Battles for top of 7-AAA and 8-AA highlight big Friday night

Posted 1:22PM on Tuesday, October 8, 2013

REGION FOOTBALL STANDINGS
After Oct. 4

Region 8-A
TEAM......................Region.................Overall
Prince Avenue............2-0.......................5-1
Commerce..................2-0......................4-2
Pinecrest Academy.....1-0.....................4-1
George Walton............1-1......................4-2
Athens Academy.........0-1......................3-2
Hebron Christian.........0-2......................2-3
Athens Christian..........0-2......................2-4
*Towns County.......................................1-5
*Lakeview Academy...............................0-5
(*-playing a non-region schedule)

Region 8-AA
TEAM........................Region................Overall
Washington-Wilkes......3-0......................6-0
Rabun County..............2-0......................5-0
Jefferson......................1-1......................3-2
Union County...............1-1......................3-2
Greene County............1-1......................2-3
Riverside Military.........1-2......................2-3
Oglethorpe Co.............0-2......................0-5
Social Circle................0-2......................0-5

Region 7-AAA
TEAM........................Region..............Overall
Buford...........................2-0.....................5-0
North Hall......................2-0.....................5-0
White County................2-0......................4-1
Dawson County............2-1.....................4-2
West Hall......................2-1......................4-2
Fannin County..............0-2......................1-4
East Hall.......................0-3......................3-3
Banks County...............0-3......................0-6

Region 8-AAA
TEAM........................Region..............Overall
Hart County..................2-0......................5-0
North Oconee...............2-0......................4-1
Elbert County................2-0......................3-2
Jackson County............2-1......................2-4
Morgan County.............1-1......................4-1
Franklin County.............0-2......................0-5
Oconee County.............0-2.....................0-5
East Jackson................0-3......................1-5

Region 8-AAAA
TEAM........................Region...............Overall
Monroe Area................2-0......................5-0
Chestatee....................2-0......................4-1
Lanier...........................1-1......................4-1
Eastside.......................1-1......................3-2
Stephens County.........1-1......................3-2
Lumpkin County...........1-1......................1-4
Madison County...........0-2......................2-3
Walnut Grove...............0-2......................1-4
*Johnson.................................................1-5
(*-playing a non-region schedule)

Region 8-AAAAA
TEAM........................Region...............Overall
Gainesville..................4-0......................5-1
Flowery Branch...........4-0.....................4-2
Clarke Central.............3-0......................4-1
Heritage, Conyers.......3-1......................4-2
Loganville....................1-2......................2-3
Salem..........................1-3......................2-4
Winder-Barrow............0-3......................1-4
Apalachee...................0-3......................0-5
Cedar Shoals..............0-4......................0-6

Region 6-AAAAAA
TEAM........................Region...............Overall
Alpharetta....................2-0.....................3-2
North Forsyth..............1-1......................4-1
South Forsyth..............1-1......................4-1
Chattahoochee............1-1......................3-2
West Forsyth...............1-1......................3-2
Lambert.......................1-1......................2-3
Centennial...................1-1......................1-4
Johns Creek................0-2......................0-5

Region 7-AAAAAA
TEAM........................Region...............Overall
North Gwinnett............3-0......................5-0
Collins Hill...................3-0.....................5-0
Peachtree Ridge.........3-1......................5-1
Norcross.....................3-1......................4-2
Mill Creek....................2-2......................4-2
Duluth.........................1-3......................1-5
Mountain View............1-2......................1-4
Meadowcreek.............0-2......................0-4
Habersham Central....0-4......................0-6

The race for the Region 7-AAA and 8-AA titles will take center stage on the Jacobs Media family of broadcast stations on Friday night.

Three teams are currently tied for first place in 7-AAA, as Buford, North Hall and White County all enter this week with 2-0 records in league play. After Friday that number will drop by at least one, as the Wolves host the Warriors in a game broadcast live on AM 550.

Top-ranked Buford has blitzed through its schedule so far, allowing a total of 21 points all season. Only defending Class AAAAA champ Gainesville has managed more than a touchdown against the Wolves, and Buford (5-0, 2-0 Region 7-AAA) has won its last three games by a combined 189-0.

White County (4-1, 2-0), meanwhile, has had a week off to prepare for the showdown and has allowed just 13 points total in region play this season.

The Warriors and Wolves both rely on ground control offenses and will look to stop the run first on defense. Both teams also feature standout linebackers, including Buford's Korie Rogers (a U.S. Army All-American selection) and Deion King, as well as White County's Dalton Whitfield and Sam Turner.

North Hall, meanwhile, travels to face Fannin County on Friday.

Meanwhile, Region 8-AA, saw one of its biggest contests of the season last week, when Washington-Wilkes fended off Jefferson 21-14 with a late interception. This week, the Dragons will look to bounce back and keep themselves in the 8-AA hunt when Rabun County comes calling in a game broadcast live on 102.9 FM.

The Wildcats (5-0, 2-0 Region 8-AA) enter the contest on the back of their best start to a season since 1998, when they reached the Class A quarterfinals. Rabun's spread attack is averaging 53 points a game, while the Wildcats have only allowed 4.8 points per game.

Yet the Wildcats are facing their biggest test of the season, taking on a Jefferson team looking to bounce back. The Dragons (3-2, 1-1) suffered an injury to starting quarterback Evan Shirreffs in last week's loss but still nearly pulled off the win on the road, out-gaining Washington-Wilkes even after the junior signal caller went down with a thumb injury.

It could be an interesting battle between two high-flying offenses -- though against their one common opponent (Commerce) both defenses pitched shutouts.

Also in 8-AA, Union County travels to Riverside Military for a battle with plenty of postseason implications.

Gainesville will also take to the friendly confines of City Park on Friday and to the airwaves of 1240 AM when the Red Elephants play host to Salem on Friday.

Gainesville (5-1, 4-0 Region 8-AAAAA) has dominated so far in region play, outscoring four opponents 216-19. Salem (2-4, 1-3) has struggled on defense in region play, allowing 31.25 points per game.

Also in 8-AAAAA, Flowery Branch (4-2, 4-0) heads on the road to face Winder-Barrow (1-4, 0-3).

Also, in 8-AAAA, Chestatee returns to region play with a road game against Walnut Grove, while Lumpkin County looks to build on its first win of the season at Madison County. Stephens County will also look to bounce back against undefeated Monroe Area.

And, in Region 8-A, Commerce (4-2, 2-0 Region 8-A) -- which has won two straight big 8-A games -- will face its toughest league contest of the season so far against Prince Avenue Christian (5-1, 2-0) in Commerce.

AREA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR OCT. 11
Alpharetta at North Forsyth
Chestatee at Walnut Grove
Clarkston at Johnson
Cross Keys at Lakeview Academy
Flowery Branch at Winder-Barrow
Habersham Central at Meadowcreek
Loganville at Apalachee
Lumpkin County at Madison County
Mill Creek at North Gwinnett
Monroe Area at Stephens County
North Hall at Fannin County
Prince Avenue at Commerce
Rabun County at Jefferson -- Radio: 102.9 FM
Salem at Gainesville -- Radio: 1240 AM
Union County at Riverside Military
White County at Buford -- Radio: 550 AM