One area team claimed a region crown, another wrapped at least one hand around a title and plenty more took steps toward the postseason in a momentous night of action for high school football in Week 9.
(NOTE: Visit our Friday Game Night page for game stories and video highlights from contests throughout northeast Georgia. Scroll down for a complete list of area scores. To see a list of statewide football scores, click here. You can also see a gallery of pictures from contests throughout the area by clicking on the photo above.)
Top-ranked Mill Creek withstood a determined Mountain View to hold on to a 35-23 victory that gave the Hawks their second straight outright region championship, and the first Region 6-AAAAAAA title in Hoschton.
Meanwhile, Rabun County overcame a sloppy first quarter to rout Elbert County 42-10 in a top 10 Class AA showdown in Region 8-AA. The Wildcats remained undefeated in region play and need just one more victory to claim the program's third straight league crown and a No. 1 state playoff seed. Fellow 8-AA team Banks County also claimed a state playoff spot on Friday, pushing past Social Circle 42-21.
Region 8-AAAA is set up for a huge showdown next week thanks to the grit and fight of Stephens County. The Indians battled past Oconee County 16-9 on Friday night in Toccoa to remain undefeated in region play and clear the path for what could be the 8-AAAA title-decider at Jefferson next week. The Dragons shut down St. Pius X 24-0 on Friday.
In Region 8-AAAAA, Buford set itself up for a region championship showdown next week with Loganville at Tom Riden Satdium, as both teams claimed victory with ease. The Wolves ran past Walnut Grove 38-6 (Loganville defeated Cedar Shoals 30-0). Flowery Branch, however, could not notch a victory it desperately needed in the postseason race, falling 44-21 at Clarke Central.
Gainesville maintained its playoff pace in Region 8-AAAAAA, fending off Winder-Barrow 30-16 at City Park. Meanwhile, Lanier stoned Apalachee 45-9 on Friday, setting up a huge showdown with Dacula next week. The Falcons clung to a 9-0 win at Habersham Central to set up next week's game between the only two teams still undefeated in region play.
Region 7-AAA also saw its two leaders stay unblemished, as Greater Atlanta Christian stormed past North Hall 42-14 at The Brickyard. Meanwhile, Dawson County overcame a stuttering start to take out East Hall 38-24. The two teams are on a collision course on Nov. 4. Yet Lumpkin County may have something to say about that, as the Indians will travel to face Dawson next week after winning a 63-37 offensive explosion over Fannin County.
A key showdown in Region 7-AAAA saw Chestatee take advantage of White County turnovers to hold on for a 27-21 win that could wind up netting the War Eagles a playoff spot.
And in Region 8-A, Commerce overcame Towns County's fast start -- the visiting Indians led 20-14 after the first quarter -- to pull away 56-20. Meanwhile, Riverside Military pulled out a 14-6 win over Georgia Military College.
WEEK 9 AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES, Oct. 21
Banks County 42, Social Circle 21
Buford 38, Walnut Grove 6
Chestatee 27, White County 21
Clarke Central 44, Flowery Branch 21
Commerce 56, Towns County 20
Dacula 9, Habersham Central 0
Dawson County 38, East Hall 24
Gainesville 30, Winder-Barrow 16
Greater Atlanta Christian 42, North Hall 14
Haralson County 27, East Jackson 26
Hebron Christian Academy 34, Lakeview Academy 14
Jefferson 24, St. Pius X 0
Lanier 45, Apalachee 9
Lumpkin County 63, Fannin County 37
Mill Creek 35, Mountain View 23
Peachtree Ridge 28, North Gwinnett 21 OT
Stephens County 16, Oconee County 9
Rabun County 42, Elbert County 10
Riverside Military Academy 14, Georgia Military College 6
South Forsyth 42, North Forsyth 7
