The playoff race is not only taking shape, we are in fact getting a pretty clear picture of the postseason chase after Week 7 of high school football.<br />
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Lanier put one hand on the Region 8-AAAAA crown on Friday in a thrilling, 26-23 defeat of Gainesville in Sugar Hill, booting the winning field goal with seconds remaining. The win left the eighth-ranked Longhorns as the only undefeated team in the region, while Gainesville fell back to second place.<br />
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Region 7-AAA, meanwhile, now looks like a two-team battle between West Hall and Lumpkin County, as both teams won to stay tied for first. The Indians knocked off Fannin County 34-20 in Blue Ridge, while West Hall bounced back from a slow start to blitz East Hall 51-22 in Oakwood. The two teams will meet on the last day of the regular season in what could be a winner-take-all showdown in Oakwood. Dawson County also got its first win of the season, taking out Franklin County 25-7 in region play.<br />
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Meanwhile, Jefferson continued its march through Region 8-AAA on Friday, smacking Morgan County 51-16 in Madison. The fourth-ranked Dragons moved to 7-0 and moved another step closer to an end-of-season showdown with Hart County, which crushed East Jackson to also stay undefeated.<br />
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Speaking of showdowns, the mountains will see one of the biggest rumbles in recent memory next week after Union County and Rabun County each cruised through Region 8-AA wins on Friday. The Panthers fended off upstart Greene County 42-27 in Greensboro, while the Wildcats clawed Oglethorpe County 49-7. Next week's winner -- in what is the two teams' biggest rivalry -- will take a huge step toward the 8-AA crown.<br />
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Region 8-AAAA also saw Buford, Stephens County and North Oconee each take bigger steps toward the playoffs, each staying undefeated in region play. The Indians knocked out White County 30-10 in Toccoa, holding the Warriors' normally-potent ground game to less than 60 yards. Top-ranked Buford blanked North Hall 56-0.<br />
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And, in Region 7-AAAAAA, North Gwinnett bounced back from last week's tough loss to Norcross with a dominating second half to defeat Peachtree Ridge 51-24. Mill Creek also kept itself in sight of the top of the league via a 55-7 destruction of Mountain View.<br />
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It was a huge night of games, and you can read about them on our <b><a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/fridaygamenight">Friday Game Night</b> page by clicking here</a>. Inside you'll find in-depth game stories, video highlights and photos of all the action in Week 7.<br />
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<b>PREP FOOTBALL RESULTS FOR OCT. 10</b><br />
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Buford 56, North Hall 0<br />
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Clarke Central 32, Flowery Branch 12<br />
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Dawson County 25, Franklin County 7<br />
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Elbert County 42, Jackson County 13<br />
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George Walton 34, Lakeview Academy 14<br />
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Jefferson 51, Morgan County 16<br />
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Johnson 13, Osborne 0<br />
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Lambert 51, Habersham Central 6<br />
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Lanier 26, Gainesville 23<br />
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Lumpkin County 34, Fannin County 20<br />
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Madison County 49, Chestatee 28<br />
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Mill Creek 55, Mountain View 7<br />
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North Gwinnett 51, Peachtree Ridge 24<br />
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Rabun County 49, Oglethorpe County 7<br />
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Stephens County 30, White County 10<br />
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Union County 42, Greene County 27<br />
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Washington-Wilkes 13, Riverside Military 10<br />
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West Forsyth 35, North Forsyth 3<br />
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West Hall 51, East Hall 22
