DAHLONEGA — Lumpkin County's playoff dream quickly turned into a nightmare on a cold, wet Friday night.

Monroe Area scored the first play of the game and rolled to an impressive 38-0 rout of the host Indians.

With the win, Monroe Area (9-1) advances to the state playoffs for the first time since 1969, according to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. The Purple Hurricanes will play the Troup, the second seed out of Region 6-AAA, next week in the first round.

Monroe Area quarterback Demontavious Smith scored on a 68-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage, and Lumpkin County never recovered.

Smith ran for three touchdowns and finished with 154 of the Purple Hurricanes' 315 rushing yards. The senior quarterback, who's headed to Harvard, also threw a touchdown pass to tight end Stephon Tuitt that put Monroe Area up 24-0 at halftime.

The Purple Hurricanes limited the Indians to 68 yards of offense and only three first downs, two of which came on the last two plays of the game. It was third consecutive shutout for Monroe Area.

"Our defense is awesome," said Monroe Area coach Matt Fligg, whose team entered the season having lost 20 straight games. "They have been all season and were tonight."

It's a disappointing end to what Lumpkin County coach Tommy Jones called a successful season for the Indians, who finished at 6-4. The Indians finished with a winning record for the first time in Jones' six seasons.

"It's a disappointing finish, but I'm very proud of this team," said Jones. "We lose 17 seniors who will leave their mark on this program."

Michael Flanagan, one of those Lumpkin seniors, made several standout defensive plays, including corralling Smith in the backfield on a 4th-and-goal attempt in the first quarter that gave the Indians life early.

Senior Travis Burton recovered a fumble, and sophomore Devonte Young made a late interception for the Indians.

Monroe Area beat Lumpkin 10-3 in Week 3. Friday's region play-in game wasn't nearly as close. The Purple Hurricanes started three first-half drives inside the Lumpkin 35-yard line and led 11-0 after recording a safety late in the first quarter. They didn't allow a completed pass until the game's final two plays and scored on their first two drives of the second half to end any hopes Lumpkin had of a comeback.

"I feel like we've improved since the first game," said Fligg. "In fact, we're peaking right now. We're thrilled to be in the playoffs, but we're not satisfied with just getting there."

Lumpkin played without leading receiver Ian McIntosh, who was held out for undisclosed reasons.