Unfortunately, an hour later, at the 25:48 mark of the second half, the game was stopped because of actual lightning, with the Falcons ahead of the Hawks 6-0.

With players and spectators heading for cover in the gymnasium, both coaches agreed to end the contest as it was, citing player safety as the number one concern.

Green Hope (19-1) will move on to the third round and will play the Leesville Road/Panther Creek winner. Leesville and Panther Creek will complete their second-round playoff game Monday night, picking up where it left off in a scoreless game with 31 minutes left in the second half.

“We came out looking really crisp tonight and hitting on all cylinders,” said Green Hope head coach Bobby Peterson, whose team reached the third round for the third consecutive season. “Holly Springs is a good young team who pulled off a big win over Panther Creek earlier this year so we knew we were going to have to be prepared.”

The Falcons, which led 4-0 at halftime, outscored the Hawks 17-1 in their three meetings this year.

Holly Springs (10-8-1) finished its best season on a tough note, but its thrilling 1-0 overtime victory against Jordan in the first round will give the Golden Hawks a reason to look forward to the future.

“What we’ve accomplished this year has been quite amazing,” said Holly Springs head coach Brian Miller, whose team notched the program's first playoff win in Wednesday's first round. “I’m really proud of all the girls and the hard work they put into this season.”

Friday, however, belonged to the Falcons from the start, as Green Hope controlled the game with their crisp passing and their ability to get to the ball ahead of the Hawks. Senior Ashley Stokes scored the first goal ten minutes into the contest as she slipped past two Holly Springs defenders.

“She’s amazing,” said Peterson about Stokes, the career assists and points leader for the Falcons. “She always finds a way to get by the player in front of her and then makes the play.”

Stokes, along with Alexis Degler, Maya Worth, and goalies Lisa Armstrong and Allie Symonds, had missed time recently due to injuries, but the Falcons showed no ill effects.

Degler scored two goals, while Callie McClain, Amanda Lasater and leading scorer Alexis Shaffer also found the net for Green Hope. Cameron Sigmon, Morgan Vezina, Worth and Grace Hamashima each notched an assist.