When the halfway point of the season passes, the region races get really hot, and Week 8 is full of them.
North Forsyth will open the week's action at Lanier on Thursday in a massive Region 8-6A contest.
In Region 8-5A, Flowery Branch hopes to build on last week's win over Clarke Central with a victory at home over Winder-Barrow.
Region 8-4A is on fire this week, with East Forsyth traveling to Cherokee Bluff. The Broncos need a win to keep their region title hopes alive, and the Bears need a win to stay in the fight for a state playoff berth. North Hall will make the trip to Danielsville with a potential home playoff berth on the line, and can East Hall find enough offense to knock off Walnut Grove.
In Region 7-3A, White County travels to Wesleyan in a crucial battle to stay atop the region standings. Lumpkin County plays host to Gilmer and Dawson County travels to Pickens, needing to get back on the winning track after last week's loss to White County.
In Region 8-2A, can Banks County tame the powerful Union County offense? East Jackson hopes to keep rolling and stay on top of the region standings with a win at Fellowship Christian.
With all the key region match-ups this week, we've sorted through the 16 games on the schedule and found three games with big region standings implications that we think could be Games2Watch.
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NORTH HALL at MADISON COUNTY
Records: Trojans (5-1, 3-1 Region 8-4A); Red Raiders (0-0, 3-0 Region 8-4A)
Last week: North Hall lost 52-7 to North Oconee; Madison County was off
Where: Danielsville
Radio: 94.5 FM THE LAKE
Time: 7:30 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: North Hall: Sr. QB Tanner Marsh (94-133, 1,071 yards, 13 TD, 4 INT passing, 57-296 yards, 5 TD rushing), Sr. RB Tate Ruth (78-455, 5 TDs), So. RB Parker Carlton (31-121, 1 TD), Sr. WR Ryals Puryear (41-453 yards, 5 TDs rec.), Sr. TE Breckan Kirby (17-200, 1 TD rec.) So. WR Ty Kemp (11-154, 2 TDs rec.), Sr. WR Korbyn Sosebee (9-144 yards, 2 TDs rec.), Sr. LB Zeke Harris (67 tkls, 4.5 TFL), Sr. LB Trey Patterson (62 tkls, 8 TFL), Sr. DB Conner Free (50 tkls), Jr. DB Charlie Dyer (35 tkls, 2 TFL), So. DB Walker Davis (35 tkls). Madison County: Sr. QB Camden Smith, Jr. TE/LB Aiden Phillip Archer, Sr. WR/CB Dalton Giles, Sr. WR/CB Zach Esters, Sr. FB/LB Bryson Drake, Sr. WR/CB Cedric Bolton, Sr. FS/RB Casen Duggins.
WHY WATCH IT? Both programs have faced the projected Region 8-4A champion, North Oconee, and both have lost. Of course, those results do not affect what will happen in Danielsville on Friday. The fight for a home playoff game is on the line for both programs. Last season, the Trojans had chances to knock off the Red Raiders but fell 33-24 at the Brickyard. The Trojans' transformation from last year to this year is night and day. They're averaging 33.3 points per game, and until facing one of the best defenses in the state last week, were scoring over 40 ppg. It'll be a battle of two clashing styles: North Hall's spread attack led by QB Tanner Marsh vs. Madison County's triple-option attack led by QB Camden Smith. This game will come down to which defense breaks first, and if there's one thing we know, the Trojans offense can break a defense.
WHITE COUNTY at WESLEYAN
Records: Warriors (3-2, 1-0 Region 7-3A); Wolves (3-3, 1-1 Region 7-3A)
Last week: White County beat Dawson County, 24-14; Wesleyan lost 30-21 to Lumpkin County
Where: Norcross
Radio: WRWH 93.9 FM, www.wrwh.com
Time: 7:30 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: White County: Jr. QB Tripp Nix (63-for-116, 885 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INT, 63-127 yards, 6 TDs rushing), Sr. RB Ryan Fowler (79-586 yards, 5 TDs), RB Nick Lammers (37-179 yards, 2 TDs), Sr. WR Cam Wilson (16-258 yards, 1 TD rec.), Sr. WR Von Dre Nelson (13-227 yards, 2 TDs rec.), Jr. LB Jon Scott (62 tkls, 2 TFL), Jr. FS Cade Dockery (46 tkls, 3 TFL), Jr. DB Bryce Dockery (45 tkls, 3 TFL), Sr. LB Carson Smith (44 tkls), Jr. LB Alex Johnson (42 tkls); Wesleyan: Jr. QB Ben Brown (107-180, 1,437 yards, 17 TDs, 3 INT passing, 47-229 yards, 2 TDs rushing), So. RB Maddox Gartland (50-233, 1 TD), Sr. WR Jamie Tremble (24-320 yards, 4 TDs rec.), Sr. WR Shepard Jones (20-322, 2 TDs rec.), Sr. WR Baer Cole (24-355, 4 TDs rec.), Jr. DE Matthew Wright (42 tkls, 11 TFL), So. LB William Wright (42 tkls, 2 TFL), Sr. LB Charlie Hillegass (38 tkls, 2 TFL), So. LB Billy Gingrey (37 tkls, 4 TFL).
WHY WATCH IT? If the Warriors are to stay on the path to their first region title, they'll need to take care of business at Wesleyan. In last season's first-ever meeting, Wesleyan beat White County in a 22-17 battle in Cleveland. This season, the Warriors are seeking to return the favor in Norcross. The Wolves bring in a potent air attack with a decent rushing game mixed in. The Warriors are as balanced as you can get behind quarterback Tripp Nix and running back Ryan Fowler, giving the Warriors' offense explosive potential. The defense will be key for both, but if the Warriors are going to win this one, Fowler's output will be key. Could this game become a ground attack for both, maybe, but whatever happens, this one has an epic ending all over it.
WINDER-BARROW at FLOWERY BRANCH
Records: Bulldoggs (4-2, 1-1 Region 8-5A); Falcons (3-3, 1-1 Region 8-5A)
Last week: Winder-Barrow lost 44-0 to Jefferson; Flowery Branch beat Clarke Central, 41-38
Where: Falcon Field, Flowery Branch
Radio: WDUN FM 102.9
Time: 7:30 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Winder-Barrow: Jr. QB Evan Lynn (55-for-98, 644 yards, 6 TDs, 5 INT passing, 36-134, 2 TDs rushing) So. RB Demetrius Dowdy 119-718 yards, 5 TDs, So. RB Xavier McCoy (71-452 yards, 3 TDs rushing), So. WR Kenyan Glasper (12-209 yards, 2 TDs rec.), Sr. LB Tyron Harris (41 tkls, 4 TFL), Sr. CB Aidan Johnson (34 tkls), Sr. SS Ryan Mcnally (28 tkls); Flowery Branch: Sr. QB Josh Oliver (105-for-180, 1,457 yards, 13 TDs, 7 INT, 28-127 yards, 6 TDs rushing), Sr. RB Mylik Dryden (66-437 yards, 3 TDs, Sr. WR Seth Larson (41-468 yards, 4 TDs rec.), Jr. WR Jeremiah Ware (35-716 yards, 9 TDs rec.), Sr. LB Cam Haynes, Sr. LB Frank Perez.
WHY WATCH IT? After falling to Eastside two weeks ago in double overtime, Flowery Branch shocked Region 8-5A with the upset win over Clarke Central in Athens, Ga. last week. The win catapulted the Falcons back into the playoff conversation. The Falcons have a shot to strengthen their case for a playoff bid with a win this week over Winder-Barrow. The Bulldoggs offensive game plan seems simple: run, run, run. Winder-Barrow has over twice the yards rushing as they do passing and has two backs with over 400 yards rushing. But the Falcons need not overthink this one as the offense is scoring 35.3 ppg over the last three weeks and could turn this game into a track meet as the Bulldogs are giving up 35 ppg on defense. Whatever may happen at the Darkside on Friday, the Falcons' opportunity to move up in the Region 8-5A standings looks pretty good.
WEEK 8 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
All games start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted
OCTOBER 5
North Forsyth at Lanier*
OCTOBER 6
Aquinas at Towns County*
Banks County at Union County*
Dawson County at Pickens*
East Forsyth at Cherokee Bluff* – WDUN AM 550
East Jackson at Fellowship Christian*
George Walton Academy at Riverside Prep*
Gilmer at Lumpkin County*
King's Academy at Lanier Christian*
North Hall at Madison County* – 94.5 FM The Lake
Social Circle at Commerce
Shiloh at Jackson County*
St. Francis at Rabun County
Walnut Grove at East Hall*
White County at Wesleyan*
Winder-Barrow at Flowery Branch* – WDUN FM 102.9
