WEEK 9: Four region title front-runners emerge on big night

Nothing is set in stone, but thanks to a thrilling night of high school football action we have a pretty good idea where a handful of region titles <i><b>may</i></b> be headed.<br /> <br /> West Hall (Region 7-AAA), Buford (8-AAAA), Rabun County (8-AA) and Lanier (8-AAAAA) each took huge steps toward region supremacy, while Stephens County also put down a marker in the 8-AAAA race. <br /> <br /> <i>(<b>NOTE:</b> To read game stories and see video highlights of the night's action, <a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/fridaygamenight">click here to visit our <b>Friday Game Night</b> page</a>.)</i><br /> <br /> The Spartans blasted Fannin County 49-0; Buford smacked North Oconee (previously perfect in 8-AAAA) 58-3; Rabun County consolidated its hold on 8-AA with a 22-7 win over defending region champ Washington-Wilkes; and Lanier bounced back from a slow start to hold off Salem 42-35. Stephens County also stayed perfect in 8-AAAA with a 31-10 win over Madison County.<br /> <br /> There were also some thrilling finishes -- including one from Winder-Barrow, which stayed at the front of the 8-AAAAA playoff race courtesy a comeback win at Clarke Central, 35-29.<br /> <br /> White County also overcame a slow start to see off a determined Chestatee 50-28 in Cleveland after trailing 21-7. The victory kept the Warriors in the postseason hunt in 8-AAAA.<br /> <br /> Region 7-AAAAAA also saw itself thrown into chaos -- and North Gwinnett and Mill Creek are ready to make the most of it. The Bulldogs and Hawks are now just two of four teams tied at the top the region with one league loss apiece. North Gwinnett dusted Duluth 71-24, while Mill Creek made short work of Collins Hill 51-7.<br /> <br /> Not many finishes were better than the one North Hall put on, however. The Trojans dug themselves out of a 14-0 hole and pulled away from a game of one-up with Monroe Area to hold the Purple Hurricanes scoreless in the fourth quarter en route to a 38-35 win in Gainesville -- North Hall's first of the season and first for new head coach David Bishop.<br /> <br /> Elsewhere, East Hall stayed in the thick of the playoff hunt in 7-AAA, handling Franklin County 34-7. Banks County also stayed in the 7-AAA postseason hunt with a 27-21 defeat of Dawson County.<br /> <br /> Gainesville also maintained its position for the No. 2 seed from 8-AAAAA, fighting back to burn Cedar Shoals 61-26, while Flowery Branch won its second straight, 29-14 over Loganville.<br /> <br /> Commerce also stayed tied at the front of the Region 8-A race with a shutout of Towns County, 58-0.<br /> <br /> It was a big night -- and set up some even bigger nights to come.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FINALS FOR WEEK 9, OCT. 24</b><br /> Athens Christian 40, Lakeview Academy 0<br /> <br /> Banks County 27, Dawson County 21<br /> <br /> Buford 58, North Oconee 3<br /> <br /> Centennial 27, North Forsyth 3<br /> <br /> Commerce 58, Towns County 0<br /> <br /> East Hall 34, Franklin County 7<br /> <br /> Flowery Branch 29, Loganville 14<br /> <br /> Gainesville 61, Cedar Shoals 26<br /> <br /> Greene County 24, Riverside Military 7<br /> <br /> Heritage, Conyers 35, Apalachee 28<br /> <br /> Jackson County 35, East Jackson 15<br /> <br /> Johns Creek 42, Habersham Central 14<br /> <br /> Lanier 42, Salem 35<br /> <br /> Mill Creek 51, Collins Hill 7<br /> <br /> North Gwinnett 71, Duluth 24<br /> <br /> North Hall 38, Monroe Area 35<br /> <br /> Rabun County 22, Washington-Wilkes 7<br /> <br /> Stephens County 31, Madison County 10<br /> <br /> West Hall 49, Fannin County 0<br /> <br /> White County 50, Chestatee 28<br /> <br /> Winder-Barrow 35, Clarke Central 29

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