GAINESVILLE AT BRUNSWICK

Gainesville football is on record as having played football since 1905. It should come as no surprise that the high school state playoff format currently employed did not exist in the early 1900s, no playoff format did; in fact 43 years came and went for Red Elephant football before a budding governing agency of high school athletics known as the Georgia High School Association created and implemented a state playoff system in 1948.

In the 77 years since high school football teams in Georgia gained the ability to vie for a state championship, Big Red football has earned its right 46 times, and made it to the second round or beyond in 34 of those opportunities.

PHOTO GALLERIES: 2025 GAINESVILLE RED ELEPHANT FOOTBALL

For a program that has existed as long as Gainesville's has, and achieved the kind of success it has, finding a thing not done or a bit of history yet to be made is difficult. The 2025 version of Gainesville football, however, managed to find that thing and in becoming the 47th team in program history to make the playoffs and the 35th to make the second round, unwittingly unearthed a bit of history to make.

When the Red Elephants take the field at Glynn County Stadium on Friday night to begin their second-round-of-state matchup with Brunswick, they will be playing the furthest away game in the program's vast history.

The game it supplants in the top spot of those played furthest from home came in 2012 when Big Red went to Harris County to play a quarterfinal game; they won 64-13 and two weeks later won Gainesville's then 107-year-old program its first state championship.

Read a full preview of Friday's game at AccessWDUN.

For those not making the trip south, follow Gainesville athletics on social media (@goredelephants across all platforms) for updates from Brunswick, including game highlights. You can also listen to the game on Gainesville's home for Red Elephant football, 94.5 The Lake

If you're going to the game, here's what you need to know about Brunswick High School football at Glynn County Football Stadium:

Tickets are $16 at GoFan

There will be no re-entry unless deemed an emergency by Brunswick High School administrative staff members at the gates
Students are not allowed to bring backpacks or oversized bags into the stadium
Glynn County Football Stadium employs a clear-bag policy (see below) and all bags are subject to inspection
No outside food, drinks, or coolers are allowed
Spectators are not allowed to cross to the opposite side with the stadium unless approved by a staff member
Spectators are not allowed to gather under the stands; police officers will assist with crowd control and loitering
No tents or large shade coverings are allowed
No smoking or tobacco products are allowed
No one, including coaches families, are allowed on the field after the game