WEEK 4: Key region battles highlight Friday action

Finally, fans will get to see Region 8-AAAA begin to jockey for playoff positioning. The powerhouse region, which has six of its seven teams coming off playoff runs from last year, opens play with one of the key matchups of the season when White County travels to take on No. 1 Buford on Friday. It will be a battle of wills. The Warriors (2-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA) are chewing up the yardage, averaging over 350 yards a game on the ground. Buford (3-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA) is yielding less than 100 yards of total offense a game on defense and given up just 20 total points. The rest of 8-AAAA will get going next week. Region 7-AAAAAA also kicks into gear this week, highlighted by North Gwinnett playing host to Collins Hill. The Eagles handed the Bulldogs their only region loss last year and you can bet North Gwinnett has not forgotten. One of the better non-region tilts of the night will be Fannin County of 7-AAA stepping over the border to take on rival Union County of 8-AA in Blairsville. Both teams are riding high with explosive offenses heating up. It could be an early New Year's fireworks show in the mountains. For a look at all of the night's contests involving area teams, simply scroll down. And be sure to check back with Access North Georgia and our <a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/s15-football-central.php">Friday Game Night</a> page throughout the night for score updates and game stories and video highlights. You can also check for scores and highlights on our Twitter feed <a href="https://twitter.com/">@FridayGameNight</a> HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR Sept. 19 ATHENS ACADEMY at COMMERCE -- WHEN: 8 p.m. -- WHERE: Tiger Stadium, Commerce -- ATHENS ACADEMY (1-1, 0-1 Region 8-A): Game with Oglethorpe County last week was canceled due to weather. Lost 31-14 to Athens Christian three weeks ago. -- COMMERCE (2-1, 0-0 Region 8-A): Lost 28-3 to Class AAA No. 5 Jefferson last week. -- NOTABLE: Commerce leads series 12-10. The Tigers won 28-7 last year but Athens Academy is 9-4 vs. Commerce since 2001. ... The Tigers were averaging 32 ppg a game until last week when they ran into a solid Jefferson defense. Athens Academy is allowing 15.5 ppg on the season. ... The Spartans are averaging 21 ppg. ... It's an important game for both teams for the power rankings in Class A. CEDAR SHOALS at LANIER -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: Longhorn Stadium, Sugar Hill -- CEDAR SHOALS (0-2, 0-1 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost 44-29 to rival Clarke Central last week. -- LANIER (3-0, 2-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Beat Flowery Branch 27-12 last week. Ranked 10th in Class AAAAA. -- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Lanier is making an early statement in 8-AAAAA with solid wins over two playoff teams from last year in the Falcons last week and Clarke Central two weeks ago. The Longhorns have the early inside track in the region and have just two games left vs. winning teams from 2013 in Gainesville and Heritage, Conyers. ... Lanier is averaging 29.9 ppg behind Purdue-commit Tario Fuller and Jrs Tahj Tolbert (QB) and Ashton Barnes (RB). The defense, however, held Flowery Branch scoreless over the final three quarters last week behind FBS recruit Derrick Brown and is yielding just 15.1 ppg on the season. ... Cedar Shoals has been porous on defense allowing 43 ppg. Offensively the Jaguars are averaging 24.5 ppg COLLINS HILL at NORTH GWINNETT -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: Tom Robinson Memorial Stadium, Suwanee -- COLLINS HILL (2-1, 0-0 Region 7-AAAAAA): Off last week. Beat South Gwinnett 27-20 two weeks ago. -- NORTH GWINNETT (2-1, 0-0 Region 7-AAAAAA): Off last week. Beat Hillgrove 28-21 two weeks ago. Ranked No. 7 in Class AAAAAA -- NOTABLE: North Gwinnett leads series 8-5. Collins HIll won 53-28 last season. ... The Bulldogs surely are looking for a measure of revenge. The Eagles handed them their only region loss last year. ... Both teams should be rested and at full strength after having last week off. North Gwinnett begins a gauntlet of four straight games against the top region teams and will need to improve on defense. The Bulldogs are allowing 35 ppg so far but also have faced three of the better offenses in AAAAAA. ... The Eagles are yielding just 21 ppg while averaging just 20.8 ppg on offense. EAST JACKSON at FRANKLIN COUNTY -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: Ed Bryant Stadium, Carnesville -- EAST JACKSON (1-2, 0-0 Region 8-AAA): Lost 43-0 to Banks County last week. -- FRANKLIN COUNTY (0-2, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Off last week. Lost 41-14 to Hart County two weeks ago. -- NOTABLE: Franklin County leads series 2-0. The Lions won 27-18 last year. ... It's a battle of two teams trying to rebuild programs. Franklin County has had just one winning season (2011) since 2000. East Jackson has won just 3 of their last 29 games since 2011. ... The Lions have played two of the better teams in the area in Stephens County and Hart County and have yielded 75 total points. They have managed just 21 total points on offense. ... The Eagles has scored just 28 total points and allowed 28 ppg so far. FANNIN COUNTY at UNION COUNTY -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: Mike Colwell Memorial Stadium, Blairsville -- FANNIN COUNTY (2-1, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Beat Armuchee 35-0 last week. -- UNION COUNTY (3-0, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Bet Andrews (N.C.) 49-20 last week. -- NOTABLE: Fannin County leads series 13-9. The Rebels won 43-35 last year. It has been a close series recently with the two teams split 3-3 over the last six meetings. ... Union County is 3-1 in its last four home games against the Rebels. ... Expect a shootout in this one. Both teams are riding high in the early going. The Panthers are averaging 44.6 ppg while allowing just 41 total points so far. ... The Rebels should offer a challenge for the Panthers defense with a new spread attack that has improved each week. They have scored 90 points the last two games. The Rebels have yielded just 7 total points on defense in that span. GAINESVILLE at APALACHEE -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: Apalachee Stadium, Winder -- RADIO: 1240 AM -- GAINESVILLE (1-1, 1-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Beat Winder-Barrow 46-6 last week. -- APALACHEE (0-3, 0-2 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost 35-6 to Salem last week. -- NOTABLE: Gainesville leads series 2-0. The Red Elephants won 49-6 last year. ... Gainesville rebounded from a tough opening loss with an impressive win last week. New QB Mikey Gonzalez threw for 275 yards and 4 TDs in the win and the special teams blocked two kicks and scored one TD for the Elephants. ... The Wildcats offense had a strong start averaging 23 ppg until last week. Defensively the Wildcats will have their hands full. They have allowed 36.3 ppg on the season. HEBRON CHRISTIAN at TOWNS COUNTY -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: Frank McClure Stadium, Hiawassee -- HEBRON CHRISTIAN (2-1, 0-1 Region 8-A): Off last week. Lost 36-14 to Commerce two weeks ago. -- TOWNS COUNTY (1-2, 1-0 Region 8-A): Beat Lakeview Academy 14-6 last week. -- NOTABLE: Towns County leads series 4-2. The Indians won 34-19 last year. Towns County has won three straight in the series. ... Both teams need a win to help in the power rankings in Class A. Hebron already has matched its win total from a year ago. ... The Indians have struggled on offense scoring just 13.6 ppg but they have but allowed just 25 points over their last two games on defense. ... Despite the loss to Commerce, Hebron is averaging 32.9 ppg. However, the Lions are just 1-2 in Hiawassee. HERITAGE, CONYERS at FLOWERY BRANCH -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: Falcons Field, Flowery Branch -- HERITAGE, CONYERS (0-3, 0-2 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost 13-6 to Loganville last week. -- FLOWERY BRANCH (1-1, 0-1 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost 27-12 to Lanier last week. -- NOTABLE: Flowery Branch leads series 4-0. The Falcons won 33-0 last year. ... Flowery Branch needs to bounce back after last week's loss to stay in the hunt for a region title. ... The Patriots, a playoff team last season, are rebuilding under their third coach in three seasons but have played well despite the record. They have had a tough schedule to start with their first three opponents holding a combined 7-2 record. Heritage is averaging 15.1 ppg and allowing just 20 ppg. All three losses have been by a touchdown or less. ... The Falcons offense started quick last week building a 12-7 first quarter lead but was shut out the rest of the way. They played both Jasen Johnson and Nick Lance at QB and the duo combined for just 67 yards passing. Jeremiah Goss had another solid game with 103 yards rushing but only 20 after halftime. JACKSON COUNTY at EAST HALL -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: East Hall Stadium, Gainesville -- RADIO: 102.9 FM -- JACKSON COUNTY (0-3, 0-0 Region 8-AAA): Lost 34-21 to Rabun County last week. -- EAST HALL (1-1, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Off last week. Lost 38-10 to Pickens two weeks ago. -- NOTABLES: East Hall leads series 6-2. First meeting since 1997, a 28-0 Jackson County win. ... Both teams are looking to head into region play next week with a win making this game important for both squads. ... Defense has been the issue for the Panthers, who have allowed just under 32 ppg so far. It was a unit coach Benji Harrison said before the season that definitely needed improvement after yielding 30 ppg last year. Offensively Jackson County has been clicking along at nearly 23 ppg behind QB Jacob Lewis and their spread attack. ... The Vikings should be a little more focused this week with their home opener. The have faced two good defenses on the road in Wesleyan and Pickens and have scored just 30 points in two games. Look for better production this week behind QB Devin Watson. East Hall averaged 32.8 ppg last year so look for a breakout week for the offense this week. LOGANVILLE at WINDER-BARROW -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: W. Clair Harris Stadium, Winder -- LOGANVILLE (2-0, 1-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Beat Heritage, Conyers 13-6 last week. -- WINDER-BARROW (1-2, 1-1 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost 46-6 to Gainesville last week. -- NOTABLE: Loganville leads series 11-1. Loganville won 18-0 last year. Winder-Barrow's only win in the series came in 2003, a 35-5 win on the road. The Bulldogs are 0-6 all-time against the Red Devils at home. ... The Bulldogs have not opened a season 2-2 or better since beginning the 2007 season 4-0. They have struggled on defense allowing 35.6 ppg but face a Loganville offense that is only averaging 20.5 ppg so far. ... Winder scored just 13 total points against two of the better defenses in the area in Jefferson and Gainesville. The offense tallied 26 in a win over Apalachee but Loganville has yielded just 18 points in two games. LUMPKIN COUNTY at OUR LADY OF MERCY -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: Bobcat Stadium, Fairburn -- LUMPKIN COUNTY (1-2, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Beat Johnson 14-3 last week. -- OUR LADY OF MERCY (1-2, 0-0 Region 5-A): Lost 44-20 to Aquinas last week. -- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Indians finally got their first win for new coach Ty Maxwell last week in a tough defensive battle against Johnson. They pounded out 281 yards rushing behind Bradley Womack. ... The Bobcats are tough at home, however, winning their last six going back to a loss to Eagles Landing Christian in 2012. They have won 10 of their last 12 overall at home going back to 2011. ... The Indians have not had much success on the road of late going 2-9 away from The Burial grounds since 2012, including a tough 15-8 to Model in their season opener. MILL CREEK at DULUTH -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: Duluth Stadium, Duluth -- MILL CREEK (1-2, 0-0 Region 7-AAAAAA): Off last week. Lost 28-21 to Dacula two weeks ago. -- DULUTH (1-2, 0-0 Region 7-AAAAAA): Off last week. Beat Lakeside (Atlanta) 41-20 two weeks ago. -- NOTABLE: Mill Creek leads series 8-0. The Hawks won 43-3 last year. ... The region-opener for both teams. Mill Creek has gotten to a slower-than-expected start, especially on defense, allowing 28.6 ppg. On offense, take out 65 scoed in a win over West Forsyth and they have averaged just 17 ppg in their two losses. ... Duluth is very similar in that the Wildcats have allowed over 28 ppg and scored just 13 points in their two losses. They have a rough gauntlet ahead facing Norcross, Peachtree Ridge, Collins Hill, and North Gwinnett in consecutive weeks. ... Mill Creek will have to not have a letdown with a huge rivalry battle looming next week against North Gwinnett. That game last year determined the final playoff spot in the region. NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN at BANKS COUNTY -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: Leopard Stadium, Homer -- NORTH COBB CHRISTIAN (1-2, 0-0 Region 6-A): Lost 23-6 to K.I.P.P Atlanta Colegiate last week. -- BANKS COUNTY (2-1, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Banks County beat Est Jackson 43-0 last week. -- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Leopards are coming off back-to-back wins for the first time in nearly three years and finally has the offense going piling up 480 yards, including 129 yards rushing with 3 TDs from Trevae Cain, in last week's win. Defensively it was the first shutout by a Banks County team since blanking Riverside Military 21-0 in 2011. ... The Leopards win also snapped an eight-game losing streak at home. ... North Cobb Christian has struggled on offense recentky scoring just 13 total points in back-to-back losses. NORTH FORSYTH at SOUTH FORSYTH -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: War Eagle Stadium, Cumming -- NORTH FORSYTH (0-3, 0-2 Region 6-AAAAAA): Lost 49-0 to Northview last week. -- SOUTH FORSYTH (2-1, 2-0 Region 6-AAAAAA): Beat Habersham Central 49-7 last week. -- NOTABLE: South Forsyth leads series 10-6. North Forsyth won 17-12 last year. The Raiders have won 3 of the last 4 and 6 of the last 11 meetings since 1999. ... North Forsyth has been one of the biggest surprises of the young season. The Raiders were expected to be a contender for a region title coming into the season but now face a must-win just to keep any hope alive of making the playoffs. They have struggled on defense yielding 37 ppg so far while scoring just 31 total points on offense. ... South Forsyth has won two straight and is rolling on offense averaging 43 ppg. The War Eagles have allowed 21.6 ppg on defense. NORTH HALL at CARROLLTON -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: Grisham Stadium, Carrollton -- NORTH HALL (0-2, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Lost 38-0 to West Hall last week. -- CARROLLTON (0-3, 0-0 Region 5-AAAA): Lost 34-6 to Calhoun last week. -- NOTABLE: Carrollton leads series 1-0 beating North Hall 28-20 in the first round of the 2003 playoffs. ... Any other year and this would have been one of the marquee matchups of the season. Both teams sport new coaches and both are struggling this season, however. ... The Trojans are coming off a Class AAAA state-runner season but have lost four straight games for the first time since the 2001 season. Defense seems to be the issue. The Trojans have allowed 82 points already in three games after allowing just 105 points during the entire regular season in 2013. ... The Trojans are almost a mirror-image. They are also riding a four-game losing streak and have given up 86 points in two games. ... Offensively both teams have had trouble. North Hall has scored just eight points while the Trojans are averaging just 12.9 ppg so far. PICKENS at JOHNSON -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: Billy Ellis Memorial Stadium, Oakwood -- PICKENS (2-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAAA): Off last week. Beat East Hall 38-10 two weeks ago. -- JOHNSON (0-4, non-region schedule): Lost 14-3 to Lumpkin County last week. -- NOTABLE: Series is tied 6-6. Pickens won 21-14 last year. ... The Knights have had a rough start but their four opponents have a combined 8-4 record so far. Pickens has beaten two teams expected to challenge for playoff spots in their respective regions. ... But Pickens has had trouble winning in Oakwood going just 2-4 against the Knights on the road. ... The Knights had chances against Lumpkin but turnovers hurt. They had an interception inside the Indians 10 late in the game. Isaac Henry has been a bright spot for the Knights kicking three field goals in the first four games. ... The Dragons are averaging 40 ppg and yielding just 22 ppg so far. RIVERSIDE MILITARY at RABUN COUNTY -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: Frank Snyder Stadium, Tiger -- RIVERSIDE MILITARY (1-1, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Lost 15-14 to Hapeville Charter last week. -- RABUN COUNTY (2-2, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Beat Jackson County 34-21 last week. -- NOTABLE: Rabun County leads series 4-2. The Wildcats won 63-7 last year. ... The region opener for both teams as 8-AA gets the real season under way for good. ... The Wildcats survived a wild game last week rallying to tak the lead and then watching the defense make it stand up. QB Collin Grant has shown improvement while Charlie Woerner continues to dazzle all over the field. ... The Eagles need a solid game from QB Hunter Sims and RB Malik Faulk to have a chance for the upset on the road. Riverside is 3-1 in its last three road games going back to last season. WEST FORSYTH at HABERSHAM CENTRAL -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: Raider Stadium, Mt. Airy -- RADIO: 99.3 FM -- WEST FORSYTH (1-2, 1-1 Region 6-AAAA): Beat Chattahoochee 23-18 last week. -- HABERSHAM CENTRAL (0-3, 0-2 Region 6-AAAAAA): Lost 49-7 to South Forsyth last week. -- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Raiders have not found the going any better so far in 6-AAAAAA. But something is bound to give in this one. ... The Wolverines defense is vulnerable yielding over 40 ppg so far. The Raiders, however, have scored just 21 points on the season. ... The Raiders also are yielding over 40 ppg while West Forsyth is averaging 18.9 ppg. WEST HALL at NORTH OCONEE -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: North Oconee Stadium, Bogart -- RADIO: AM 550 -- WEST HALL (3-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Beat North Hall 38-0 last week. The Spartans received one vote in the Class AAA poll. -- NORTH OCONEE (0-2, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Off last two weeks. Lost 28-10 to Greater Atlanta Christian three weeks ago. -- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... North Oconee will have the newest task of trying to score on the Spartans. West Hall has yet to yield a point on defense in 2014. The Titans, however, have scored just 24 points in two games. ... West Hall last had three shutouts in a season in 2002. It was also the last time the Spartans started a season 4-0. ... The Titans are on a four-game losing streak going back to last season. The last time they started a season 0-3 was in 2005. They do feature Sr. RB Kawon Bryant, the reigning Class AAA offensive player of the year in 2013, who had over 2,500 yards last year. WHITE COUNTY at BUFORD -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. -- WHERE: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford -- RADIO: www.wrwh.com -- WHITE COUNTY (2-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Beat Pace Academy 31-17 last week. -- BUFORD (3-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Off last week. Beat McEachern 27-20 two weeks ago. Ranked No. 1 in Class AAAA. -- NOTABLES: Buford leads series 2-0. The Wolves won 42-6 last year. ... A great start to the 8-AAAA schedule with two playoff teams from last season going at it. Six of the seven teams in the region made the playoffs in various regions last year so every game is crucial. ... We'll also find out just how good the potent White County ground game is. The Warriors have averaged over 350 yards rushing a game and are averaging 33 ppg in their first three contests. ... However, the Buford defense is giving up less than 100 yards on average and has yielded just 20 total points. It will be fun to see if either unit cracks under the strain. ... Buford is riding an 18-game home winning streak. Its last loss at Tom Riden was in 2012 to a Deshaun Watson-led Gainesville squad. White County is 5-2 in its last seven road games.