MT. AIRY - For the Habersham Central football team there is only one sure way to make sure it gets into the Class AAAA state playoffs next week: beat Rockdale County Friday night at Larry Black Stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The Raiders (5-4, 5-3 in region) snapped a three game losing streak last week by beating Loganville 24-17. Rockdale (6-3, 6-2) is working on a five-game win streak and its defense has allowed just 49 points in that stretch.
Last year the Raiders got the better of Rockdale, winning by a score of 28-20.
Habersham Central coach Gene Cathcart said Rockdale is a very different team from what they faced last year.
"They are very good. They have several new players, a couple of transfers, and they're playing with a lot more confidence," Cathcart said.
Cathcart said his team is looking forward to the game.
"I think they have won five region games in a row so it will be quite a challenge for us. But we're looking forward to it because it means we have a shot at the playoff," he said.
Speed will be the main thing the Raiders will have to stop against Rockdale.
"The fact they have so much team speed is obviously a concern. They do a good job of spreading the field offensively and letting their athletes make plays. Defensively they are just very, very, aggressive and people have had a hard time running the football against them for the most part," Cathcart said.
Cathcart said the key to the game will be his defense.
"Because they have so much great team speed on offense I think just to be able to block on offense and tackle on defense are our primary concerns," Cathcart said.
The playoff scenarios for Region 8-AAAA, which enters its final week with six teams within one game of first place, would be hard to figure out even with a state-of-the-art computer.
But, there are a couple of things that are certain: if Salem (7-2, 6-2 in region) which travels to winless Eastside, and Rockdale County both win they are in the playoffs.
If one, or both, lose, break out the slide rules.
A Habersham loss to Rockdale knocks them out. The loser of the Cedar Shoals-Madison County game also would be out.
But, a win over Rockdale would give the Raiders the tiebreaker edge. But, no matter who wins in the Cedar Shoals-Madison game, both hold the tiebreaker over Habersham. A Heritage win with a Habersham loss would put the Patriots in the playoffs.
But it's possible to have four teams at 6-3 with only three spots remaining in the playoffs behind Salem, which means it may not be settled until Monday.
REGION 8-AAAA STANDINGS WEEK 10
TEAM..............Region...................Overall
Salem......................6-2-0...............7-2-0
Rockdale County........6-2-0...............6-3-0
Cedar Shoals.............5-3-0...............6-3-0
Madison County.........5-3-0...............6-3-0
Habersham Central.....5-3-0...............5-4-0
Heritage...................5-3-0...............5-4-0
Loganville.................4-4-0...............5-4-0
Clarke Central...........2-6-0................3-6-0
Jackson County.........2-6-0...............2-7-0
Eastside...................0-8-0...............0-9-0
FRIDAY'S GAMES, 10-28
Rockdale County at Habersham Central, 7:30 p.m.
Heritage at Loganville, 7:30 p.m.
Salem at Eastside, 7:30 p.m.
Jackson County at Clarke Central, 7:30 p.m.
Cedar Shoals at Madison County, 7:30 p.m.
LAST WEEK'S SCORES
Habersham Central 24, Loganville 17
Salem 38, Jackson County 0
Rockdale County 21, Madison County 15
Heritage 33, Clarke Central 7
Cedar Shoals 36, Eastside 15
(By Ben Valentine and Jeff Hart)
Thursday
May 15th, 2025
5:10AM
