Regions 8-5A and 7-3A in the GHSA and GAPPS all got their region schedules underway in earnest as their drives toward state playoff spots began on Friday.
However, the two marquee matchups of the night did not disappoint. Class 7A No. 1 Buford held off Marietta on the road, 14-0, to improve to 5-0 on the season. As did Class A Division 1 third-ranked Rabun County, who rallied to beat No. 7 Whitefield Academy, 28-14, in a thrilling showdown in Tiger.
Flowery Branch opened things up on Thursday in 8-5A with a loss to Eastside. But Jefferson got a strong start with a 17-7 win over defending region champion Clarke Central in Athens.
In 7-3A, Lumpkin County continued to prove that its historic start was no fluke. The Indians dispatched Pickens, 42-7, at The Burial Grounds to open their region schedule with a positive start. Dawson County did likewise, routing West Hall, 56-7, at Tiger Stadium in Dawsonville.
Meanwhile, Regions 8-6A and 8-4A continued their jockeying for playoff positioning.
In 8-6A, North Forsyth improved to 2-0 with a tough 42-34 win over Shiloh at home, while Habersham Central lost a heartbreaker to Lanier, 25-21, in Mt. Airy. Jackson County rebounded from its loss last week with a 28-10 over Apalachee on the road.
In 8-4A, North Hall moved to 2-1 in the region with a 14-12 win over Cherokee Bluff, while East Forsyth dropped a heartbreaker to Walnut Grove, 7-6, on a blocked field goal, and North Oconee improved to 2-0 with a win over Chestatee.
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FRIDAY, SEPT. 23 SCORES
Buford 14, Marietta 0
Cedar Shoals 49, East Hall 21*
Commerce 17, Banks County 14
Dawson County 56, West Hall 7*
East Jackson 45, Johnson 0
Jackson County 28, Apalachee 10*
Jefferson 17, Clarke Central 7*
Lakeview Academy 27, Strong Rock Christian 19
Lanier 25, Habersham Central 21*
Lanier Christian 69, Pinecrest Academy 7*
Lumpkin County 42, Pickens 7*
North Forsyth 42, Shiloh 34*
North Hall 14, Cherokee Bluff 12*
North Oconee 52, Chestatee 7*
Oglethorpe County 63, Riverside Military 12
Rabun County 28, Whitefield Academy 14
Walnut Grove 7, East Forsyth 6*
THURSDAY, SEPT. 22, SCORES
Eastside 34, Flowery Branch 14*
(Gainesville, Towns County, Union County, and White County are all off.)
(* -- denotes region contest)
