Now that the warm-up acts are done, it is time for the headliners to take center stage in Region 8-AAAA.<br />
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Buford, North Oconee, and Stephens County all enter the final three weeks of the season tied and unbeaten in region play. To say anything can happen at this point would be an understatement as all three will face each other down the stretch.<br />
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On Friday, the Class AAAA No. 1-ranked Wolves (7-0, 4-0 Region 8-AAAA) will travel to take on North Oconee (5-2, 4-0) while Stephens County (6-1, 4-0) will travel to take on Madison County (5-2, 3-1) .<br />
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The following week Stephens County will play host to North Oconee and the Indians finish the regular season at home against Buford.<br />
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"There are a lot of good games left that will tell the tale," Stephens County coach Frank Barden said. "I would think Buford is still the team to beat. They're one of the best, if not the best, team in the state. But we're just glad to be in this position and hopefully we can finish strong."<br />
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The Indians have been a big surprise this season featuring a new coach in Barden, not to mention a whole new offensive philosophy with a spread attack. They have won five straight since a narrow defeat to rival Elbert County (35-33) in the second week of the season.<br />
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"We felt after (the) fall (practice) that we had some talent and right now we couldn't have asked more from the kids," Barden said. "I think our strength starts on the offensive line. Our defensive line, especially Ben Cleveland and Gary Walker, has been a big key for us all season."<br />
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Buford coach Jess Simpson, despite guiding his team to a current 32-game win streak, said they will have their hands full with the Titans, who feature sure-to-be All-state running back selection Kawon Bryant, who is also the reigning Class AAAA Player of the Year.<br />
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"They are playing well and it's a tough place to play," Simpson. "We barely got out of there a couple of years ago [a 13-0 win in the second round of Class AAA playoffs] so we're going over there expecting a close, tough, physical game. (The region title) is up for grabs over the final few weeks. It could be very much like the McEachern game."<br />
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In that game it took a Buford goal-line stance in the final seconds to preserve a 27-20 win.<br />
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Coming into the season, Region 8-AAAA was being touted as perhaps the toughest region in the state in any classification. However, large graduation losses by North Hall, Chestatee, and Monroe Area have taken some of the luster and strength away from the region as those three teams are just a combined 1-20 on the season .<br />
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But all three will have a say in the final playoff outcome as all three will take on White County (3-4, 1-3) down the stretch. Madison County, which still has to play Buford, North Oconee, and Stephens County, currently is battling White County for the fourth spot but the Warriors own the head-to-head tiebreaker after a 34-27 win over the Raiders three weeks ago.<br />
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If White County can manage to win out, the Warriors will be the fourth seed. Madison County will have to pull off two upsets over the final two weeks to get into the playoffs to avoid tiebreaker issues. If that happens, the Warriors would be eliminated by virtue of losing all three games to Buford, North Oconee, and Stephens County earlier in the season.<br />
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Are you ready for some playoff-like footbalL? We are. And here's to what we hope is a great final act to the 2014 season in 8-AAAA.
