Here's a look at five things we learned from Week 8 of the high school football season...
1. Towns County may have just picked up the biggest win in program history
To put things in perspective, the Indians have been playing football continuously since 1975 (according to Georgia High School Football Historians Association.org, Towns played its frist season in 1969 but did not play again until '75). The program has a record of 65-346-1 over that span. Towns County has never reached a playoff game over that span. Yet on Friday night, the Indians may well have battled their way to a playoff berth. The Indians held on to defeat Athens Christian 28-27 in Hiawassee, and while the Eagles have not been lighting up opponents this season (Athens Christian is 2-5), the victory could be the difference for Towns County in Class A -- which utilizes a power ratings system to determine its postseason seeding. The Indians are currently 23rd in the Class Public ratings -- 24 teams reach the playoffs in Class A -- and the win over Athens Christian should only increase Towns County's positioning within the ratings. Of course the Indians have to keep things going and not fall apart, and there are plenty of tough match-ups to come, including perennial power Commerce this Friday. But if Towns County can finish strong, it will undoubtedly look back and say it was an Oct. 13 night in Hiawassee that defined the season.
2. Banks County is right back in contention
Coming into Friday's contest at Oglethorpe County, Leopards coach Josh Shoemaker knew that while his team had battled plenty of adversity, there was still plenty to play for. In fact, Banks County was in the EXACT same position last season, 2-4, coming off a lopsided loss to a powerhouse Rabun County team -- and that Banks County team went on to finish as the No. 2 seed in Region 8-AA and reach the second round of the state playoffs for the first time in program history. And after brushing past the Patriots on Friday, 38-14, Shoemaker believes his team can repeat history. The Leopards face three more 8-AA showdowns, including Social Circle, Putnam County and Elbert County. Win those three and the Leopards are assured, once again, of no worse than a No. 2 seed and a home playoff game in the first round of state. Clayton Dykehouse continued his stellar campaign on Friday, rushing eight times for 177 yards, one TD and a 2-point conversion, while also returning the opening kickoff 90 yards for a score. If he can keep that kind of play up, history may very well be the future again for Banks County.
3. Region 7-AAA's hierarchy is just about set in stone
Friday night's outcomes sealed a playoff berth for North Hall and continued Dawson County and Greater Atlanta Christian's dominance in league play (the Tigers are now 3-0, the Spartans 4-0). At 2-1 (5-2 overall), East Hall is the only other program in 7-AAA with a victory in region play, and while the Vikings and Tigers have yet to seal postseason spots, they have already set themselves apart with their play so far. That said, they know they must continue to play well in order to ensure a state spot -- and they will do so on Friday against each other. It will be interesting indeed to watch two explosive offenses go at it. And while Dawson County (30.7 points per game) has not put up quite the numbers of the Vikings (46.1 ppg), the Tigers defense has also been stingy, allowing just 14.7 per game as opposed to East Hall's 36.7. The winner puts itself in great position for a home playoff game and would leave the loser needing to rebound in order to avoid a late campaign slump. Lumpkin County and Fannin County will also face off on Friday in a game that would most definitely eliminate the loser from staying in the top 4 conversation.
4. North Forsyth set for a huge showdown with its old rival
Last week saw the Raiders notch a double bonus, as they not only ensured their best record since 2013 but did so while beating cross-county foe Lambert for the first time in six attempts. And thanks to that performance the games from this point on only get bigger. And that starts with Friday's showdown with bitterest foe South Forsyth. The Raiders and War Eagles have faced off 19 times -- though not 19 straight as there were actually a couple years off here and there when the two were in different regions. South owns a 13-6 advantage, including three straight victories, and the War Eagles enter this year's face off in Coal Mountain undefeated (7-0) and as the fifth-ranked team in Class AAAAAAA. Yet the Raiders also bring plenty of momentum into the contest and an offense that will be a threat to just about any defense, with quarterback Ben Bales (11th in the state in passing yards prior to Friday's 45-21 win that saw him throw for a school record 407 yards -- he now has 2,134) guiding an attack that averages 37 points per game. They are the only two teams undefeated in Region 5-AAAAAAA, and you can bet both want the other's scalp, badly. It has the makings of a classic.
5. Pius' resgurence means a big game for Jefferson
When the Golden Lions started the season 0-5 (coming off a 2-9 campaign in 2016), there wasn't much thought here about how St. Pius would figure into the Region 8-AAAA playoff picture. Well, the Golden Lions are forcing us to have a re-think. After ripping off two straight region victories, including against 2016 playoff teams Oconee County and Stephens County, Pius is suddenly tied with third-ranked Jefferson as the only two undefeateds in 8-AAAA. And a closer examination of Pius' schedule reveals that Jefferson will be in for a fight when it heads to Atlanta this Friday. Pius may have opened 0-5, but four of those losses came against ranked teams with a high playoff pedigree -- Blessed Trinity, Benedictine, Marist and Greater Atlanta Christian -- and the other came against Class AAAAAA Lanier, which sealed a 36-33 win late in the contest. Certainly Jefferson has the ability to play with anyone, but after three straight lopsided victories, the Dragons know they must be fully focused when they get off the buses on Friday night.
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
WEEK 9 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, OCT. 20
Banks County at Social Circle
Clarke Central at Flowery Branch
Commerce at Towns County
East Hall at Dawson County
East Jackson at Haralson County
Elbert County at Rabun County
Gainesville at Winder-Barrow
Georgia Military at Riverside Military Academy
Habersham Central at Dacula
Hebron Christian Academy at Lakeview Academy
Jefferson at St. Pius
Lanier at Apalachee
Lumpkin County at Fannin County
Mill Creek at Mountain View
North Hall at Greater Atlanta Christian
Peachtree Ridge at North Gwinnett
South Forsyth at North Forsyth
Stephens County at Oconee County
Walnut Grove at Buford
White County at Chestatee
