From here on out every week only seems to get more and more intense. Welcome to the midway point of the 2014 high school football season, where every game means something -- and leads probably something to else even bigger.<br />
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With that in mind, the family of Jacobs Media broadcast stations will provide listeners with key battles from three different locations during Friday's Week 6 of the season.<br />
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Few contests will be as big in northeast Georgia this week as the one that will take place at City Park, where Gainesville and Salem will face off on <b>1240 AM</b> in a battle of two of the three teams left undefeated in Region 8-AAAAA play.<br />
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The Red Elephants (3-1, 3-0 Region 8-AAAAA) have re-discovered the offense that marked their recent dominance, averaging 47 points per game through three 8-AAAAA victories.<br />
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Yet Salem will provide the toughest league test to date, as the Seminoles (4-1, 4-0) bring a battle tested squad north -- one that has already edged victories at Clarke Central (19-17), Heritage, Conyers (19-14) and Winder-Barrow (31-24).<br />
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Salem is off to its best start since 2007 -- the last time the Seminoles won a region title (in Region 8-AAAA). <br />
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Gainesville, meanwhile, has ridden injuries to key players to put itself right back in position for a region championship run. And with Lanier (5-0, 4-0) waiting for a showdown with the Red Elephants (Oct. 10 in Sugar Hill), Gainesville knows it cannot afford a setback this week. The Longhorns are sitting through a bye this week.<br />
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Meanwhile, Winder-Barrow and Flowery Branch are both looking to stay in the thick of the postseason hunt in 8-AAAAA and will battle each other to do so in a game broadcast live on <b>AM 550</b>.<br />
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The Falcons (2-2, 1-2) bounced back for their first region win last week, pushing past Cedar Shoals in Athens. The Bulldoggs (2-3, 2-2), meanwhile, saw a golden opportunity halted on the goal line, as Salem came up with a game-saving tackle to knock off Winder.<br />
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Both teams know the importance of this contest in order to maintain traction in the playoff race, and fans can expect a physical slugfest between two squads that like to run the ball. The contest will feature two of the best running backs in 8-AAAAA, as the Branch's Jeremiah Goss and Winder's Cece Green look to help their teams to victory.<br />
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There are plenty of other critical region showdowns on Friday -- including in 7-AAA, where Lumpkin County and Franklin County will face off looking to stay at the front of the pack in a game broadcast live on <b>102.9 FM</b>.<br />
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Both teams picked up crucial wins in region play last week -- Lumpkin edging East Hall 38-35 and Franklin nipping Banks County 22-21. And the winner of this week's contest will take a huge step toward the postseason -- a place neither squad has been in some time. The Indians' last state playoff appearance came in 2003, while the Lions reached the postseason in 2011.<br />
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The game will feature two offenses starting to find their feet -- including a Lumpkin County rushing attack that has mashed almost every foe faced in 2014. In fact last week the Indians (2-3, 1-0 Region 7-AAA) rolled up an astounding 472 yards rushing.<br />
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West Hall (4-1, 1-0) will sit through a bye this week, while Banks County (3-2, 0-1) will look to bounce back at Fannin County (2-2, 0-0) against a Rebels squad coming off a bye. Meanwhile, Dawson County (0-4, 0-1) will play host to East Hall (1-3, 0-1) with both teams needing a win to bounce back.<br />
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There are plenty more region showdowns worth watching this week -- including in Region 8-AAA, where Jefferson (5-0, 1-0 Region 8-AAA) will look to keep rolling against an Elbert County (3-2, 0-1) team in need of a rebound after a 19-7 loss to undefeated Hart County. The Dragons face a Blue Devils offense capable of scoring in bunches but that has also managed just a touchdown in each of its losses. Meanwhile, Jackson County (1-4, 0-1) will face perhaps the surprise of the season in Oconee County (5-0, 1-0) -- the Warriors have already matched their highest win total in nine years.<br />
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In 8-AAAA, White County (2-2, 0-1 Region 8-AAAA) is coming off a bye and will look to make its mark in region play against a surging Madison County (3-1, 1-0). The Warriors have had success running the ball on just about everyone this season -- even going for 170 yards against No. 1 Buford -- and will look to continue that pace. Meanwhile, the Wolves (4-0, 1-0) will get back in the thick of things with a game at Chestatee (1-3, 0-1) after playing just one game in three weeks.<br />
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And, in Region 8-A, Commerce will look to stake a claim for control of the region when it travels to take on Prince Avenue Christian. The Tigers (4-1, 3-0 Region 8-A) are the only team still undefeated in 8-A play, having defeated Athens Christian 10-7 last week. The Wolverines (3-2, 2-1) fell to Athens Christian earlier in the season. Commerce has stopped hearts in three of its wins this campaign, defeating Banks County, Athens Academy and Athens Christian by a combined 17 points.<br />
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And in 7-AAAAAA, there will be the annual showdown between Norcross (4-1, 2-0 Region 7-AAAAAA) and North Gwinnett (4-1, 2-1), as both teams enter the contest tied for the early lead in league play.<br />
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In short, it will be another big week, and Jacobs Media -- including WDUN AM 550, 102.9 FM, 1240 ESPN Radio and <a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/fridaygamenight"><b>Friday Game Night</b></a> will each be ready and on hand to bring you complete coverage of every pass, kick and punt.<br />
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<b>WEEK 6 PREP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, OCT. 3</b><br />
Apalachee at Loganville<br />
Athens Academy at Towns County<br />
Banks County at Fannin County<br />
Buford at Chestatee<br />
Commerce at Prince Avenue<br />
East Hall at Dawson County<br />
East Jackson Morgan County<br />
Elbert County at Jefferson<br />
Franklin County at Lumpkin County -- Radio: 102.9 FM<br />
Hebron Christian at Lakeview Academy<br />
Jackson County at Oconee County<br />
Madison County at White County -- Radio: www.wrwh.com<br />
Mill Creek at Meadowcreek<br />
Norcross at North Gwinnett<br />
North Oconee at North Hall<br />
Rabun County at Social Circle<br />
Riverside Military at Strong Rock Christian<br />
Salem at Gainesville -- Radio: 1240 AM<br />
Stephens County at Monroe Area<br />
Union County at Oglethorpe County<br />
Winder-Barrow at Flowery Branch -- Radio: AM 550
