Every area program is now at or just beyond the halfway point of the 2012 campaign. And any team that wants to make a playoff push knows it must start playing its best now.
There are a number of key region showdowns on tap this Friday for Regions 8-A, 8-AA, 7-AAA, 8-AAA, 8-AAAAA and 7-AAAAAA. And while 8-AAAA is mostly n a bye, region co-leader Chestatee faces a key contest against Johnson, as both programs look to maintain their positive momentum. (To watch a video feature with the surging War Eagles, click here.)
To get a look at all of tonight's battles, simply scroll down the page, and be sure to check in with Access North Georgia.com Friday night for up-to-the-minute scores and game reports following all the action.
AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAMES, Oct. 5:
REGION 8-A
ATHENS CHRISTIAN at COMMERCE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Ray Lamb Stadium, Commerce
-- ATHENS CHRISTIAN (1-4, 0-1 Region 8-A): Lost to Prince Avenue 40-0 last week.
-- COMMERCE (4-1, 0-1 Region 8-A): Lost to George Walton Academy 26-14 last week.
-- HISTORY: Commerce won the last meeting, 41-0 in 2011. The Tigers lead the series 6-0.
REGION 8-AA
WASHINGTON-WILKES at JEFFERSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Memorial Stadium, Jefferson
-- WASHINGTON (5-0, 2-0 Region 8-AA): Defeated Union County 36-0 last week. The Tigers are ranked No. 7 in Class AA.
-- JEFFERSON (3-1, 1-0 Region 8-AA): Defeated Greene County 62-26 last week.
-- HISTORY: This is the first game in the series since 1969 -- a contest Washington-Wilkes won 35-7. The Tigers lead the series 2-10.
RABUN COUNTY at RIVERSIDE MILITARY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Maginnis Field, Gainesville
-- RABUN (3-1, 1-0 Region 8-AA): Defeated Social Circle 49-23 last week.
-- RIVERSIDE (0-4, 0-2 Region 8-AA): Lost to Oglethorpe County 31-12 last week.
-- HISTORY: Riverside won the last meeting, 20-6 in 2009. The series is tied 2-2.
UNION COUNTY at OGLETHORPE COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Patriot Stadium, Lexington
-- UNION (3-1, 0-1 Region 8-AA): Lost to Washington-Wilkes 36-0 last week.
-- OGLETHORPE (3-1, 1-0 Region 8-AA): Defeated Riverside Military 31-12 last week.
-- HISTORY: Union County won the last meeting, 42-28 in 2009. Oglethorpe County leads the series 6-3.
REGION 7-AAA
NORTH HALL at EAST HALL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: The Brickyard, Gainesville
-- RADIO: 102.9 FM
-- NORTH HALL (3-1, 1-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Dawson County 47-14 last week.
-- EAST HALL (2-3, 0-2 Region 7-AAA): Lost to White County 41-12 last week.
-- HISTORY: North Hall won the last meeting, 73-20 in 2007. East Hall leads the series 33-16-1, but the Trojans have won six straight.
WEST HALL at BUFORD
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford
-- WEST HALL (2-3, 1-1 Region 7-AAA): Lost to Fannin County 31-8 last week.
-- BUFORD (3-1, 1-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Banks County 63-0 last week. The Wolves are ranked No. 4 in Class AAA.
-- HISTORY: This is the two teams' first meeting.
DAWSON COUNTY at BANKS COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Leopard Stadium, Homer
-- DAWSON COUNTY (3-2, 1-1 Region 7-AAA): Lost to North Hall 47-14 last week.
-- BANKS COUNTY (1-4, 0-2 Region 7-AAA): Lost to Buford 63-0 last week.
-- HISTORY: Banks County won the last meeting, 19-14 in 2011. The Leopards lead the series 23-8.
REGION 8-AAA
JACKSON COUNTY at FRANKLIN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Ed Bryant Stadium, Carnesville
-- JACKSON COUNTY (3-2, 1-1 Region 8-AAA): Lost to North Oconee 35-6 last week.
-- FRANKLIN (1-3, 0-1 Region 8-AAA): Lost to Hart County 45-19 last week.
-- HISTORY: Franklin County won the last meeting, 42-7 in 2009. The Lions lead the series 9-1.
HART COUNTY at EAST JACKSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Eagle Stadium, Commerce
-- HART (1-3, 1-0 Region 8-AAA): Defeated Franklin County 45-19 last week.
-- EAST JACKSON (0-5, 0-2 Region 8-AAA): Lost to Elbert County 42-2 last week.
-- HISTORY: Hart County won the last meeting, 20-10 in 2011. The Bulldogs lead the series 2-0.
REGION 8-AAAA
CHESTATEE at JOHNSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Billy Ellis Memorial Stadium, Oakwood
-- CHESTATEE (3-1, 2-0 Region 8-AAAA): Defeated Stephens County 24-20 last week.
-- JOHNSON (3-2, playing non-region schedule): Bye last week after defeating East Hall 22-21 on Sept. 21.
-- HISTORY: Chestatee won the last meeting, 28-13 in 2011. The War Eagles lead the series 8-3.
REGION 8-AAAAA
GAINESVILLE at CEDAR SHOALS
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Waters-Wilkins Stadium, Athens
-- RADIO: AM 550
-- GAINESVILLE (4-1, 3-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Heritage, Conyers, 42-14 last week. The Red Elephants are ranked No. 7 in Class AAAAA.
-- CEDAR SHOALS (3-2, 1-2 Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Loganville 28-26 last week.
-- HISTORY: Cedar Shoals won the last meeting, 21-0 -- in 1977. The Jaguars lead the series 2-0.
FLOWERY BRANCH at APALACHEE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: R. Harold Harrison Stadium, Bethlehem
-- FLOWERY BRANCH (3-2, 3-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Salem 35-18 last week.
-- APALACHEE (1-3, 0-2 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost to Clarke Central 35-12 last week.
-- HISTORY: Flowery Branch won the last meeting, 42-20 in 2011. The Falcons lead the series 2-0.
WINDER-BARROW at HERITAGE, CONYERS
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Evans Memorial Stadium, Conyers
-- WINDER (0-4, 0-2 Region 8-AAAAA): Bye last week after losing to Salem 22-20 on Sept. 21.
-- HERITAGE (4-1, 2-1 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost to Gainesville 42-14 last week.
-- HISTORY: Heritage won the last meeting, 21-0 in 2011. The Patriots lead the series 4-2.
REGION 7-AAAAAA
HABERSHAM CENTRAL at NORCROSS
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Norcross Stadium, Norcross
-- HABERSHAM (0-5, 0-3 Region 7-AAAAAA): Lost to Peachtree Ridge 30-7 last week.
-- NORCROSS (5-0, 3-0 Region 7-AAAAAA): Defeated Mill Creek 49-41 last week. The Blue Devils are ranked No. 3 in Class AAAAAA.
-- HISTORY: Habersham won the last meeting, 20-6 in 1997. The series is tied 5-5.
MILL CREEK at MEADOWCREEK
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Meadowcreek Community Stadium, Norcross
-- MILL CREEK (3-2, 2-1 Region 7-AAAAAA): Lost to Norcross 49-41 last week.
-- MEADOWCREEK (0-4, 0-2 Region 7-AAAAAA): Lost to Duluth 52-6 last week.
-- HISTORY: Mill Creek won the last meeting, 59-0 in 2011. The Hawks lead the series 2-0.
DULUTH at NORTH GWINNETT
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Tom Robinson Memorial Stadium, Suwanee
-- DULUTH (2-3, 1-2 Region 7-AAAAAA): Defeated Meadowcreek 52-6 last week.
-- NORTH GWINNETT (3-1, 1-1 Region 7-AAAAAA): Bye last week after defeating Meadowcreek 45-20 on Sept. 21. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 9 in Class AAAAAA
-- HISTORY: North Gwinnett won the last meeting, 44-14 in 2011. Duluth leads the series 23-19-1, but the Bulldogs have won 14 straight.
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