The playoff and championship races began to clear in some regions -- while others remained muddled after Week 8 of high school football action on Friday.
(NOTE: Visit our Friday Game Night page for game stories and video highlights from contests throughout northeast Georgia. To see a round-up of statewide scores, click here.)
Rabun County set itself up for what could be a de facto Region 8-AA championship game next week against Elbert County, as the Wildcats throttled Social Circle 65-7. Also in 8-AA, Banks County blew past Oglethorpe County 35-3 to keep pace in the state playoff race.
Meanwhile, Dawson County maintained its collision course with Greater Atlanta Christian in Region 7-AAA, as both teams rolled to big wins. The Tigers dominated Fannin County 52-13, while Lumpkin County suffered a 49-21 loss to GAC. Region 7-AAA also provided northeast Georgia with one of three incredible finishes on Friday, as Union County notched the final score in a 35-32 defeat of North Hall in Blairsville to put itself right in the thick of the postseason race.
The other photo finishes saw Jackson County edge out Hart County 18-14 for the Panthers' first-ever defeat of the Bulldogs -- a touchdown pass on third and 18 putting Jackson County ahead for good. Also, in Region 5-AAAAAAA North Forsyth so nearly knocked off Lambert but fell 48-40 in a wild shootout.
In Region 8-AAAAAA, Gainesville fell behind early and could not complete a comeback attempt against Dacula, falling 25-20 -- an outcome that means the Red Elephants must win out and get some help to get back into the region title hunt. Lanier, however, like Dacula, is still perfect in 8-AAAAAA after handling Habersham Central 31-9.
In Region 7-AAAA, Marist and Blessed Trinity each rolled to big wins over northeast Georgia programs -- the War Eagles bested West Hall 43-3, while the Titans knocked out Chestatee 42-6 -- to maintain their own collision course; they play next Friday. Chestatee next week faces a do-ro-die battle with White County.
Region 8-AAAA also saw its leading programs maintain their hold at the top, as Jefferson stormed to a 42-14 win over North Oconee and Stephens County picked up a 34-7 win over Madison County. Oconee County also prevailed, as all three teams stayed perfect in region play.
In Region 8-AAAAA, Flowery Branch hung tough early but saw Loganville pull away late for a 42-0 win, setting the Falcons up for a huge showdown next week at Clarke Central -- which blasted Johnson 52-14 on Friday -- in what could well be a postseason elimination contest. Buford, meanwhile, dominated Cedar Shoals 56-14.
In Region 6-AAAAAAA, Mill Creek quarterback Cameron Turley broke two school records and tied another in a 31-12 defeat of Peachtree Ridge. North Gwinnett also kept rolling, 45-14 over Duluth, to keep the postseason squarely in its sites.
And in Region 8-A, Commerce blanked Riverside Military 38-0 to continue its rebound after halting a two-game losing skid last week.
WEEK 8 AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES, Oct. 14
Athens Christian 32, Towns County 0
Banks County 35, Oglethorpe County 3
Blessed Trinity 42, Chestate 6
Buford 56, Cedar Shoals 14
Clarke Central 52, Johnson 14
Commerce 38, Riverside Military Academy 0
Dacula 25, Gainesville 20
Dawson County 52, Fannin County 13
Franklin County 49, East Jackson 21
George Walton Academy 52, Lakeview Academy 21
Greater Atlanta Christian 49, Lumpkin County 21
Lanier 31, Habersham Central 9
Jackson County 18, Hart County 14
Jefferson 42, North Oconee 14
Lambert 48, North Forsyth 40
Loganville 42, Flowery Branch 0
Marist 43, West Hall 3
Mill Creek 31, Peachtree Ridge 12
North Gwinnett 45, Duluth 14
Rabun County 65, Social Circle 7
Stephens County 34, Madison County 7
Union County 35, North Hall 32
-- To see a round-up of statewide scores, click here
