Jefferson clinched the Region 8-3A title and several other teams clinched at least playoff spots in key games around the area Friday night in northeast Georgia.
The Dragons whipped Monroe Area 26-7 on the road to complete a perfect three-week, three-game gauntlet against the top teams in the region. It is their first region title since 2016. Jackson County and East Jackson, however, saw their playoff chances end with losses. The Eagles fell 49-0 to Hart County while the Panthers dropped a tough 23-16 decision to Franklin County in Region 8-3A play.
Flowery Branch was looking to break through against the top teams in Region 7-4A but could not slow down a bruising Marist offense in a 27-0 loss to the No. 1-ranked War Eagles at Falcon Field. White County was eliminated from playoff contention with a tough 28-21 loss to Denmark. Chestatee put up a fight early but eventually lost 59-15 to Blessed Trinity.
In Region 7-3A, Greater Atlanta Christian clinched the region title with a 35-0 win over upstart Cherokee Bluff coupled with Fannin County's 51-7 loss to Dawson County. Meanwhile, the win for the Tigers, along with North Hall's 59-0 victory over Lumpkin County, kept those two teams' collision course for second place intact. The Bears' loss to GAC did not eliminate them but they will face a must-win over Dawson County next week.
Gainesville moved within one win in Region 8-6A of clinching its 20th consecutive playoff appearance with a wild 38-29 victory over Winder-Barrow. Habersham Central's playoff chances are on a precarious ledge, however, after a 41-0 loss to No. 1 Dacula. The Raiders can still clinch a playoff spot but will need to win out over Winder-Barrow and Apalachee to grab its second straight playoff appearance.
In Region 8-2A, Rabun County and Union County continued on their season-ending collision course for the region title with big wins Friday. The Wildcats routed Social Circle 61-20 while the Panthers beat Oglethorpe County 43-0. Banks County fell 24-13 at home against Putnam County.
And in Region 8-A, Commerce rebounded from its loss to Hebron Christian last week with a 56-16 victory over Towns County at home. Meanwhile, Hebron Christian clinched the North subregion title with a stunning 49-21 win over Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville. Lakeview Academy could not pull a second straight upset losing to Prince Avenue Christian 55-0 at home.
AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES FOR OCT. 25
Blessed Trinity 59, Chestatee 15
Community Christian 34, Lanier Christian 0
Commerce 56, Towns County 16
Dacula 41, Habersham Central 0
Dawson County 51, Fannin County 7
Denmark 28, White County 21
Franklin County 23, Jackson County 16
Gainesville 38, Winder-Barrow 29
Greater Atlanta Christian 35, Cherokee Bluff 0
Hart County 49, East Jackson 0
Hebron Christian 49, Riverside Military 21
Jefferson 26, Monroe Area 7
North Hall 59, Lumpkin County 0
Marist 27, Flowery Branch 0
Prince Avenue Christian 55, Lakeview Academy 0
Putnam County 24, Banks County 13
Rabun County 61, Social Circle 20
Union County 43, Oglethorpe County 0
AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR NOV. 1
Apalachee at Gainesville*
Buford at Walnut Grove*
Clarke Central at Johnson*
Commerce at Riverside Military*
Dawson County at Cherokee Bluff*
East Hall at North Hall*
Jackson County at Jefferson*
Lakeview Academy at Towns County*
Lumpkin County at Fannin County*
Monticello at Banks County*
Morgan County at East Jackson*
Rabun County at Oglethorpe County*
Union County at Social Circle*
West Hall at Flowery Branch*
White County at Chestatee*
Winder-Barrow at Habersham Central*
(* -- denotes region game)
