It's a good thing the playoffs start next week -- because there's no way we want to say goodbye to the 2015 high school football season, not after this Friday. (Scroll down for a look at first-round match-ups involving area squads)
Week 11's regular season finales produced some of the most exciting moments of the campaign and FINALLY cleared up the playoff picture that had been blurry in so many northeast Georgia-based regions.
Mill Creek claimed its first ever region championship and moved to 10-0 on the campaign with a 20-17 overtime defeat of Peachtree Ridge in a defensive sliugfest that lived up to every inch of its billing.
Meanwhile, Jefferson saw its hopes of a second straight Region 8-AAA bid quashed -- though not because of the Dragons' own stellar play in a 43-27 defeat of Hart County. Jefferson was dropped to the second seed for the postseason when Oconee County knocked off Elbert County in Watkinsville.
Buford also notched its region crown, handling Stephens County 42-0, an outcome that dropped the Indians to second place in 8-AAAA. The third seed, however, will be North Hall after the Trojans stormed back into the playoffs after a one-year absence with a 30-13 win at White County.
Speaking of playoff returns, perhaps none is so incredible as West Hall's. The Spartans battled their way to a 14-7 win over Lumpkin County and then watched as Franklin County fended off Fannin County 28-24 and East Hall nipped Banks County 35-27 to complete an amazing late-season surge into the postseason. Playing in Region 7-AAA, West Hall won three straight to close out the regular season, fighting back from a five-game losing skid to clinch a postseason spot. Franklin County will also represent 7-AAA in the postseason. Dawson County will enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed, East Hall the No. 2.
Winder-Barrow is also back in the playoffs for the second straight year after fending off Heritage, Conyers 37-23 in Region 8-AAAAA.
And 8-AAAAA saw perhaps the most incredible finish of a week filled with them.
Gainesville clinched the No. 2 seed from 8-AAAAA after completing a 73-yard drive with just over two minutes to play to knock off Flowery Branch 29-26 at City Park. The Falcons battled back from a 19-7 second half deficit to take their first lead at 26-22 with just 2:30 remaining. It proved just enough time for the Red Elephants to pull the game back and avoid mini-games that would have been needed to break a three-way tie for third place.
Elsewhere, Union County sealed the No. 2 seed from Region 8-AA, defeating Washington-Wilkes 43-21.
Lanier also won to cap a perfect regular season, as did Rabun County, while Commerce hammered Lakeview 38-3. The Tigers must wait for the power ratings to come out to find their spot in the Class A public bracket, but they are certain to play in two weeks time.
The rest of the area's playoff-bound teams will kickoff next week.
WEEK 11 AREA PREP FOOTBALL SCORES, NOV. 6
Alpharetta 35, North Forsyth 21
Buford 42, Stephens County 0
Chattahoochee 55, Habersham Central 21
Commerce 38, Lakeview Academy 3
Dawson County 17, Johnson 14
East Hall 35, Banks County 27
Franklin County 28, Fannin County 24
Gainesville 29, Flowery Branch 26
Jefferson 43, Hart County 27
Lanier 56, Apalachee 7
Mill Creek 20, Peachtree Ridge 17 OT
Morgan County 13, Jackson County 6 OT
Monroe Area 44, Chestatee 17
North Gwinnett 16, Mountain View 14
North Hall 30, White County 13
Rabun County 34, Greene County 0
Social Circle 31, Riverside Military 7
Union County 43, Washington-Wilkes 21
West Hall 14, Lumpkin County 7
Winder-Barrow 37, Heritage, Conyers 23
FIRST ROUND STATE PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS FOR AREA TEAMS, NOV. 13
Region 7-AAAAAA
Northview at Mill Creek
Region 8-AAAAAA
East Paulding at Lanier
Alexander at Gainesville
Winder-Barrow at Allatoona
Region 8-AAAA
Fayette County at Buford
Carrollton at Stephens County
North Hall at Sandy Creek
Region 7-AAA
Ringgold at Dawson County
Sonoraville at East Hall
West Hall at Calhoun
Region 8-AAA
Pepperell at Jefferson
Region 8-AA
Bremen at Rabun County
Bowdon at Union County
Region 8-A
Commerce vs.TBA
