Just three weeks are left in the regular season of the 2019 high school football season. In the AccessWDUN coverage area, all 18 games on tap Friday night are key region showdowns.
Several teams can clinch playoff spots with wins while others can put themselves in position for a playoff run. Many could see their playoff plans demolished with losses.
With that in mind, here are three huge games to watch Friday night that will shape the playoff landscape in their respective regions.
FANNIN COUNTY at DAWSON COUNTY (REGION 7-3A)
The Tigers will play host to the Rebels as both teams try to position themselves for not just playoff spots but upper-tier seeding in Region 7-3A. Dawson County (5-2, 2-1 Region 7-3A) is coming off a bye week while Fannin County (5-2, 2-1 Region 7-3A) is trying to flush a 38-0 drubbing at the hands of North Hall last week.
“It’s good to be able to still control your own destiny,” Dawson County coach Sid Maxwell said. “But we’re going to have to play our best game every week or it won’t matter.”
The Tigers were young coming into the season. But a 3-0 start and then a close loss to Class 4A Denmark helped show off the talent Maxwell had waiting in the wings.
“We’re still a very young team when you look at how many guys we had to replace from last year,” Maxwell said. “You never know which way these kinds of teams go but these guys have picked things up and we’re more than pleased with how they have progressed.”
Maxwell said the Rebels' most recent exhibition is not indicative of what awaits his group.
“I see a very physical game,” Maxwell said. “(Fannin County), like a lot of people, had trouble with North Hall’s wing-T. They gave up some big plays. We’re more similar to them so I expect it to maybe go down to the last possession.”
GAINESVILLE at WINDER-BARROW (REGION 8-6A)
Gainesville heads to Winder-Barrow in a key Region 8-6A showdown. The Red Elephants (3-4, 1-1 Region 8-6A) also had an off week last week after snagging their first region win. The Bulldoggs (2-5, 1-1 Region 8-6A) are coming off a loss to No. 5 Lanier last week.
“This should be a very physical matchup,” Gainesville coach Heath Webb said. “Both teams are similar in that they have good line play and like to run the ball through the quarterback. It will come down to whoever executes best.”
With a win heading into their off week, Webb hopes they don’t lose the momentum they built. But healing nicks and bruises also is important heading into the final stretch of the season.
“I liked how we were playing before the break. Sometimes you don’t want to interrupt that,” Webb said. “But we had a chance to get rested, physically and mentally, during the off week. That will probably help us a lot to get everyone back.”
Gainesville can stay in line for an upper-tier finish with a win but the loser, no matter which, could fall into a three-way tie for the final playoff spot.
“I don’t know if anyone can beat Dacula but we felt we could contend for a home playoff win and it’s still right in front of us,” Webb said. “I think this group is ready to make a playoff surge over the last few weeks.”
HEBRON CHRISTIAN at RIVERSIDE MILITARY (REGION 8-A, Subregion B)
And despite a stunning loss to Lakeview Academy last week, Riverside Military Academy still controls its own playoff destiny. The Eagles (4-3, 1-1 Region 8-A Subregion B) will play host to Hebron Christian (5-2, 3-0 Region 8-A Subregion B) with a chance to still snag the subregion title.
The Lions are coming off a huge upset win over Commerce but an RMA win would force a three-way tie with the Lions and Commerce and set up a showdown with the Tigers next week at home.
Coach Nicholas Garrett said he hopes his team learned from last week’s shocker.
“We didn’t come in ready to play last week. That was evident throughout the entire game,” Garrett said. “This week we put more on competition in practice and I think we’re seeing some positive things.”
Both teams possess more than enough talented and explosive players on both sides of the ball.
“Hebron is a talented team. They are explosive offensively and have strong line play on defense. But if we execute our gameplan, then I think we’re going to be fine,” Garrett said.
A key matchup could be a solid RMA secondary against a potent Lions passing attack. The Eagles also will need to capitalize on red-zone possessions.
“The key will be to score points when we have the chance and eliminate 3-and-outs on offense,” Garrett said. “We can’t give up any explosive plays on special teams and no big plays on defense. But I think this is a good matchup for us.”
