Class AAA state semifinal
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: City Park Stadium, Gainesville
The Blitz: Complete game coverage
This we know: Hall County WILL have a team play for the state football championship.
But will it be Gainesville or Flowery Branch?
The Red Elephants and Falcons each advanced to the Class AAA state semifinals with third-round playoff victories Friday night. They now will play each other at 7:30 p.m. Friday at City Park Stadium, with the winner advancing to the state final at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 12 in the Georgia Dome.
Top-ranked Gainesville (13-0) beat Cairo, the defending state champ, 32-19 on Friday at City Park Stadium. Flowery Branch (10-3) won another thriller on the road, beating Carver 35-33 in Columbus with a touchdown in the final minute.
The victory left Flowery Branch fans breathless and eager to face Gainesville.
"Can you believe this," said Dawn Shaw, mother of Connor Shaw and wife of coach Lee Shaw. "I can't believe this! What a game!"
"It's time to take it to City Park," Flowery Branch Principal Mark Coleman said. "Was this a game or what?"
Gainesville beat Flowery Branch 49-17 in the regular season finale Nov. 6 at Flowery Branch.
"We play down to the final four to play Flowery Branch and that's awesome on their part," Gainesville coach Bruce Miller said. "They're going to be a different team."