Two region title showdowns may have proved anti-climactic, but those contests were only part of what proved an intriguing ending for the 2016 high school football regular season on Friday night.
(NOTE: Visit our Friday Game Night page for game stories and video highlights from contests throughout northeast Georgia. Scroll down for a complete list of area scores and first round state playoff match-ups for next week. Also, click here for a complete of statewide football scores.)
Jefferson pulled away from Oconee County for a 31-7 win in Watkinsville that netted the Region 8-AAAA crown. The outcome, along with Stephens County's defeat 35-14 defeat of North Oconee vaulted the Indians into the No. 2 seed from 8-AAAA. The Warriors finish with the No. 3 playoff spot.
Meanwhile, Class AAA No. 1 Greater Atlanta Christian left little doubt on Friday in Region 7-AAA, as the Spartans sprinted past Dawson County 42-7 in Dawsonville. The Tigers will enter the playoffs as the No. 2 seed from 7-AAA. Elsewhere, Union County fended off Lumpkin County 35-13 to clinch the No. 3 seed in 7-AAA and deny the Indians a playoff bid. North Hall, which was on a bye this week, will be the fourth seed.
The most exciting finish in 7-AAA belonged to two teams out of the postseason running -- that did not stop East Hall and Fannin County from putting on an offensive shootout for the history books, as the Vikings came from behind to win 71-58 in Rabbittown.
Region 8-AAAAAA's No. 1 and 4 seeds were already decided prior to Friday, Dacula and Winder-Barrow already in those positions, respectively. But Lanier held off Gainesville by a whisker, 10-3 to clinch the No. 2 seed. Dacula also defeated Winder 43-13, while Habersham Central notched its first region victory of the campaign and finished at .500 on the season with a 49-21 win over Apalachee.
Region 8-AA also produced two big finales for northeast Georgia programs, including a huge results for Banks County, which traveled to Elbert County and pulled out a 43-29 win that moved the Leopards into the No. 2 seed for the postseason. Rabun County, meanwhile, hammered Monticello 55-14 to pull off its first ever undefeated regular season after already clinching the 8-AA crown last week.
After a potentially messy final week, Region 8-AAA finally sorted itself out -- and even though Jackson County fell 33-14 at region champion Morgan County, the Panthers still found themselves claiming the No. 3 playoff spot. Meanwhile, East Jackson defeated Hart County 28-19 but could not claim a postseason spot -- though the Eagles, under new head coach Christian Hunnicutt, did finish 4-6 for their best record since 2009.
In Region 8-A, Commerce continued its strong finish to the regular season, dominating George Walton Academy 42-6. The Tigers must await the Class A Public power ratings to see when they will begin their state playoff journey -- but they have locked up a home playoff berth, regardless. Also in 8-A, Lakeview Academy took out Riverside Military 24-14 and will now keep an eye on the Class A Private ratings to see if they can land one of the 24 playoff positions. Towns County also finished its season with a 19-14 defeat of Providence Christian.
In Region 6-AAAAAAA, North Gwinnett secured a state playoff berth with a 43-7 defeat of Discovery and will enter as the No. 3 seed. Meanwhile, Mill Creek kept its unblemished season going with a 56-0 rout of Duluth.
North Forsyth missed out on its postseason chance in Region 5-AAAAAAA, falling to Milton 38-15 in a winner-finish-fourth battle.
Buford also finished off its region season with a win over Flowery Branch in 8-AAAAA, while West Hall fell at Region 7-AAAA champ Blessed Trinity. The Spartans are a No. 3 seed.
The first round of the state playoffs will get underway next week.
WEEK 11 AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES, Nov. 4
Banks County 43, Elbert County 29
Blessed Trinity 34, West Hall 13
Buford 49, Flowery Branch 13
Commerce 42, George Walton Academy 6
Dacula 43, Winder-Barrow 13
East Hall 71, Fannin County 58
East Jackson 28, Hart County 19
Greater Atlanta Christian 42, Dawson County 7
Habersham Central 49, Apalachee 21
Jefferson 31, Oconee County 7
Lakeview Academy 24, Riverside Military Academy 14
Lanier 10, Gainesville 3
Loganville 41, Johnson 6
Marist 35, White County 0
Mill Creek 56, Duluth 0
Milton 38, North Forsyth 15
Morgan County 33, Jackson County 14
North Gwinnett 43, Discovery 7
Rabun County 55, Monticello 14
Stephens County 35, North Oconee 14
Towns County 19, Providence Christian 14
Union County 35, Lumpkin County 13
FIRST ROUND STATE PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS FOR AREA TEAMS
(Area teams listed first)
CLASS AAAAAAA
Mill Creek (Region 6, No. 1 seed) vs. Newton (Region 8, No. 4)
North Gwinnett (Region 6, No. 3) at South Gwinnett (Region 8, No. 2)
CLASS AAAAAA
Lanier (Region 8, No. 2) vs. Allatoona (Region 6, No. 3)
Gainesville (Region 8, No. 3) at Harrison (Region 6, No. 2)
Winder-Barrow (Region 8, No. 4) at Dalton (Region 6, No. 1)
CLASS AAAAA
Buford (Region 8, No. 1) vs. North Springs (Region 6, No. 4)
CLASS AAAA
Jefferson (Region 8, No. 1) vs. Pickens (Region 6, No. 4)
Stephens County (Region 8, No. 2) vs. Heritage, Catoosa (Region 6 No. 3)
West Hall (Region 7, No. 3) at Troup County (Region 5, No. 2)
Chestatee (Region 7, No. 4) at Cartersville (Region 5, No. 1)
CLASS AAA
Dawson County (Region 7, No. 2) vs. Lovett (Region 5, No. 3)
Union County (Region 7, No. 3) at Cedar Grove (Region 5, No. 2)
North Hall (Region 7, No. 4) at Westminster (Region 5, No. 1)
CLASS AA
Rabun County (Region 8, No. 1) vs. Booker T. Washington (Region 6, No. 4)
Banks County (Region 8, No. 2) vs. KIPP (Region 6, No. 3)
CLASS A*
Commerce, TBA
Lakeview Academy, TBA
*Class A awaiting Power Ratings to decide playoff pairings. Commerce is in, just awaiting date and opponent. Lakeview has a shot to make it.
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