5 things: What we learned from Week 10 of high school football

Here's a look at five things we learned from Week 10 of the high school football season...<br /> <br /> <b>1. Area regions are, indeed, tighter than they have ever been</b><br /> <br /> Doubt it? Consider that of eight regions that we cover (regions that include teams in northeast Georgia), only two -- 8-AAAAA and 6-AAAAAA -- have already crowned a 2014 champ (Lanier and Alpharetta, respectively). That means that titles for 8-A, 8-AA, 7-AAA, 8-AAA, 8-AAAA and 7-AAAAAA will each come down to the final day of the 2014 campaign. It is also displayed in the fact that all of those regions have multiple teams still vying for postseason spots. So why all the parity? One might look at those stats and determine there are fewer dominant teams in the region, fewer teams set for big playoff runs. We beg to differ. Squads like Buford, Jefferson, Lanier and North Gwinnett have each been top 10 regulars this season and will be amongst the favorites for state playoff glory. Other programs like West Hall, Gainesville, Rabun County, Commerce and Union County are on the verge of a top 10 spot, while Mill Creek may has the talent capable of playing with anyone (more on that later). There are a few more unknowns this season than in recent years, but we think we're already starting to get the answers -- and they have, mostly, been in the affirmative: Football in northeast Georgia just keeps getting better and better.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>2. Mill Creek has the ability to play many more games this season</b><br /> <br /> We already knew the Hawks had talent, but now it seems as though that talent is starting to peak at the right time. Mill Creek dominated defending Class AAAAAA champ Norcross on Friday. And while the Blue Devils may not be quite the force of 2013, they still have the skill to have knocked off North Gwinnett earlier this season -- and Mill Creek made them look pedestrian. The Hawks held Norcross to 39 total yards in Friday's 30-0 win. Let us repeat that: The Hawks held Norcross to 39 total yards. That is the type of defensive dominance that can win titles. Now, Mill Creek has only a very slim shot at a region title -- the Hawks must beat a very strong Peachtree Ridge on Friday and hope for Mountain View to pull the upset of the season when it plays host to North Gwinnett to claim 7-AAAAAA. But, with the way the Hawks are playing, and the talent on hand, Mill Creek may have the ability to make a run at the biggest title of all.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>3. There is plenty of hope on the horizon for Habersham and Apalachee</b><br /> <br /> The Raiders and Wildcats had been close -- painfully so -- to halting mind-numbing losing streaks already this season. So when each team finally broke through to end droughts that lasted back to 2012, it was simultaneously thrilling and predictable. After all, these were two teams both good enough to pick up victories in 2014. And now that they have them, both will be looking for more. Wins like Fridays can act as a catapult for programs. And both have the talent on hand to believe that better times are on the way. For inspiration they need look no further than down the road. Area squads like Winder-Barrow, Fannin County and Lumpkin County have each undergone impressive turnarounds this season. And one has to think that similar results are within reach of any group of players gritty enough to fight like the Raiders and Wildcats.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>4. We are in for a hugely-entertaining end to the 2014 regular season</b><br /> <br /> We could not have asked for a better final night of the regular season. As previously mentioned there will be six region titles and dozens of state playoff berths on the line on Nov. 7. In fact there could be region races that last even past the end of regulation on Friday, as the possibility for a three-way ties exists (in fact, looks rather likely) in Region 8-A -- where Commerce, Athens Christian and Prince Avenue Christian all have one league setback apiece, each to each other. Meanwhile, ties for playoff seeding spots are also possible in a number of other leagues. Beyond all the possibilities, look at some of the match-ups on tap for this Friday. There are games like Jefferson at Hart County -- two undefeated squads, two proud programs in a winner take-all battle for Region 8-AAA -- Lumpkin County at West Hall -- two powerful ground games, one a grinding bulldozer, the other a Ferrari (with steel-plated bumpers) -- and Greene County at Rabun County -- both teams looking for the kind of win that could define their re-births as programs. It is a mouth-watering prospect.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>5. Drew Atha is indeed the straw that churns the Trojans' offense</b><br /> <br /> Imagine what could have been if he had been healthy all season -- North Hall may be wondering that very thing after watching its junior quarterback lead the Trojans back from the brink with two straight victories. Atha overcame a lower leg injury to work his way back to a starting spot -- and his been a huge part of the offense ever since getting back to full health. He ran and passed scores in Friday's win over rival Chestatee, and you can bet that White County will be more than aware of where the junior is when the Warriors travel to The Brickyard on Friday, as they know a win would secure a state playoff berth. While there is no postseason on the scope for the Trojans in 2014, a third straight win to finish out the campaign might be just as important to a young -- and improving -- squad.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES, OCT. 31</b><br /> Apalachee 28, Cedar Shoals 17<br /> Buford 44, Madison County 0<br /> Commerce 42, George Walton 0<br /> East Hall 38, Fannin County 20<br /> Elbert County 56, East Jackson 7<br /> Flowery Branch 7, Salem 6 <br /> Franklin County 14, Johnson 13 <br /> Gainesville 20, Loganville 7<br /> Habersham Central 32, North Forsyth 7<br /> Jefferson 28, Oconee County 10<br /> Lanier 21, Winder-Barrow 10<br /> Lumpkin County 42, Dawson County 19<br /> Mill Creek 30, Norcross 0<br /> North Gwinnett 50, Meadowcreek 6 <br /> North Hall 28, Chestatee 17<br /> North Oconee 21, Stephens County 14, OT<br /> Prince Avenue Christian 49, Lakeview Academy 10<br /> Towns County 20, Providence Christian 3<br /> Union County 42, Riverside Military 27<br /> West Hall 23, Banks County 7<br /> White County 51, Monroe Area 22<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>WEEK 11 AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, NOV. 7</b><br /> Banks County at East Hall<br /> Buford at Stephens County<br /> Chattahoochee at Habersham Central<br /> Chestatee at Monroe Area<br /> Fannin County at Franklin County<br /> Gainesville at Flowery Branch<br /> Greene County at Rabun County<br /> Heritage, Conyers at Winder-Barrow<br /> Jefferson at Hart County<br /> Johnson at Dawson County<br /> Lakeview Academy at Commerce <br /> Lanier at Apalachee<br /> Lumpkin County at West Hall<br /> Mill Creek at Peachtree Ridge<br /> Morgan County at Jackson County<br /> North Forsyth at Alpharetta<br /> Mountain View at North Gwinnett<br /> Riverside Military at Social Circle<br /> Washington-Wilkes at Union County<br /> White County at North Hall

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