The Red Elephants made quick and easy work of the Knights scoring three times in the first five minutes of the game en route to a 63-0 win at City Park Stadium.
It was the most lopsided win for either team in the long history of the series.
Gainesville's win sets up an intriguing finish to the year for 7-AAA. A Gainesville win over Flowery Branch next week will give the Elephants the top seed from the region. However, a loss to the Falcons coupled with a North Hall win next week over Lumpkin County could knock the Elephants as far down as third place in the region.
Creekview, White County, and Chestatee still have a shot at finishing second in 7A-AAA with Creekview and Chestatee taking on each other next week and White County traveling to Gilmer. Creekview is the only one of the three with a clear path to the playoffs: beat Chestatee next week and the Grizzlies are in. A Creekview loss and a White County win would then involve tiebreaker scenarios between the three teams.
It may have to go to instant replay before it is all sorted out next week.
In other 7-AAA action Friday night, East Hall notched its first win of the season with a thrilling 34-28 win over West Hall. Creekview whipped Lumpkin County 55-13; North Hall hammered Gilmer 49-0; White County beat Pickens 49-7; and West Forsyth beat Chestatee 41-7 in Cumming.
In other key games around the area, Riverside Military Academy kept its playoff hopes alive with a 28-27, come-from-behind win over Union County in Region 8-AA action. The Eagles rallied from a 24-7 second quarter deficit. Jefferson clinched the Region 8-AA title with a 20-6 win over North Oconee. East Jackson clinched second in the region with a 41-0 win over Dawson County.
In Region 8-A, Commerce clinched second with a 42-14 win over Social Circle. Lakeview Academy held an early 7-0 lead on Athens Academy before succumbing to the Spartans in a 28-7 loss.
In Region 6-AA, No. 3 Buford clinched a playoff spot with a hard-hitting 21-0 win over No. 9 Westminster. The Wolves can clinch at least a home game in the first round of the playoffs with a win over GAC next week.
Blake Sims was responsible for five touchdowns Friday night for No. 1 Gainesville, including an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown in the Elephants' 63-0 rout of rival Johnson.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/10/224394