Once again, Week 9 has some massive games on the slate, but none bigger than No. 1 Milton at No. 6 Gainesville.
The game is for a strong hold on the Region 7-5A title, at least for now. It's also Gainesville's second chance at a top-ranked team in the state.
Meanwhile, No. 4 Cherokee Bluff wants to keep their region title hopes alive against an athletic Monroe Area, and East Forsyth is trying to stay in the Region 8-4A title talk with a win at Walnut Grove on Thursday.
The 19-game Week 9 schedule includes several games with playoff implications. We've selected three big Games2Watch.
To follow scores and more this week, follow our Friday Game Night X for scores, stories and highlights.
MILTON at GAINESVILLE
Records: Eagles (7-0, 3-0 Region 7-5A); Red Elephants (6-1, 3-0 Region 7-5A)
Last week: Milton beat Lanier, 49-7; Gainesville beat Seckinger, 41-0
Where: Cirt Park Stadium, Gainesville
Radio: 94.5 FM The Lake
Time: 8 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: GAINESVILLE––QB Kharim Hughley (88-142, 1,628 yards passing, 12 TDs), RB Carmelo Byrd (96-593 yards rushing, 11 TDs), WR Shane King (27-404 yards rec., 2 TDs), WR Jeremiah Ware (25-492 yards rec., 6 TDs), WR Taz Smith (16-451 yards rec., 3 TDs), LB Xavier Griffin (25 tkls, 13 TFL, 6 sacks), DL Julius Columbus (17 tkls, 8 TFL, 2 sacks) Cash O'Callaghan (18 tkls, 2 TFL), Brandon Bailey (17 tkls, 8 TFL), Demari Cheeks (19 tkls, 4 TFL), Kadin Fossung (14 tkls, 3 TFL), Darryn Williams (32 tkls, 5 TFL); MILTON––QB Luke Nickel (102-1,556 yards pass, 16 TDs, 5 INT), RB/LB Tristan Lester (102-678 yards rush, 13 TDs, 44 tkls, 6.5 TFL), WR CJ Wiley (30-577 yards rec., 6 TDs), TE Ethan Barbour (22-361 yards rec., 3 TDs), WR Tristan Payne (19-342 yards rec., 3 TDs), LB Hayden Tumminia (60 tkls, 5 TFL), LB AJ Benton (47 tkls, 8.5 TFL), LB Billy Weivoda (42 tkls, 7 TFL, 4 sacks), DL Caleb Bell (39 tkls, 8.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks), LB Daron Pigram (35 tkls, 4 TFL, 2.5 sacks).
WHY WATCH IT: A team rarely gets a shot at a No. 1 program twice in a season. Well, Big Red gets a do-over this week when they host top-ranked Milton at City Park. Could the Week 4 battle against Class 6A No. 1 Carrollton provide a crystal ball look into what could happen in this game? Nah, just wanted to toss that out there for contextual purposes. I know; stop yelling at me. Gainesville allowed the Trojans to play mind games and won. Big Red heard the trash talk too loud and responded in a way that allowed Carrollton to run it up in a 45-16 win. Of course, that's not the only reason Big Red lost the game, but I haven't watched any game film to figure that out. Gainesville moved on quickly, and so did I. Besides, as big as we made that game out to be, TV didn't want any of it. Nor did 680 The Fan. However, they all want some this week. The new press box at City Park will be filled to the bream with outside media wanting a piece of the action. So, I guess this is a big game. After all, kicking off at 8 p.m. on Friday means you've made the big time, right? Not really. It's big no matter what time the game kicks off and no matter how many media outlets are there to cover it. Why? This game has Region 7-5A title implications on the line and will give the winner the inside track to the top seed in the playoffs next month. It'll pit the No. 1 offense vs. the No. 2 defense and the No. 2 offense vs. the No. 1 defense. I mean, this game has old-fashioned slobber knocker written all over it. One for the record books. In the words of the great Keith Jackson ... Whoa, Nellie, this one is gonna be a barnburna.
GAC at NORTH HALL
Records: Spartans (3-3, 3-0 Region 6-3A); Trojans (4-2, 3-0 Region 6-3A)
Last week: GAC was off; North Hall was off
Where: The Brickyard, Gainesville
Radio: WDUN 102.9 FM
Time: 7:30 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: NORTH HALL––QB Alex Schlieman (45-63, 582 yards passing, 4 TDs, 2 INT), Smith McGarvey (44-78, 482 yards passing, 6 TDs, 3 INT, 260 yards rushing, 6 TDs), RB Luke Jenkins (49-357, 2 TDs, 222 yards rec.), RB/LB Parker Carlton (60-473 yards rushing, 5 TDs, 58 tkls, 4 sacks), WR Cole Cable (28-383, 6 TDs), WR Ty Kemp (27-358 yards, 4 TDs), DB Walker Davis (54 tkls), DB Charlie Dyer (41 tkls), LB Buddy Clark (38 tkls), LB Jake Clark (33 tkls), LB Dalton Hulsey (30 tkls, 4.5 TFL), DL Matthew Arceo (27 tkls, 4 TFL); GAC––QB Tommy Young (51-88, 822 yards passing, 4 TDs, 5 INT), QB Adrian Hughes (37-71, 514 yards passing, 5 TDs), RB Maceo Woodward (56-194 yards rushing, 4 TDs), LB Stephen Phillips (34 tkls), LB CJ Ohuabunwa (33 tkls, 3 TFL), DE Micah Pryor 29 tkls, 7 TFL), DE Zach Adams (27 tkls, 4 TFL), DL Dre Quinn (25 tkls, 6.5 TFL).
WHY WATCH IT: Well, well, what do we have here? Say it with me ... G ... A ... C. Yeah, I knew you guys would love it. Ahhh, GAC ... The metro Atlanta private school that travels up I-985 to break the hearts of Northeast Georgia public schools hoping to win another region title. GAC is 73-21 against our area teams, and if you take off the 15 losses to Buford, GAC is 71-6, and outside of Buford, only four of our teams have beaten GAC at least once -- Cherokee Bluff, Jackson County, Jefferson, Commerce and Dawson County. While I'm feeling statistical, GAC is 16-1 against Hall County teams. OK, I'm moving on. It's North Hall's turn to try to break the trend. Lumpkin County and Dawson County gave GAC their best shot but failed. North Hall is 0-5, including a 33-0 loss in the 2020 playoffs. The Trojans have a lot to lose in this game. The Trojans are playing well right now, averaging close to 40 points per game on offense, and if the defense that shut down White County shows up, GAC could be in trouble. However, here's the bad. The Trojans could be in trouble if the defense turns into Swiss cheese. The Spartans like to throw the ball and have averaged nearly 40 points per game over the last three games. They're also giving up under 10 ppg in region play. It's not going to be easy for either team. Is there enough Brickyard magic in the bank to help the Trojans beat big bad GAC? If there is, the Trojans will roll into Dahlonega next week, looking to take total control of the region. However, if North Hall lets the private school from Lilburn push them around as usual, it'll be a long night at The Brickyard.
EAST FORSYTH at WALNUT GROVE
Records: Broncos (6-1, 2-1 Region 8-4A); Warriors (4-2, 1-1 Region 8-4A)
Last week: East Forsyth beat Cedar Shoals, 49-21; Walnut Grove lost 41-7 to Eastside
Where: Warriors Stadium, Walnut Grove
Time: 7:30 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: EAST FORSYTH––QB Brock Szakacs (82-129, 1,142 yards passing, 11 TDs, 3 INT), RB DJ Haskell (63-462 yards rushing, 8 TDs), RB Gus Martin (68-275 yards rushing, 4 TDs), RB/LB Troy Hoover (30-142 yards rushing, 4 TDs, 50 tkls, 3 TFL), WR Chase Rhoads (19-371 yards rec., 2 TDs), WR Trent Polk (21-220 yards rec., 2 TDs), TE Andrew Frank (14-243 yards rec., 2 TDs), LB Jeremiah Foote (55 tkls, 6 TFL, 5 sacks), LB Kellen Moran (51 tkls, 4 TFL), DT Roman Dickerson (32 tkls, 8 TFL, 5 sacks), DE Adrian Reyes (21 tkls, 7 TFL), LB Dominic Primato (21 tkls, 7 TFL); EASTSIDE––QB Payton Shaw (41-55, 886 yards passing, 11 TDs), RB Myles Mims (61-530 yards rushing, 6 TDs), RB Jayden Barr (54-569 yards rushing, 13 TDs), WR Michael Kenon Jr (8-248 yards rec., 2 TDs), LB Christian Gass (47 tkls, 6 TFL, 4 sacks), LB Bailey Benson (39 tkls, 10 TFL), LB Jameel McMichael (39 tkls, 5 TFL).
WHY WATCH: The only radar this game is on is East Forsyth and Walnut Grove fans'. Well, put it on the Week 9 radar NOW. This game is huge, and an EaFo win will keep the Broncos in the region title talk. Yes, they lost to No. 3 North Oconee. Yes, they still have to play No. 8 Eastside, and yes, it's a tough road ahead. But let me lay out a path to the Region 8-4A title for the Broncos. Eastside has to beat North Oconee this week. The Broncos have to beat Walnut Grove this week, and they'll have to find a way to beat an explosive Eastside team next week. Finally, the Broncos have to win out. If all that happens, and Eastside and North Oconee remain with one loss, there will be a three-way tie atop the Region 8-4A standings. I'm not touching the tiebreaker. So, yeah, pretty easy, right? And now you're laughing. It's OK. I am, too ... at the tiebreaker formula. Anyway, this game is massive. The Broncos have been quietly doing good things under first-year head coach Duston Cannon. They're averaging almost 32 points per game, and the defense has been good, giving up 15 ppg. Walnut Grove is averaging around 26 ppg and giving up 17.7 ppg. However, against Eastside, they gave up 41 points in a 41-7 loss. In comparison, East Forsyth held North Oconee to 14 points in the first half before losing 24-7. What does that mean? It's simple. East Forsyth is the better team in this matchup. Will that translate to the field? I think so. Sure, both teams only scored a touchdown on the top two teams in the region, but the Broncos' defense and offense are better. This game might be a shoot-out; then again, it could be an EaFo walk in the park. Whatever it turns out to be, East Forsyth needs to win to stay in the hunt for a region title and a home playoff spot.
PREP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, Thursday, October 10
Dacula at Buford*
East Forsyth at Walnut Grove*
PREP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, Friday, October 11
Banks County at Elbert County*
Cross Keys at Lanier Christian
East Hall at Jefferson*
GAC at North Hall*
Habersham Central at Alcovy*
Lakeview Academy at Kings Academy
Lumpkin County at Johnson*
Madison County at Flowery Branch*
Milton at Gainesville*
Monroe Area at Cherokee Bluff*
North Atlanta at North Forsyth*
Oglethorpe County at Rabun County*
Pickens at Chestatee*
Riverside Prep at Piedmont Academy*
Spartanburg Christian (SC) at Towns County
West Hall at Oconee County*
White County at Dawson County*
(Commerce, East Jackson, Jackson County and Union County are all off)
(* -- denotes region contest)
PREP FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD, October 4
Athens Academy 41, Banks County 6*
Bethlehem Christian 17, Lakeview Academy 0*
Buford 34, Collins Hill 7*
Cherokee Bluff 41, West Hall 14*
Clarke Central 42, Habersham Central 28*
Commerce 42, Rabun County 38*
Dawson County 71, Johnson 0*
Denmark 19, North Forsyth 14*
East Forsyth 49, Cedar Shoals 21*
East Jackson 29, Franklin County 21*
Gainesville 41, Seckinger 0*
Jackson County 25, Apalachee 6*
Jefferson 38, Monroe Area 14*
Loganville Christian 35, Riverside Prep 21*
Oconee County 56, East Hall 7*
Ringgold 31, Union County 0*
Towns County 14, Anderson Christian (SC) 8
