rush Propst, who is now Colquitt’s head coach.

The first playoff game to see 90 points took place in 1984, when West Rome beat Lakeshore 61-31. Lakeshore’s quarterback was Marquis Grissom, the future Atlanta Braves center fielder.

It would be another 12 years before another playoff game reached 90 points.

Most points scored by both teams in GHSA playoff games:

138 – Collins Hill 70, South Cobb 68 (2004 first round) 7 overtimes

119 – Lassiter 70, South Gwinnett 49 (2009 second round)

115 – Chamblee 58, Stephens County 57 (2007 second round) 1 overtime

113 – Chattahoochee 65, Habersham Central 48 (2011 first round)

112 – Miller County 70, Monticello 42 (1996 first round)

106 – Miller County 79, Lanier County 27 (2000 first round)

105 – Landmark Christian 56, Social Circle 49 (2006 first round)

100 – Bowdon 57, Holy Innocents’ 43 (2011 first round)

100 – Fitzgerald 64, Swainsboro 36 (2009 second round)

99 – Lassiter 62, North Forsyth 37 (2009 first round)

99 – Wilcox County 60, Johnson County 39 (2010 second round)

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