The dust has settled on anther regular season, and -- yet there are still some questions lingering in a couple of regions as to playoff seeding or even who made the postseason, a fitting end to an oft-surprising campaign.
(NOTE: For a complete look at Friday's scores and known first round playoff match-ups simply scroll down. For more in-depth game stories and video highlights, visit our Friday Game Night page.)
We know region champs and final seedings in most leagues, but Region 8-AAAAAA provided coaches and players with a wait-and-see moment when Winder-Barrow fell to Dacula 47-14 to hand the Falcons their second straight region title. Meanwhile, Lanier's 27-14 defeat of Gainesville at City Park, moved the Longhorns, Bulldoggs and Red Elephants into a three-way tie for second place. The tie will be broken by MaxPreps rankings, due out Saturday. Entering the night Winder led the rankings, with Lanier just behind and Gainesville trailing. The trio must now wait till Saturday to learn their postseason seedings.
Meanwhile, Towns County did its best to crack the state playoffs for the first time in program history, defeating Providence Christian 42-21. The Indians finished their best campaign since 2008 at 5-5 and currently sit 25th in the GHSA Class A Public Power Ratings. They must move up one spot to get into the playoffs and will find out their fate next week.
Elsewhere things were much simpler:
Region 8-AA
Banks County's hopes of a home playoff game were dashed in a 43-22 loss to Elbert County. The Leopards finished as the No. 3 seed and will travel to face Pepperell next week. Rabun County, already the region champ, hammered Monticello 52-7 and will play host to Chattooga next week.
Region 7-AAA
Greater Atlanta Christian defeated Dawson County 49-10 to claim the region crown. The Tigers are the No. 2 seed and will play host to Hart County next week. North Hall (on a bye this week) is the No. 3 seed and will travel to Monroe Area next week. East Hall defeated Fannin County 47-27 on Friday and is the No. 4 seed. The Vikings will travel to face Morgan County next week. Union County missed out on the postseason but finished with a winning record courtesy a 31-24 defeat of Lumpkin County.
Region 8-AAA
Jackson County fell to Morgan County 31-12. The Panthers finished as the No. 4 seed and will travel to face GAC next week.
Region 7-AAAA
Marist defeated White County 35-7 to finish as region champ. The Warriors finished as the No. 3 seed and will travel to play Jefferson next week. Meanwhile, Blessed Trinity defeated West Hall 44-21 to take the No.2 seed. The Spartans are the No. 4 seed and will travel to take on St. Pius next week.
Region 8-AAAA
Jefferson held off Oconee County 28-21 to finish as the No. 2 seed. The Dragons will play host to White County next week.
Region 8-AAAAA
Buford wore down Flowery Branch, stretching a one-touchdown halftime lead to a 42-7 victory to win the region title. The Wolves will play host to Paulding County next week. The Falcons finished as the No. 2 seed and will play host to Kell.
Region 6-AAAAAAA
Mill Creek steamrolled Duluth 56-7. Thanks to Collins Hill defeating Peachtree Ridge and tiebreakers within the region, the Hawks finished as the No. 2 seed and will play host to West Fosyth next week. North Gwinnett, already the region champ, dominated Discovery 41-7. The Bulldogs will play host to North Forsyth next week.
Region 5-AAAAAAA
North Forsyth fell to Milton 49-17 to finish as the No. 4 seed and will head to North Gwinnett next week.
Also in 8-A, Riverside Military ended the season with its first region win, defeating Lakeview Academy 48-28, while Commerce -- assured of a playoff berth -- took out George Walton Academy 24-13.
WEEK 11 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES, NOV. 3
Blessed Trinity 44, West Hall 21
Buford 42, Flowery Branch 7
Commerce 24, George Walton Academy 13
Dacula 47, Winder-Barrow 14
East Hall 47, Fannin County 27
Elbert County 43, Banks County 22
Greater Atlanta Christian 49, Dawson County 10
Hart County 70, East Jackson 0
Habersham Central 21, Apalachee 12
Jefferson 28, Oconee County 21
Lanier 27, Gainesville 14
Loganville 41, Johnson 3
Mill Creek 56, Duluth 7
Marist 35, White County 7
Morgan County 31, Jackson County 12
Milton 49, North Forsyth 17
North Gwinnett 41, Discovery 7
Rabun County 52, Monticello 7
Riverside Military Academy 48, Lakeview Academy 28
Towns County 42, Providence Christian 21
Union County 31, Lumpkin County 24
FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS
Games listed alphabetically by visitor, from largest class to smallest
Class AAAAAAA
North Forsyth (Region 5, No. 4 seed) at North Gwinnett (R6, No. 1)
West Forsyth (R5, No. 3) Mill Creek (R6, No. 2)
Class AAAAAA
There is a three-way tie for 2nd place in Region 8-AAAAAA, tiebreaker is MaxPreps ranking. These three teams have qualified, waiting for MaxPreps ranking on Saturday:
Gainesville
Lanier
Winder-Barrow
Class AAAAA
Paulding County (R7, No. 4) at Buford (R8, No. 1)
Kell (R7, No. 3) at Flowery Branch (R8, No. 2)
Class AAAA
West Hall (R7, No. 4) at St. Pius (R8, No. 1)
White County (R7, No. 3) at at Jefferson (R8, No. 2)
Class AAA
Hart County (R8, No. 3) Dawson County (R7, No. 2)
North Hall (R7, No. 3) at Monroe Area (R8 No. 2)
East Hall (R7, No. 4) at Morgan County (R8, No. 1)
Jackson County (R8, No. 4) at Greater Atlanta Christian (R7, No. 1)
Class AA
Chattooga (R7, No. 4) at Rabun County (R8, No. 1)
Banks County (R8, No. 3) at Pepperell (R7, No. 2)
*Class A match-ups determined after final GHSA Power Ratings tabulated next week
