Cherokee Bluff, Jefferson, and Rabun County all clinched region titles on a big Friday night around northeast Georgia.
The Class 3A eighth-ranked Bears (9-0, 5-0 Region 7-3A) held off North Hall 41-24 in a hard-hitting battle in Flowery Branch to capture the Region 7-3A crown in just their third season as a program. Rabun County blitzed rival Union County 63-14 in Tiger to win its seventh straight Region 8-2A championship.
Class 4A No. 2-ranked Jefferson clinched the Region 8-4A title when North Oconee was forced to cancel the two teams' game late Friday due to one positive test for COVID-19 and several associated quarantines.
But those weren't the only teams to clinch something on Friday.
Lakeview Academy clinched its first-ever playoff spot with a 59-27 victory over St. Francis in Region 6-A Private. With a 45-7 smackdown of Winder-Barrow, Class 6A No. 2 Buford clinched a home playoff spot in Region 8-6A and next week will take on No. 6 Dacula for the region title. With its 61-20 win over Chestatee and North Oconee's COVID-19 forfeit loss to Jefferson, Flowery Branch clinched the No. 2 spot in Region 8-4A.
Dawson County's 63-3 win over Lumpkin County, coupled with North Hall's loss, now sets up a showdown next week between the Tigers and Trojans for second place in Region 7-3A. Gainesville, however, could not clinch a playoff spot in its first season in Class 7A with another heart-stopper in a 24-21 loss to Denmark on the road.
Commerce clinched a playoff spot last week but the Tigers' 28-17 road win over Washington-Wilkes in Region 8-A now puts them in a position next week to clinch the Region 8-A Public title in a showdown with Lincoln County. Also in Region 8-A Public, Towns County could not garner its second-ever playoff appearance (2017) falling 34-27 to Social Circle in Hiawassee. The Indians are still alive for a playoff berth but will have to beat Washington-Wilkes next week and get some help.
Meanwhile, East Hall's playoff hopes ended as the Vikings were knocked off by Madison County 38-6 in Danielsville in Region 8-4A. And East Jackson in a 49-9 loss to Hart County and Jackson County after a 26-12 loss to Greenbrier on Friday night both were officially eliminated from playoff contention as well.
You can check AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night page for game stories and video highlights.
NOVEMBER 13 SCORES
Buford 45, Winder-Barrow 7*
Cherokee Bluff 41, North Hall 24*
Commerce 28, Washington-Wilkes 17*
Dawson County 63, Lumpkin County 3*
Denmark 24, Gainesville 21*
Flowery Branch 61, Chestatee 20*
Greenbrier 26, Jackson County 12*
Hart County 49, East Jackson 9*
Lakeview 59, St. Francis 27*
Madison County 38, East Hall 6*
Rabun County 63, Union County 14*
Social Circle 34, Towns County 27*
Jefferson at North Oconee* -- canceled
Johnson at Clarke Central* -- canceled
White County at Gilmer* -- canceled
(* -- denotes region contest)
