What Week 8 in the high school football campaign lacks in monster showdowns, it makes up for in what should be a setup week for the stretch drive to make the playoffs for most area teams.
Undoubtedly the biggest matchup of the night has Union County traveling to rival Rabun County in a battle for first place in Region 8-AA (Click here for a video preview of the contest). It matches the Wildcats No. 1 defense in Class AA against the Panthers No. 2 scoring offense in AA. It won't outright decide the region title -- Washington-Wilkes is still unbeaten in region play -- but the winner will surely have the inside track.
Region 7-AAA has three key matchups with the biggest being Dawson County traveling to Fannin County in what is expected to be an offensive shootout between two of the better offenses in the area. The Tigers grabbed the top spot in the region after knocking off Franklin County last week but five teams are within 1 1/2 games of each other and every game will cause ripples in the standings. Meanwhile, West Hall will try to snap a four-game losing streak and get back in the race playing host to Franklin County.
In Region 8-AAAAA, Flowery Branch and Winder-Barrow will try to keep momentum going and stay within striking distance of playoff spots after slow starts in region play.
For a look at all of the night's contests involving area teams, simply scroll down. And be sure to check back with AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night throughout the night for score updates and game stories and video highlights. You can also check for scores and highlights on our Twitter feed: @FridayGameNight
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR Oct. 16
(Games listed in alphabetical order of visiting team)
APALACHEE at FLOWERY BRANCH
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Falcons Field, Flowery Branch
-- APALACHEE (0-6, 0-5 Region 8-AAAAA): Bye last week, lost 38-0 to Loganville two weeks ago
-- FLOWERY BRANCH (4-3, 3-2 Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Clarke Central 28-21 last week
-- NOTABLE: Flowery Branch leads series 5-0. The Falcons won 52-28 in 2014. ... Two teams headed in opposite directions. The Falcons have won 3 of their last 4 overall got back in the playoff race with a huge road win last week. The challenge will be to stay focused against a Wildcats team that has scored the fewest points in Class AAAAA (12). ... Apalachee has suffered three consecutive shutouts and has not scored a touchdown since Week 1 of the season. The Wildcats are yielding 38.5 ppg on defense. ... Flowery Branch has averaged 28.7 ppg over its last four games after scoring just 34 total in its first three games.
CHESTATEE at STEPHENS COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Reservation, Toccoa
-- CHESTATEE (0-6, 0-3 Region 8-AAAA): Lost 59-29 to Madison County last week
-- STEPHENS COUNTY (5-1, 3-0 Region 8-AAAA): Defeated White County 21-20 last week
-- NOTABLE: Stephens County leads series 4-2. The Indians won 55-27 in 2014. ... The Indians survived on a missed PAT to get the win last week and two of their three region wins have been a by a single point. However, they face a Chestatee defense that has struggled most of the season allowing the most points in Class AAAA (271, 45.1 ppg). ... The War Eagles had their biggest offensive output of the season last week. They will need to control the ball on the ground to have any chance to pull the upset this week. ... Stephens County still has region title aspirations with road finishes against North Oconee and Buford looming so cannot afford a letdown against Chestatee or Madison County next week.
DAWSON COUNTY at FANNIN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Rebel Stadium, Blue Ridge
-- RADIO: northgeorgiasportslink.com
-- DAWSON COUNTY (4-2, 3-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Franklin County 54-40 last week
-- FANNIN COUNTY (3-3, 1-1 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Lumpkin County 41-35 last week
-- NOTABLE: Fannin County leads series 7-4. The Rebels won 35-28 in 2014, which snapped a four-losing streak to the Tigers. ... The Tigers have been the big story in 7-AAA this season leading the region as the only undefeated team left after last week’s showdown with the Lions. They have already doubled their win total from 2014. ... But the Tigers face a tough road game against a Rebels team that is just 1 1/2-games behind the Tigers in the standings. ... Both teams are rolling offensively with Fannin County averaging 32 ppg and the Tigers averaging 34.2 ppg in region play. It may come down to the final possession. ... However, Fannin County is 0-2 at home this season and play 3 of the last 4 at Rebel Stadium. ... Dawson County is 3-0 on the road in 2014.
EAST HALL at JOHNSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Billy Ellis Memorial Stadium, Oakwood
-- RADIO: WDUN 550 AM
-- EAST HALL (2-4, 2-1 Region 7-AAA): Defeated West Hall 24-7 last week
-- JOHNSON (2-5, non-region): Lost 33-6 to Osborne last week
-- NOTABLE: Johnson leads series 22-14-1. East Hall won 42-23 in 2014. The Vikings have won 4 of the last 5 meetings but the two teams have split the past 8 meetings going back to 2007. ... It won’t have any bearing on region standings but both teams are looking for momentum over the final half of the season. East Hall has won 2 of its last 3 games in region play and need to keep the momentum with a tough finish as the Vikings battle for a playoff spot. ... Johnson also has a tough finish and would like to start some positive momentum to close out the season over the final month. ... Both of Johnson’s win have been at home while the Vikings are 1-1 on the road.
FRANKLIN COUNTY at WEST HALL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Spartan Field, Oakwood
-- FRANKLIN COUNTY (3-3, 2-1 Region 7-AAA): Lost 54-40 to Dawson County last week
-- WEST HALL (2-4, 0-2 Region 7-AAA): Lost 24-7 to East Hall last week
-- NOTABLE: Franklin County leads series 4-2. West Hall won 27-12 in 2014. ... It’s a must-win for West Hall, which has lost four straight. The Spartans have had trouble scoring all season and it will depend on which Franklin County defense they see as to what their fortunes may be. ... The Lions have allowed 38 or more three times, including a season-high 54 last week, but they also held two good Banks County and Lumpkin County offenses to just 15 total points. ... The Spartans defense has played well all season but has gotten little help from the offense to help them not wear down late. ... A loss for the Spartans would almost certainly dash any hopes of getting to the playoffs for a third consecutive year. A win keeps them alive for another week. ... The Lions need a win to keep pace with Dawson County and East Hall. They play host to the Vikings next week.
GAINESVILLE at CLARKE CENTRAL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Billy Henderson Stadium, Athens
-- RADIO: 1240 AM ESPN Radio
-- GAINESVILLE (4-2, 4-1 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost 16-8 to Lanier last week
-- CLARKE CENTRAL (2-4, 2-3 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost 28-21 to Flowery Branch last week
-- NOTABLE: Gainesville leads series 7-2. The Red Elephants won 35-10 in 2014. Gainesville has won all three meetings since the rivalry renewed in 2012 after taking a 36-year hiatus. ... Both teams are coming off tough losses and for the Gladiators its a must-win to stay in the playoff race. They lose the tiebreaker to Salem and Flowery Branch but can make a run if they win out. They still have Loganville and Winder-Barrow to play. ... The Red Elephants sit third, 1/2-game behind Loganville, whom they get in two weeks on the road. Second place is within reach if they can win out. They would need help to take the region title but could get it with Lanier still facing road games against Salem and Winder-Barrow.
HABERSHAM CENTRAL at CENTENNIAL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Centennial Stadium, Roswell
-- HABERSHAM CENTRAL (0-6, 0-5 Region 6-AAAAAA): Lost 21-7 to Lambert last week
-- CENTENNIAL (3-3, 3-2 Region 6-AAAAAA): Defeated Alpharetta 38-35 last week
-- NOTABLE: Centennial leads series 1-0. The Knights won 42-39 in 2014 in first-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Knights are one of the hottest teams in the region with three straight wins. They are averaging 39.2 ppg over their last 4 games after scoring just 6 total points in their first two contests. ... The Raiders are yielding 45.6 ppg on defense. ...Habersham Central has lost 18 straight road games. The Raiders’ last win on the road was a 47-45 victory over Loganville in October 2011.
HART COUNTY at JACKSON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Panther Stadium, Jefferson
-- HART COUNTY (4-2, 1-1 Region 8-AAA): Defeated East Jackson 62-0 last week
-- JACKSON COUNTY (3-4, 0-3 Region 8-AAA): Lost 20-14 to Elbert County last week
-- NOTABLE: Hart County leads series 12-0. The Bulldogs won 43-7 in 2014. ... The Panthers are on the precipice of missing out on the playoffs. They aren’t mathematically eliminated but they will need to win out and get some help along the way. However, they made history in their opener knocking off Madison County for the first time in program history and maybe history can repeat itself this week. ... Offense is the key for Jackson County. In their three wins, the Panthers have averaged 33 ppg. In their four losses they have scored a total of 21 points (5.2 ppg) with two shutouts. ... The Bulldogs were giving up 28.2 ppg until last week’s shutout win so it could be a favorable matchup for the Panthers. ... The Bulldogs, however, cannot afford a letdown. Their final three opponents after the Panthers are 15-4 and are fighting with them for a playoff berth.
HERITAGE, CONYERS at LANIER
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Lanier Community Stadium, Sugar Hill
-- HERITAGE, CONYERS (0-6, 0-5 Region 8-AAAAA): Bye last week, lost 20-3 to Cedar Shoals two weeks ago
-- LANIER (0-0,0-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Ranked No. 5 in Class AAAAA; defeated Gainesville 16-8 last week
-- NOTABLE: Lanier leads series 1-0. The Longhorns won 49-20 in 2014 in first-ever meeting between the two schools. ... It looks like a huge mismatch on paper. The Patriots have the second-worst offense in the region (52 points) while Lanier has allowed just 41 total points (6.8 ppg) on the season behind Derrick Brown, Devin Miller, Juwan Jones, and Michael Allen. Only Northgate (20) has allowed fewer points in Class AAAAA. ... It also could be a trap game with Lanier facing two tough road games to follow against Salem and Winder-Barrow that could help wrap up a second straight region title. ... The Longhorns have won 13 straight regular season games at home. Their only two losses at home since 2012 have been in the playoffs. Heritage has lost 6 straight road games.
JEFFERSON at EAST JACKSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Eagle Stadium, Commerce
-- JEFFERSON (7-0, 3-0 Region 8-AAA): Ranked No. 3 in Class AAA; defeated Morgan County 17-0 last week
-- EAST JACKSON (1-6, 0-3 Region 8-AAA): Lost 62-0 to Hart County last week
-- NOTABLE: Jefferson leads series 5-0. The Dragons won 63-0 in 2014. ... The Dragons defense is third in Class AAA in points allowed (49, 7.0 ppg) which doesn’t bode well for an Eagles offense that has scored just 7 points in region play. ... It’s not any better on the other side of the ball for East Jackson. Jefferson is averaging 26.9 ppg while the Eagles have yielded the fourth-most points in Class AAA (282, 40.2 ppg). ... Jefferson, however, can’t get caught looking ahead to next week’s bye before closing out the season against Oconee County and Hart County in what should be a two-week showdown for the region title.
LAKEVIEW ACADEMY at ATHENS ACADEMY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Spartan Field, Watkinsville
-- LAKEVIEW ACADEMY (2-4, 1-3 Region 8-A): Lost 42-20 to George Walton Academy last week
-- ATHENS ACADEMY (5-1, 3-1 Region 8-A): Lost 45-14 to No. 2 Prince Avenue last week
-- NOTABLE: Athens Academy leads series 4-1. Lakeview Academy won 29-28 in 2014. ... The Lions need one more win to equal last year’s total but they will have a rough road over the final month of the season. Starting with the Spartans the Lions final four opponents have a combined 18-8 record. ... The Lions have been competitive with two of their losses by 5 points or less. Offensively their spread attack has averaged 15.3 ppg. Until last week, the Spartans were holding opponents to just 6.9 ppg. ... Lakeview’s defense has been tough yielding just 20.3 ppg.
LUMPKIN COUNTY at BANKS COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Leopard Stadium, Homer
-- RADIO: WDUN 102.9 FM
-- LUMPKIN COUNTY (2-5, 0-3 Region 7-AAA): Lost 41-35 to Fannin County last week
-- BANKS COUNTY (4-2, 1-1 Region 7-AAA): Bye last week, defeated Fannin County 52-28 two weeks ago
-- NOTABLE: Lumpkin County leads series 10-3. Banks County won 49-46 in 2014 snapping a six-game losing streak to the Indians going back to 1989. ... A huge game for the Leopards, who are peaking at the right time having won 4 of their last 5 overall. A win keeps them in the mix for a region title with a monster showdown next week against Dawson County in Dawsonville. ... A young Indians team has found the going tough in 2014 after graduating several of their top players from last year. Defense has the main issue allowing a region-worst 118 points (39.3 ppg) so far. They won’t get a break this week with a Leopards offense that is averaging 30.3 ppg on the season but 42.7 ppg in their four wins, including the Leopards biggest output last week since scoring 53 against East Hall in 2010. ... A loss for Lumpkin County would eliminate the Indians from the playoffs.
MONROE AREA at BUFORD
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford
-- MONROE AREA (2-4, 1-2 Region 8-AAAA): Lost 33-6 to North Oconee last week
-- BUFORD (5-1, 3-0 Region 8-AAAA): Ranked No. 3 in Class AAAA; defeated North Hall 49-0 last week
-- NOTABLE: Buford leads series 4-3. The Wolves won 51-12 in 2014 in first meeting between the two teams since 1951. ... This has the makings for a rout early on. Buford is rolling averaging 51.3 ppg in region play while the Hurricanes have scored just 12 total points during a two-game losing streak. Monroe Area is yielding 31.5 ppg on defense. ... The Wolves are just now getting close to full strength and will need it with a good North Oconee team coming to town next week and then a finish at home against Stephens County in the finale two weeks later.
NORTH FORSYTH at JOHNS CREEK
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Gladiators Stadium, Johns Creek
-- NORTH FORSYTH (1-5, 1-4 Region 6-AAAAAA): Lost 48-17 to West Forsyth last week
-- JOHNS CREEK (3-3, 3-2 Region 6-AAAAAA): Defeated Chattahoochee 26-21 last week
-- NOTABLE: North Forsyth leads series 2-1, The Raiders won 14-13 in 2014. ... The Raiders offense has struggled during a four-game losing streak. After averaging 30.5 ppg the first two games of the season, the Raiders have scored just 43 points (10.7 ppg) since. Johns Creek, however, is yielding 26.7 ppg on defense so it could be a good matchup for the Raiders. ... It’s a key game for the Gladiators, who are locked in a tie for fourth with Centennial. The Raiders have a chance to play spoiler the last month of the season with three games against the top teams in the standings.
NORTH HALL at MADISON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Red Raider Stadium, Danielsville
-- NORTH HALL (2-4, 1-2 Region 8-AAAA): Lost 49-0 to No. 3 Buford last week
-- MADISON COUNTY (1-5, 1-3 Region 8-AAAA): Defeated Chestatee 59-29 last week
-- NOTABLE: Madison County leads series 10-3. The Red Raiders won 49-20 in 2014. It was the first meeting between the two teams since 2001, which was the last North Hall win in the series at home. ... The Trojans took a step back last week despite playing the No. 3-ranked Wolves. They had lost by a point to Stephens County and then knocked off North Oconee on the road. ... Oddly enough, neither team is out of the playoff race despite just one region win each. The Trojans are tied with Monroe Area and White County for fourth place and Madison County is just 1/2-game behind that group. ... North Hall is a game behind North Oconee for third but owns the tiebreaker over the Titans so a win would put them in a strong position with all four games left against the other teams on the bottom of the region while the Titans still have to play Buford and Stephens County. ... The loser may be out of the playoff race with three losses and four teams bunched together.
OGLETHORPE COUNTY at RIVERSIDE MILITARY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Maginnis Field, Gainesville
-- OGLETHORPE COUNTY (0-7, 0-3 Region 8-AA): Lost 60-12 to Rabun County last week
-- RIVERSIDE MILITARY (1-5, 0-2 Region 8-AA): Lost 14-3 to Washington-Wilkes last week
-- NOTABLE: Oglethorpe County leads series 6-3. Riverside won 21-0 in 2014. The Eagles have won two straight in the series. ... This is an interesting matchup in that you have the worst offense in Class AA vs. the worst defense in Class AA going against each other. Oglethorpe County has been abysmal on defense allowing 339 points (48.4 ppg) which is 100 more than the next worst team in Class AA (Armuchee, 239) in points allowed. The Eagles, however, have scored a classification-low 34 points on the season (5.6 ppg). ... Riverside is very much alive in the playoff race and cannot afford a letdown. The Eagles are just 1/2-game behind fourth-place Greene County in the standings and the two teams meet next week in Greensboro. ... The Eagles still have No. 6 Union County left to play but also have Social Circle so a late season run is possible.
PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN at COMMERCE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tiger Stadium, Commerce
-- PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN (0-6, 0-4 Region 8-A): Lost 21-14 to Hebron Christian last week
-- COMMERCE (3-3, 2-2 Region 8-A): Bye last week, lost 35-14 to No. 2 Prince Avenue two weeks ago
-- NOTABLE: Commerce leads series 1-0. The Tigers won 39-10 in 2014 in first-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The record is deceiving for Commerce. The Tigers’ three losses have been to Class AAA No. 3 Jefferson, Class A No. 2 Prince Avenue and to Athens Academy. Those three teams are a combined 19-1 on the season. ... Expect after the off week for the Tigers, who are sixth in the Public power ratings, to tune up for the playoffs with the bottom teams in 8-A over the final month of the season. ... Only Towns County (217) has allowed more points than Providence (199) on the season while Commerce is averaging 24.6 ppg with its vaunted ground attack.
TOWNS COUNTY at PRINCE AVENUE CHRISTIAN
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Wolverine Field, Bogart
-- TOWNS COUNTY (1-6, 1-4 Region 8-A): Lost 35-7 to Athens Christian last week
-- PRINCE AVENUE CHRISTIAN (7-0, 5-0 Region 8-A): Ranked No. 2 in Class A; defeated Athens Academy 45-14 last week
-- NOTABLE: Prince Avenue leads series 3-0. The Wolverines won 40-7 in 2014. ... It will be a tall task for Towns County. Prince Avenue leads Class A in scoring with 301 points (43 ppg) and is seventh in defense allowing 9.2 ppg. Meanwhile, the Indians have allowed 31 ppg on defense and have scored just 53 points all season.
UNION COUNTY at RABUN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tiger
-- UNION COUNTY (7-0, 3-0 Region 8-AA): Ranked No. 6 in Class AA; defeated Greene County 49-28 last week
-- RABUN COUNTY (6-1, 3-0 Region 8-AA): Ranked No. 7 in Class AA; defeated Oglethorpe County 60-12 last week
-- NOTABLE: Rabun County leads series 34-16. The Wildcats won 45-31 in 2014. ... It has been a streaky series that dates back to 1958. Rabun has won three straight after Union won five straight before that. ... This game will probably decide the region title, barring an upset over the final three weeks of the season. It will pit the Panthers’ No. 2 offense in Class AA (293 points, 41.8 ppg) against the Rabun defense, which is the stingiest unit in AA allowing just 55 total points (7.8 ppg) so something will have to give. ... The key matchup, however, may be the Rabun offense vs. the Union defense. The Wildcats are fifth in AA in scoring (251 points, 35.8 ppg) while the Union defense is giving up 18.1 ppg on the season. ... It is a critical stretch for Rabun County which has Washington-Wilkes up next followed by Greene County to end the regular season. The Tigers have righted their ship with two straight wins.
WINDER-BARROW at CEDAR SHOALS
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Jaguar Stadium, Athens
-- WINDER-BARROW (3-3, 3-2 Region 8-AAAAA): Bye last week, defeated Flowery Branch 24-17 two weeks ago
-- CEDAR SHOALS (1-5, 1-4 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost 23-7 to Loganville last week
-- NOTABLE: Cedar Shoals leads series 6-3. Winder-Barrow won 37-35 in 2014. The Bulldoggs have won 2 of the last 3 meetings. ... The Bulldoggs have gotten back in the playoff race with two straight wins and cannot afford a letdown this week with Clarke Central and Lanier to follow. They sit tied for fourth with Salem and own the tiebreaker over the Seminoles by virtue of their head-to-head win three weeks ago. ... CeCe Green is still out but Winder-Barrow has rallied behind So. QB Brock Landis. ... The Bulldoggs defense has gotten tougher. They have allowed just 23 points over their last six quarters (15.3 ppg) compared to allowing 28.2 ppg the previous four-plus games. ... The Jaguars are averaging just 9.0 ppg on offense.
WHITE COUNTY at NORTH OCONEE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Titan Stadium, Bogart
-- RADIO: wrwh.com
-- WHITE COUNTY (1-5, 1-2 Region 8-AAAA): Lost 21-20 to Stephens County last week
-- NORTH OCONEE (3-3, 2-1 Region 8-AAAA): Defeated Monroe Area 33-6 last week
-- NOTABLE: North Oconee leads series 1-0. The Titans won 31-6 in 2014 in first-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Warriors offense has picked up the pace the past two weeks averaging 23 ppg after scoring just 23 total points over their first four contests. Defensively they have been solid allowing 21 or less in five of their six games. ... The Titans have a big offensive line and a good wing-T style offense that is averaging 23.3 ppg but defensively they have struggled yielding 25.5 ppg, including 31 to North Hall which runs a similar offense to White County. ... The Warriors are tied with North Hall and Monroe Area but, like North Hall, has already played Buford and Stephens County. A win could help propel them up the standings and keep them alive for a playoff berth. A loss, however, could put them behind the eight-ball. ... The Titans, despite sitting third a game ahead of that group, cannot afford another loss with Buford and Stephens County still remaining.
