Friday night represented the first week where the entire schedule around the northeast Georgia area was comprised of region games (except for Rabun County, which played a Tennessee school in Chattanooga) and there were some huge results that will go a long way to determining some playoff implications.
None were bigger, however, than Flowery Branch's thrilling 42-35 win over North Oconee in double overtime in a crucial Region 8-4A showdown. The Class 4A No. 8-ranked Falcons got a stop on 4th-and-13 on the final play and Jaizen Ellingham scored four touchdowns in his first game back in nearly a month. Also in Region 8-4A, No. 2 Jefferson routed Cedar Shoals 49-0 behind Malaki Starks.
After a three-week layoff due to COVID issues, East Hall,jumped into Region 8-4A action and held off Chestatee 55-50 in a rare Saturday afternoon showdown at Valhalla.
Region 7-3A is beginning to take shape after three big matchups. Dawson County continued its strong play with a 35-0 victory over Gilmer, North Hall won its fourth straight game thumping Lumpkin County 33-10, and White County ended a two-game losing streak with a 35-0 shutout win over West Hall.
Jackson County won its second Region 8-5A contest with a 43-0 win over Johnson setting the Panthers up with a huge game next week against Loganville at home for a shot at second place in the region. They have not won more than two region games in a season since 2013.
In an unexpected defensive battle, Union County held off a late Banks County charge for a 19-7 win in both teams' Region 8-2A openers.
In Region 8-A Public, No. 4 Commerce scored the final 42 points in a 55-7 win over Towns County while in Region 6-A Private, Lakeview Academy beat King's Ridge 14-6 for its first region win of the season.
Habersham Central stayed closed early but eventually was worn down in a 50-14 loss to a physical Class 6A eighth-ranked Dacula squad. The Raiders trailed 13-7 at one point but the Falcons scored 30 unanswered points to blow it open.
In Region 8-3A, Monroe Area started fast and pulled away for a 42-13 win over East Jackson.
Rabun County, who was forced to drop Pacelli earlier in the week, found a late game against Columbia Academy (Tenn.) and took a 42-6 win in Chattanooga.
You can check AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night page for game stories and video highlights.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 23 SCORES
Commerce 55, Towns County 7*
Dacula 50, Habersham Central 14*
Dawson County 35, Gilmer 0*
Flowery Branch 42, North Oconee 35 2OT*
Jackson County 43, Johnson 0*
Jefferson 49, Cedar Shoals 0*
Lakeview 14, King’s Ridge 6*
North Hall 33, Lumpkin County 10*
Monroe Area 42, East Jackson 13*
Rabun County 42, Columbia Academy 6 (Tenn.)
Union County 19, Banks County 7*
White County 35, West Hall 0*
SATURDAY OCTOBER 24 SCORES
East Hall 55, Chestatee 50*
(* -- denotes region game)
