It's the final week of the prep high school regular season and that usually means one thing...teams fighting for their playoff lives.
The 2018 campaign in northeast Georgia certainly has its share of teams that come into Friday night needing wins, and maybe some extra help, to qualify for the playoffs.
Nine teams alreay have qualified for the playoffs with nearly a half-dozen facing must-wins and/or tiebreaker scenarios. As always, Jacobs Media will be on hand Friday night to provide stories and video as the final few spots are determined around the area.
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 Nov. 2
(Games listed in alphabetical order of visiting team)
APALACHEE at HABERSHAM CENTRAL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Raider Stadium, Mt. Airy
-- RADIO: 99.3 FM
-- APALACHEE (3-6, 1-3 Region 8-6A): Lost 7-6 to Gainesville last week
-- HABERSHAM CENTRAL (5-4, 2-2 Region 8-6A): Defeated Winder-Barrow 34-17 last week
-- NOTABLE: Series is tied 3-3. Habersham won 21-12 in 2017 in Bethlehem and has won three straight overall over the Wildcats. ... Both teams are still alive for the playoffs. The Raiders will clinch with a win while the Wildcats would need a Gainesville loss as well as beat Habersham to send it to tiebreakers. ... The key to this one may be the Habersham offense. When scoring more than 28 points the Raiders are 5-0. When scoring 28 or less they are 0-4. The Apalachee defense has played well allowing just 16 ppg on the season. ... Habersham Sr. QB Tre Luttrell passed for 209 yards and 3 TDs and rushed for another 110 yards last week. .. The Wildcats offense, however, has struggled all season scoring just 101 points (11.2 ppg) while the Habersham defense has yielded 284 points (31.5 ppg). ... The Raiders are looking for their first playoff appearance since 2011 while Apalachee has not made the playoffs since 2009.
CHESTATEE at WEST HALL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Spartans Field, Oakwood
-- CHESTATEE (1-8, 0-5 Region 7-4A): Lost 49-20 to White County last week
-- WEST HALL (2-7, 1-4 Region 7-4A): Lost 27-7 to Flowery Branch last week
-- NOTABLE: West Hall leads series 8-6. The Spartans won 28-14 in 2017 in Oakwood. ... Both teams have been eliminated from postseason play but Chestatee could still spoiler. A War Eagles win . Technically the Spartans could force a three-way tie for fourth but would lose in the tiebreaker system to White County due to their 48-34 loss to the Warriors. ... So. QB Christian Charles and the Chestatee offense can move the ball on anyone but turnovers have been a huge problem in region play. They led 20-0 last week before miscues contributed to the Warriors scoring the final 49 points. Meanwhile, the Spartans defense has given up 39.6 ppg in region play. ... Chestatee’s only win came on the road against Fannin County but the War Eagles are 1-4 away from War Eagle Stadium in 2018.
CLARKE CENTRAL at BUFORD
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford
-- RADIO: WDUN AM 550
-- CLARKE CENTRAL (6-3, 3-1 Region 8-5A): Defeated Johnson 55-3 last week
-- BUFORD (7-2, 4-0 Region 8-5A): Ranked No. 2 in Class 5A; defeated Walnut Grove 61-0 last week
-- NOTABLE: Buford leads series 2-0. Both games have been since 2016. The Wolves won 45-7 in 2017 in Buford. ... Buford, Clarke Central, and Cedar Shoals all have locked up playoff spots. The only question is who will finish where. The easiest scenario is that Buford clinches the title with a win over Clarke Central at Tom Riden Stadium. If the Gladiators are able to knock off the Wolves, and Cedar Shoals beats Walnut Grove, they would force a three-way tie and draw from a hat to determine the region champ. ... The Wolves, however, have allowed just 6 total points in region play. Clarke Central has come out of a mid-season slump to win three straight and has averaged 34.3 ppg while giving up just 9 points in that span. Buford is averaging 44.2 ppg.
COMMERCE at ATHENS ACADEMY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Slaughter Field, Athens
-- COMMERCE (8-1, 3-1 Region 8-A North): Ranked No. 9 in Class A; lost 20-19 to Riverside Military Academy last week
-- ATHENS ACADEMY (9-0, 4-0 Region 8-A South): Ranked No. 1 in Class A; defeated Hebron Christian 22-20 last week
-- NOTABLE: Commerce leads series 14-12. Athens Academy won 22-7 in 2017 in Commerce. ... It has been a close series throughout as 7 of the last 12 games have been decided by one possession. And after the home team had won 7 of 8, the road team as won the last two meetings, with the Tigers taking a 42-30 win in Athens in 2016. ... The winner gets the automatic berth into the Class A Playoffs but both teams are expected to make it regardless and are expected to receive first round byes no matter the outcome. ... The two teams have played three common opponents (Providence Christian, Hebron, Athens Christian) and both went 3-0 against them. ... Only Prince Avenue has scored more than these two in the region but both are stingy on defense. The Tigers have yielded just 92 points (10.2 ppg) while the Spartans have given up just 139 (15.4 ppg).
DENMARK at FLOWERY BRANCH
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Falcons Field, Flowery Branch
-- DENMARK (5-4, 2-3 Region 7-4A): Bye last week; defeated White County 28-27 on Oct. 19
-- FLOWERY BRANCH (7-2, 3-2 Region 7-4A): Ranked No. 9 in Class 4A; defeated West Hall 27-7 last week
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Falcons proved they are a team last week with several starters out with injuries and other various issues. They turned to Fr. QB David Renard, starting for injured Elijah Gainey, who went was 6 of 10 passing for 55 yards and a TD. Chase Dial-Watson, normally not used on offense, had 143 all-purpose yards and added a pair of key punt returns and picked off a pass. ... Flowery Branch already has clinched a playoff but needs a win over the Danes to capture the No. 3 seed. A Denmark win would clinch the No. 3 seed for the Danes in their first season of varsity play. ... A Denmark loss, however, would open the gates for West Hall and or White County to grab the No. 4 seed. A Danes loss and a West Hall win and a White County loss to No. 1 Blessed Trinity would give the Spartans the No. 4 seed. ... Denmark would be the first first-year program to make the playoffs since Chattahoochee County in 2006. No matter the outcome the Danes will be the first team to go .500 or better while playing a region schedule in its inaugural since Rutland in 2003.
EAST HALL at LUMPKIN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Burial Grounds, Dahlonega
-- RADIO: nogasportslink.com
-- EAST HALL (2-7, 1-4 Region 7-3A): Lost 76-0 to North Hall last week
-- LUMPKIN COUNTY (3-6, 1-4 Region 7-3A): Lost 35-14 to Fannin County last week
-- NOTABLE: East Hall leads series 22-7-1. The Vikings won 42-14 in 2017 in Rabbittown. Lumpkin County has won 5 of the last 7 overall. ... Both teams were eliminated from playoff contention with the Rebels win over the Indians. Both would love a win the finale to build some momentum for next season. ... It will be an interesting clash of styles with the Vikings spread and the Indians wishbone attacks. But the defenses will be the key. ... The Vikings have allowed 487 points (57.2 ppg) the most in Class 3A. The Indians have yielded 296 points (32.7 ppg) on the season. ... East Hall has won 4 of the last 6 meetings in Dahlonega.
EAST JACKSON at JACKSON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Panthers Stadium, Jefferson
-- EAST JACKSON (1-8, 0-5 Region 8-3A): Lost 45-0 to Morgan County last week
-- JACKSON COUNTY (2-7, 0-5 Region 8-3A): Lost 38-3 to No. 9 Jefferson last week
-- NOTABLE: Jackson County leads series 5-3. The Panthers won 43-7 in 2017 in Jefferson. ... Both teams have been eliminated from the playoffs. Both have struggled over the last two months. ... The Eagles have lost seven straight while the Panthers have lost six straight after a 2-1 start. ... Don’t look for many points in this one. East Jackson is the lowest scoring team in Class 3A (27, 3.0 ppg) while the Panthers have scored just 104 points (11.5 ppg). ... The Eagles defense, however, has yielded the 3rd-most points in 3A 48.4 ppg.
ELBERT COUNTY at BANKS COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Leopards Stadium, Homer
-- ELBERT COUNTY (6-3, 4-2 Region 8-2A): Defeated Putnam County 37-2 last week
-- BANKS COUNTY (4-5, 3-3 Region 8-2A): Lost 36-33 to Monticello last week
-- NOTABLE: Series is tied 1-1. Elbert won 43-22 in 2017 in Homer. ... The road team has won both of the previous two meetings. ... It’s pretty simple for the Leopards’ playoff chances: win and they’re the No. 3 seed, lose and they’re out. ... It will be a huge challenge. The Blue Devils have found their groove since back-to-back losses to Union County and Rabun County. They have yielded just 10 points during a 2-game win streak. ... The Leopards have averaged 24.6 ppg over their last three contests and last week was the first game this season they lost when scoring 24 or more points. Defensively is where Banks has struggled allowing 232 points (25.7 ppg) but 165 coming over the past four games (41.2 ppg).
GAINESVILLE at LANIER
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Ranch, Sugar Hill
-- RADIO: 94.5 FM The Lake
-- GAINESVILLE (2-7, 2-2 Region 8-6A): Defeated Apalachee 7-6 last week
-- LANIER (6-3, 3-1 Region 8-6A): Lost 23-0 to Dacula last week
-- NOTABLE: Lanier leads series 4-0. The Longhorns won 27-14 in 2017 in Gainesville. ... Just two weeks ago Gainesville looked poised to just play out the string. But now the Red Elephants, after two straight wins, have a chance to take the No. 2 seed. A Gainesville win coupled with a Habersham Central loss to Apalachee would give the Red Elephants the improbable No. 2 seed. However, a GHS loss and the Red Elephants will need a Habersham win to clinch a spot. ... Some tweaks to the offense, moving Gionni Williams to QB and Walt Dixon to WR has proven big dividends for Gainesville. After scoring just 72 points in their first 6 games (12 ppg) the Red Elephants have averaged 19.6 ppg the last three contests. Williams and Dixon hooked up for last week’s only TD of the game. ... The Longhorns defense, however, has allowed just 15 ppg on the season and is 11th in Class 6A.
LAKEVIEW ACADEMY at ATHENS CHRISTIAN
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Eagle Field, Athens
-- LAKEVIEW ACADEMY (1-8, 1-3 Region 8-A North): Defeated Towns County 21-20 last week
-- ATHENS CHRISTIAN (2-7, 0-4 Region 8-A South): Lost 17-7 to Providence Christian last week
-- NOTABLE: Athens Christian leads series 6-0. The Eagles won 34-30 in 2017 in Athens. The last two meetings have been decided by just 10 points. ... Neither team is in a position to make a move in the power rankings. The Eagles are 31st and the Lions are 33rd Class A Private. The top 24 advance to the playoffs. ... The Eagles, like the Lions, have struggled most of the season. Athens Christian has dropped 6 straight. Lakeview snapped a 14-game losing streak, the longest in program history, last week. ... Offense has been the issue for both teams as they are the two lowest scoring teams in the region. Lakeview has scored the 6th-fewest in Class A (84, 9.2 ppg) while the Eagles (93, 10.3 ppg) have scored the 9th-fewest. ... The Lions have given up the most points in 8-A (354, 39.2 ppg).
LOGANVILLE at JOHNSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Billy Ellis Memorial Stadium, Oakwood
-- LOGANVILLE (3-6, 1-3 Region 8-5A): Lost 35-10 to Cedar Shoals last week
-- JOHNSON (4-5, 0-4 Region 8-5A): Lost 55-3 to Clarke Central last week
-- NOTABLE: Loganville leads series 6-2. The Red Devils won 41-3 in 2017 in Loganville. Loganville has won five straight. The last Johnson win came in 1996, 27-10, in Oakwood. ... The Knights trail both Walnut Grove and Loganville by a game for the No. 4 seed. Johnson can force a three-way tie with a win and a Walnut Grove loss to Cedar Shoals. They would then draw from a hat to determine the No. 4 seed. ... Johnson has been without Sr. QB and leader Sam Corbett the last 2 1/2 games but hope to get him back this week. With Corbett, the Knights averaged 26.6 ppg. Without him, they scored just 23 points the last 10 quarters (9.2 ppg). ... Loganville is averaging just 17.6 ppg and has yielded 282 points (31.3 ppg).
NORTH HALL at DAWSON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tiger Stadium, Dawsonville
-- RADIO: 102.9 FM
-- NORTH HALL (8-1, 4-1 Region 7-3A): Defeated East Hall 76-0 last week
-- DAWSON COUNTY (8-1, 4-1 Region 7-3A): Ranked No. 7 in Class 3A; defeated Cherokee Bluff 41-7 last week
-- NOTABLE: Series is tied 2-2. Dawson County won 30-7 in 2017 in Dawsonville. All five meetings have been since 2012. The last North Hall win came in 2013, 51-6, at The Brickyard. ... Both teams already have clinched playoff spots but this one is simple: the winner takes the No. 2 seed and gets a home playoff game in the first round. The loser is the No. 3 seed and will hit the road in the first round. ... Both teams are offensive juggernauts on the ground. The Trojans are 2nd in Class 3A in scoring (421, 46.7 ppg) buoyed by 208 points over the past three weeks, including a school-record last week. They are averaging 313 yards a game and 9.37 ypc rushing on the season. ... North Hall Sr. RB Daniel Jackson has been a one-man wrecking crew in 2018 with 862 yards rushing, 331 yards receiving, both which lead the team, and 23 TDs (16 rush, 4 rec, 3 on returns). ... The Tigers have been just as devastating sitting 6th in 3A with 387 points (43.0 ppg) and averaging 319 yards rushing, led SR. QB Sevaughn Clark (647 rush 12TDs, 680 passing 7 TDs, 1 INT) and SR. RB Ahmad Kamara (871 ruhs, 9.8 ypc, 11 TDs). ... But both defenses also are in the top 8 in 3A. The Trojans have yielded just 84 points (9.3 ppg) and the Tigers have allowed just 103 points (11.4 ppg).
RIVERSIDE MILITARY at PRINCE AVENUE CHRISTIAN
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Wolverine Field, Bogart
-- RIVERSIDE MILITARY (5-4, 3-1 Region 8-A North): Defeated No. 9 Commerce 21-20 last week
-- PRINCE AVENUE CHRISTIAN (8-1, 3-1 Region 8-A South): Ranked No. 3 in Class A; defeated George Walton 28-25 last week
-- NOTABLE: Prince Avenue leads series 5-0. The Wolverines won 56-12 on Sept. 21. ... Riverside's win last week, statistically speaking, was the biggest in school history marking the first time ever the Eagles knocked off a top-10 team in the GHSA. The Eagles had been 0-22 [Georgia High School Football Historians Association] before last week. ... WR/DB Khalid Duke had a big game against the Tigers with 6 catches for 118 yards and 4 tackles, one for a loss. ... The Eagles are not the same team the Wolverines faced in Week 3 of the season. RMA is 4-1 since that loss averaging 29.0 ppg and giving up just 50 total points (10.0 ppg) with two shutout wins. ... Riverside has not made the playoffs since 2009 and the Eagles sit in 22nd in the Class A Private power rankings after moving up four spots from last week. Another upset win could push them toward a home playoff game in the opening round of the playoffs next week. A loss against a top 3 team probably would not drop them out of the top 24.
TOWNS COUNTY at PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Lilburn
-- TOWNS COUNTY (2-7, 0-4 Region 8-A North): Lost 21-20 to Lakeview Academy last week
-- PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN (4-5, 1-3 Region 8-A South): Defeated Athens Christian 17-7 last week
-- NOTABLE: Towns County leads series 4-0. The Indians won 42-21 in 2017 in Lilburn. ... The Indians suffered a devastating, last-second loss last week that may have knocked them out of playoff contention. They dropped to No. 34 in the Class A Public power rankings. The top 24 advance to the playoffs. ... Towns came into the 2018 season fresh off their first-ever playoff appearance and with a roster that many considered their best ever. But a brutal schedule and some untimely injuries has contributed to a 6-game losing streak after a 2-1 start. ... The Storm, however, are having their best season ever. They came into the campaign with just two wins in program history and with a win over the Indians, and some help, could make their first-ever playoffs. The Storm sits 27th and just .21 points behind No. 24 Holy Innocents.
UNION COUNTY at RABUN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Frank Snyder Stadium, Tiger
-- UNION COUNTY (9-0, 6-0 Region 8-2A): Defeated Social Circle 42-7 last week
-- RABUN COUNTY (8-1, 6-0 Region 8-2A): Ranked No. 2 in Class 2A; defeated Oglethorpe County 63-6 last week
-- NOTABLE: Rabun County leads series 35-16. The Wildcats won 49-3 in 2015 in Tiger. Rabun has won four straight in the series, which followed five straight wins by the Panthers. ... This will be the third consecutive meeting between the two teams that has decided the Region 8-2A title. Both teams are among the state’s best offensively. The Wildcats are No. 1 in 2A (426 points, 47.3 ppg) while the Panthers are 3rd in 2A (397, 44.1 ppg). Both also are stingy on defense. Union County is 5th in 2A allowing just 94 points (10.4 ppg) while the Wildcats have given up just 84 points (12.0 ppg) over their last seven games. ... It will feature two of Georgia’s best QB’s in Union Jr. Pierson Allison, who leads Class 2A in passing (2,474 yards, 20 TDs, 3 INT), and Rabun Fr. Gunner Stockton (1,924 yards, 23 TDs, 3 INT) who is 2nd in 2A in passing. ... Both also are surrounded while a plethora of weapons. Allison has thrown TD passes to 7 different receivers and Stockton has connected with 8 different receivers for TDs this season.
WHITE COUNTY at BLESSED TRINITY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Roswell
-- RADIO: 93.9 FM
-- WHITE COUNTY (3-6, 2-3 Region 7-4A): Defeated Chestatee 49-20 last week
-- BLESSED TRINITY (9-0, 5-0 Region 7-4A): Ranked No. 1 in Class 4A; defeated Marist 10-7
-- NOTABLE: Blessed Trinity leads series 6-0, all coming since 2012. The Titans won 50-14 in 2017 in Roswell. ... White County is locked in a potential three-way battle for the final playoff spot but does not need a win against the Titans to get in. The Warriors need a Flowery Branch win over Denmark and a West Hall win over Chestatee to win the tiebreaker over the Spartans and the Danes for the No. 4 spot. However, a Chestatee win over West Hall or a Denmark win over Branch would eliminate the Warriors. ... It will be a monumental challenge against the Titans for a White County team that has allowed 33 ppg in region play. They have rediscovered their offense averaging 41.3 ppg over their last three contests, going 2-1, but against the other two top defenses in the region, Branch and Marist, they scored just 6 total points. ... The Titans, meanwhile, have allowed just 83 points on the season, 2nd in Class 4A, and just 36 points (7.1 ppg) in region play. The Titans are 35-1 at home since 2014.
