The final week of the high school football season has region titles and playoff seedings on the line.
It's just the typical ending to the high school football season.
As for the region standings across the area, the best thing to do is wait until the clock strikes midnight on Friday. It'll be crystal clear then.
With all the key region match-ups this week, we've sorted through the 19 games on the schedule and found three games with region standings implications that we think could be Games2Watch.
To follow scores and more this week, follow Friday Game Night on X (formerly Twitter) for scores, stories and highlights.
FLOWERY BRANCH at HERITAGE-CONYERS
Records: Falcons (4-5, 2-3 Region 8-5A); Patriots (3-6, 1-4 Region 8-5A)
Last week: Flowery Branch lost 32-28 to Loganville; Heritage lost 42-0 to Jefferson
Where: Evans Memorial Stadium, Conyers
Time: 7:30 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Flowery Branch: Sr. QB Josh Oliver (131-of-232, 1,844 yards, 18 TDs, 7 INT pass; 33-139 yards, 7 TDs rushing), Sr. RB Malik Dryden (71-463 yards rushing, 4, Sr. RB J Elder (22-139 yards, 1 TD rushing) Sr. WR Seth Larson (50-582 yards rec., 6 TDs), Jr. WR Jeremiah Ware (41-915 yards rec., 12 TDs), Sr. WR Camo Campbell (19-205 yards rec., 2 TDs) Sr. LB Cam Haynes, Sr. LB Frank Perez. Heritage: Sr. QB Tony Green, So. RB Myles Mims, Sr. WR/CB Dion Dean Jr, Sr. WR Justin Rowles, Sr. LB Brandon Pruitt, Sr. DB Javon Harrison, Sr. CB Justin Hall.
WHY WATCH IT? The only reason this is a Game2Watch is because Flowery Branch needs a win to get into the playoffs. The Falcons messed around and screwed up against Loganville last week, losing a close one, 32-28. The Falcons allowed the Red Devils to score 15 points in the final two minutes of the first half to change the momentum and could never fully recover from the loss. If the Falcons don't bring their A-game on Thursday in Conyers, they could be staring down elimination from the playoffs. However, if they win, they'll dance into the Class 5A playoffs.
JEFFERSON at EASTSIDE
Records: Dragons (9-0, 5-0 Region 8-5A), ranked 4th in Class 5A; Eagles (7-2, 5-0 Region 8-5A)
Last week: Jefferson beat Heritage-Conyers, 42-0; Eastside beat Winder-Barrow, 56-3
Where: Sharp Stadium, Covington
Time: 7:30 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Jefferson: Jr. QB Gavin Markey (53-for-101, 853 yards, 13 TDs, 6 INT, 82 yards, 4 TDs rushing), Sr. RB/LB Sammy Brown (127-1,148 yards, 18 TDs rushing, 119 yards, 2 TD rec., 84 tkls, 9 TFL), Jr. RB Dallas Russell (71-376 yards, 1 TD rushing), Sr. WR Zay Minish (12-198 yards, 3 TDs rec.), Jr. WR Talan Childress (9-189 yards, 4 TDs rec.) Jr. LB Jaden Yang (80 tkls, 2 TFL), Jr. Rhett Hemphill (73 tkls, 7 TFL); Eastside: So. QB Payton Shaw (59-of-85, 837 yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs; 129 yards rushing); Sr. RB Anquez Cobb (104-659 yards, 8 TDs rushing), Jr. RB Jayden Barr (83-543 14 TDs rushing); So.RB Tyler Solomon 45-247 yards, 3 TDs), Jr. WR Marion Eubanks (14-350 yards, 4 TDs), Sr. LB Jaquez Cobb (69 tkls), Sr. DE Jacorey Jackson (58 tkls, 10 TFL), Jr. SS Kalen Stapp (52 tkls, 2 TFL), Jr. LB Bailey Benson (46 tkls, 3 TFL).
WHY WATCH IT? Eastside is a real threat to Jefferson's hopes of winning a second straight region championship. These two teams are very similar in what they do. Both like to run the ball, with a pass mixed in here and there. So, expect a Fierce battle in the trenches on Thursday. The Dragons have strolled through the last four region opponents, winning by an average margin of 37.5 points. Eastside had easy wins over Loganville, Heritage and Winder-Barrow but struggled against Flowery Branch and Clarke Central. The only real comparison between Jefferson and Eastside would be the Clarke Central game. Jefferson also beat the Gladiators by a touchdown. However, with a player like Clemson-commit Sammy Brown on both sides of the ball, the Dragons are the instant favorite to win this one. But a region title is on the line, so expect the full arsenal from both sides to be on display. Could this one turn into a defense battle? It's possible. Whatever it turns into, the winner will be crowned Region 8-5A champions.
GILMER AT WHITE COUNTY
Records: Bobcats (6-3, 3-2 Region 7-3A); Warriors (4-5, 2-3 Region 7-3A)
Last week: Gilmer was off; White County lost 39-37 to Pickens
Where: White County Stadium, Cleveland
Radio: 93.9 WRWH; www.wrwh.com
Time: 7:30 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: White County: Jr. QB Tripp Nix (78-for-147, 1,077, 8 TDs, 3 INT, 72-167 yards, 7 TDs rushing), Sr. RB Ryan Fowler (100-691 yards, 6 TDs), Sr. WR Cam Wilson (21-305 yards, 1 TD rec.), Sr. WR Von Dre Nelson (17-294 yards, 2 TDs rec.), Jr. LB Jon Scott (75 tkls, 2 TFL), Jr. FS Cade Dockery (46 tkls, 3 TFL), Jr. DB Bryce Dockery (52 tkls, 3 TFL), Sr. LB Carson Smith (50 tkls), Jr. LB Alex Johnson (55 tkls), Jr. LB Jason Rewis (52 tkls, 6 TFL); Gilmer: Jr. RB Wyatt Stokes (94-564 yards, 3 TDs rushing), Jr. RB/QB Issac Rellinger (72-471 yards, 7 TDs rushing; 9-of-14, 383 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs passing), So. RB Hunter Britain (56-420 yards, 5 TDs rushing), Fr. FB Peyton Chancey (59-357 yards, 3 TDs rushing), Jr. RB Kyle Cowart (25-268 yards, 4 TDs).
WHY WATCH IT? This game will be a clash of two styles, and it has White County in a tough spot. The Bobcats have prepped for the spread attack in every region contest they've played this year. It's White County that now, after playing against the spread offenses of Region 7-3A, will have to prep for the triple-option, wing-T offense in just four days, and the young Bobcats have been playing well down the stretch. White County's hangover from the four overtime game against Lumpkin County showed up big time against Pickens last week, falling to the Dragons in a shocker. It was a game in which they shot toes off one by one. Now, it has them on the outside looking in, with Gilmer already in the playoffs. White County has to beat Gilmer by seven or more points or beat Gilmer and hope for a Pickens loss to Wesleyan -- I think that'll happen, or if they lose to Gilmer, hope for a Pickens loss to Wesleyan, again, I think that'll happen. In the end, White County gets in. However, if the Warriors want to stay out of the fourth spot, they need to beat the Bobcats. Easy, right?
WEEK 12 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
All games start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted
NOVEMBER 2
Flowery Branch at Heritage-Conyers*
Jefferson at Eastside*
Union County at Fellowship Christian*, 7 p.m.
NOVEMBER 3
Apalachee at North Forsyth*
Banks County at Providence Christian*
Central Gwinnett at Buford*
Cherokee Bluff at North Oconee*
Cherokee Christian at Lanier Christian*
East Forsyth at North Hall* -- FM 102.9 WDUN
East Hall at Madison County*
East Jackson at Athens Academy*
Gainesville at Jackson County* -- FM 94.5 The Lake
Gilmer at White County*
Habersham Central at Shiloh*
Johnson at Midtown
Lincoln County at Towns County*
Loganville Christian at Lakeview Academy*
Lumpkin County at West Hall* -- AM 550 WDUN
Walnut Grove at Chestatee*
