With just a few weeks remaining in the 2017 regular season, now is the time to start making a move toward the postseason -- whether that be a region championship or playoff seeding.
And on Friday night, a number of northeast Georgia programs did just that, as Week 8 provided some nail-biters and several more lopsided finishes.
North Hall took a big step toward its third straight state playoff berth -- and may have ended Union County's postseason run, as the Trojans ran past the Panthers 55-34 at The Brickyard. The outcome made Union 0-4 in Region 7-AAA, while North Hall is now 3-1 in league play -- and this after starting the season 0-4 in non-region play.
Also in 7-AAA, leaders Greater Atlanta Christian and Dawson County consolidated their positions, as the Tigers (5-2, 3-0 Region 7-AAA) dominated Fannin County 43-3 and the Spartans (7-1, 4-0) took out Lumpkin County 61-14. East Hall (5-2, 2-1) was on a bye.
In Region 8-AAAAAA, Lanier got its playoff campaign back on track with a 25-21 comeback win at Habersham Central. The Longhorns (4-3, 1-1 Region 8-AAAAAA) battled back and forth throughout with the Raiders (1-6, 0-2), getting a 13-yard touchdown run from Larry Harper to leapfrog a Habersham team that has now lost six games by a a combined 18 points. Meanwhile, Gainesville (2-5, 1-1) fell 28-0 at Dacula (3-4, 2-0). Winder-Barrow (7-0, 2-0) and Apalachee (1-6, 0-2) were on byes.
Flowery Branch played some old-fashioned defensive football on Friday, fending off Loganville 6-3 in Region 8-AAAAA. The Falcons (7-1, 4-0 Region 8-AAAAA) managed just 166 yards but held the Red Devils to just 126 on the road and set up a huge end of season run against Clarke Central and Buford. The Gladiators (6-2, 3-1) rolled over Johnson 42-14 and the Wolves (5-1, 3-0) blasted Cedar Shoals 56-0.
Region 8-AA saw Rabun County maintain its stranglehold at the top, as the fifth-ranked Wildcats (7-0, 3-0 Region 8-AA) hammered Social Circle 63-7. Yet Banks County also showed its resilience with a 38-14 win at Oglethorpe County. The win keeps the Leopards (3-4, 2-1) right in the thick of the postseason race.
Yet perhaps no region saw the fireworks that 8-A displayed on Friday. Towns County pulled off its first ever win over Athens Christian, 28-27 in Hiawassee. The Indians (3-4, 2-4 Region 8-A) halted a 12-game unbeaten run in one of the biggest upsets of the night. Meanwhile, Commerce (6-1, 5-1) fended off a game Riverside Military (0-7, 0-7) 53-28 after the Eagles pulled as close as 28-22 in the second half. And in Gainesville, Lakeview Academy (2-5, 1-5) moved up and down the field but could not catch George Walton Academy, falling 49-35 despite another stellar night for quarterback Alec Bornhorst.
Jefferson cruised to a 44-0 win over North Oconee in Region 8-AAAA, as the third-ranked Dragons (6-1, 2-0 Region 8-AAAA) set up a showdown with St. Pius (also 2-0 in 8-AAAA) next week. Meanwhile, Stephens County suffered a tough loss to Madison County 20-14.
North Forsyth also racked up its first ever win over Lambert in style, 45-21 to keep the Raiders (5-2, 2-0 Region 5-AAAAAAA) in the thick of the 5-AAAAAAA race. And in 6-AAAAAAA North Gwinnett stayed out in front, as the Bulldogs (6-1, 3-0 Region 6-AAAAAAA) blanked Duluth 52-0. And Mill Creek stayed just behind, as the Hawks (6-2, 3-1) dominated Peachtree Ridge 48-14.
Jackson County and East Jackson each suffered tough losses in Region 8-AAA, 44-14 to Hart County and 38-6 to Franklin County, respectively. And West Hall and Chestatee took losses to 7-AAAA giants Marist and Blessed Trinity, respectively. The Spartans fell 41-6 to Marist and Blessed Trinity took the War Eagles, 41-14.
WEEK 8 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES, OCT. 13
Banks County 38, Oglethorpe County 14
Blessed Trinity 41, Chestatee 14
Buford 56, Cedar Shoals 0
Clarke Central 42, Johnson 14
Commerce 53, Riverside Military Academy 28
Dawson County 43, Fannin County 3
Franklin County 38, East Jackson 6
Flowery Branch 6, Loganville 3
Dacula 28, Gainesville 0
George Walton Academy 49, Lakeview Academy 35
Greater Atlanta Christian 61, Lumpkin County 14
Hart County 44, Jackson County 14
Jefferson 44, North Oconee 0
Lanier 25, Habersham Central 21
Madison County 20, Stephens County 14
Marist 41, West Hall 6
Mill Creek 48, Peachtree Ridge 14
North Forsyth 45, Lambert 21
North Gwinnett 52, Duluth 0
North Hall 55, Union County 34
Rabun County 63, Social Circle 7
Towns County 28, Athens Christian 27
