Three region titles were decided on Friday night -- and, while that created plenty of excitement for Buford, Dacula and Rabun County, there was precious little suspense in how the crowns were earned, as the three teams rolled to comfortable victories in a big night of football action in northeast Georgia.
(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. For a look at scores from across the state, click here. Also, click on the photo above for a gallery from Friday night's action.)
There were a few early fireworks in Buford -- but the Wolves shut down Loganville in the second half to clinch their 27th region title in claiming the Region 8-AAAAA crown, 35-10.
Meanwhile, Rabun County strolled to its third straight Region 8-AA championship, drilling Oglethorpe County 58-0 in Tiger.
And, in Region 8-AAAAAA, Dacula completed a stunning fightback after a 1-4 start to the season, to defeat Lanier 20-0 and clinch a championship.
Meanwhile, two more region title showdowns were set up on Friday, as Jefferson dominated Stephens County 35-7 in Region 8-AAAA. The Dragons will head to Oconee County next Friday to play for the 8-AAAA title where a win would seal a title for Jefferson -- a win for Oconee, however, would set up a three-way tie with Stephens.
Meanwhile, the road to the Region 7-AAA title will in fact come down to Dawson County and Greater Atlanta Christian after the Tigers handled Lumpkin County 54-8. Elsewhere in Region 7-AAA, North Hall senior running back Kyle Bacus set a new school single-game rushing record with 337 yards to go along with four touchdowns in a 68-42 shootout win over East Hall. Also, Union County took a score-fest victory over Fannin County 63-39.
While Dacula is the 8-AAAAAA champion, Gainesville still has a shot to finish as the region runner-up after a 28-0 shutout of Apalachee. The Red Elephants will face Lanier next Friday for a winner-take-No. 2 battle, but must do so without their starting quarterback after DJ Irons was ejected from the win over the Wildcats and cannot play. Also, Winder-Barrow clinched a playoff berth with a hardfought 35-28 defeat of Habersham Central.
Region 7-AAAA also produced two playoff certainties on Friday, as West Hall blew past White County 35-14. The win not only sealed the Spartans fourth straight postseason berth but also vaulted Chestatee into the state bracket thanks to their earlier defeat of the Warriors. The War Eagles fell to Marist 47-14 on Friday.
In Region 8-AA Banks County also clinched a playoff spot thanks to a 14-0 defeat of Putnam County (it had been erroneously reported that the Leopards had already notched a postseason spot last week). The Leopards can still finish second in 8-AA.
East Jackson also came up with a potentially huge win over Jackson County, 21-14.
In Region 6-AAAAAAA, North Gwinnett also improved its playoff positioning with a convincing, 41-7 defeat of Collins Hill.
WEEK 10 AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES, Oct. 28
Athens Christian 41, Riverside Military Academy 7
Banks County 14, Putnam County 0
Buford 35, Loganville 10
Cedar Shoals 40, Johnson 0
Commerce 42, Athens Academy 30
Dacula 20, Lanier 0
Dawson County 54, Lumpkin County 8
East Jackson 21, Jackson County 14
Gainesville 28, Apalachee 0
Jefferson 35, Stephens County 7
Lakeview Academy 42, Towns County 35 OT
Marist 47, Chestatee 14
North Gwinnett 41, Collins Hill 7
North Hall 68, East Hall 42
Rabun County 58, Oglethorpe County 0
Union County 63, Fannin County 39
Winder-Barrow 35, Habersham Central 28
West Forsyth 55, North Forsyth 7
West Hall 35, White County 14
