With just three Friday nights left in the 2014 regular season, just about every game takes on significance, and we have three intriguing battles set to air this week on the airwaves of Jacobs Media.<br />
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Included this week are several teams gunning for region supremacy.<br />
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West Hall has battled to maintain its place at the top of Region 7-AAA so far this season, yet Fannin County is also one of 7-AAA's front-runners -- and the two will square off this week in Oakwood in a game broadcast live on 102.9 FM.<br />
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The Spartans (6-1, 3-0 Region 7-AAA) fought back from a slow start to pick off Franklin County last week and enter this week as the only undefeated squad in region play. Yet the Rebels (4-3, 2-1) are just a game behind in the standings and will be looking to bring themselves into a tie with West Hall at the top of the 7-AAA standings.<br />
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Fannin County has shown itself to be a handful so far in 2014, especially on offense where quarterback Brad Davis (1,387 yards passing, 8 TDs, 7 INTs) leads a spread attack averaging over 470 yards per contest. The Rebels are also scoring just over 28 points per game in region play.<br />
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It could make for an interesting match-up with the West Hall defense, which has been a strength for the Spartans so far in 2014, allowing just 9.2 ppg. And in a region where no team is yet out of the playoff race, every team will be eager for results from throughout 7-AAA.<br />
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Region 8-AAAA is not quite as muddled, with three clear leaders at the top of the league -- but at least one of those front-runners will take a step back on Friday as Buford and North Oconee square off in Bogart in a game broadcast live on AM 550.<br />
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The top-ranked Wolves (7-0, 4-0 Region 8-AAAA) have been in dominant form for much of the campaign but have yet to be challenged much in Region 8-AAAA play -- a 42-10 win over White County on Sept. 19 representing the closest league margin of victory for Buford. <br />
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The Titans hope to make more of an impression this week, as they bring their dominant rushing attack (232 rush yards per game) and senior standout Kawon Bryant (906 yards, 12 TDs) to bear against a Buford team that also prides itself on running the ball -- and stopping the run. The Wolves are allowing just over 50 rush yards per game, while rushing for 196.<br />
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The region's other unblemished squad (in region play), Stephens County (6-1, 4-0), will travel to Madison County on Friday in another key game -- one that White County fans may want to keep an eye on. The Warriors (3-4, 1-3) win over the Red Raiders (5-2, 3-1) may represent their lone region victory so far, but that means, if White County can win out, they will have a good shot at the postseason -- unless Madison County can pull an upset in its final three games (a slate which also includes Buford and North Oconee). For White County that starts with finding a way past Chestatee (1-6, 0-4) on Friday in Cleveland.<br />
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Meanwhile, Region 8-AAAAA is also still undecided -- though it is currently Lanier's to lose after the Longhorns (7-0, 6-0 Region 8-AAAAA) maintained their unblemished record last week in a 49-20 win over Heritage, Conyers. This week Lanier can take another big step toward its first region crown when it takes on Salem in Sugar Hill. The Seminoles (5-2, 5-1) could throw the region back open with a win -- and that's what Gainesville fans will be hoping for on Friday.<br />
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Having already defeated Salem, the Red Elephants (5-2, 5-1) would end up in a three-way tie with Lanier and the Seminoles should Salem pull the upset and Gainesville defeat Cedar Shoals on Friday in a game broadcast live on 1240 AM.<br />
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Red Elephants players and coaches will only look to control themselves in Friday's contest against the Jaguars (0-7, 0-6) in Athens, but fans may certainly want to keep an eye glued to Friday Game Night's live scoreboard and Twitter Feed (@FridayGameNight).<br />
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It will be yet another packed week and Friday Game Night -- and all the facets of Jacobs Media -- will be on hand to keep you up to date.<br />
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<b>WEEK 9 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, OCT. 24</b><br />
Apalachee at Heritage, Conyers<br />
Buford at North Oconee -- AM 550<br />
Centennial at North Forsyth<br />
Chestatee at White County<br />
Collins Hill at Mill Creek<br />
Dawson County at Banks County<br />
Fannin County at West Hall -- Radio: 102.9 FM<br />
Franklin County at East Hall<br />
Gainesville at Cedar Shoals -- Radio: 1240 AM<br />
Greene County at Riverside Military<br />
Habersham Central at Johns Creek<br />
Jackson County at East Jackson<br />
Lakeview Academy at Athens Christian<br />
Loganville at Flowery Branch<br />
Monroe Area at North Hall<br />
North Gwinnett at Duluth<br />
Rabun County at Washington-Wilkes<br />
Salem at Lanier<br />
Stephens County at Madison County<br />
Towns County at Commerce<br />
Winder-Barrow at Clarke Central
