With just three weeks left and everyone full steam ahead toward the playoffs and the end of the 2023 regular season, what do we know?
That it should be a fantastic finish for many of the 26 northeast Georgia area teams we cover at AccessWDUN/Friday Game Night.
However, several teams we expected to be challenging for region champions are, others are behind the proverbial eight-ball as far as titles, and others still are in line for program-firsts.
Nearly a half-dozen teams also face elimination coming into this week’s action. But not every region is ready to begin the title countdown.
Here’s a look at the regions where teams can clinch playoff berths this week or be eliminated (beginning with the highest classifications):
REGION 8-7A
In Region 8-7A, preseason favorite Buford was in line for its fourth straight region title and second straight in 8-7A last week. But the Wolves got knocked off by soon-to-be No. 1 Mill Creek, 31-24. The Hawks can clinch a playoff berth with a win, a Buford win, OR a Mountain View win on Friday.
Buford (6-1, 1-1 Region 8-7A) will be favored over its final three games, starting with Dacula on Friday, and can clinch the No. 2 seed by winning out. They can still win the region if they win out and Mill Creek drops two of its last three games.
Mill Creek (7-0, 2-0 Region 8-7A) travels to rival Collins Hill (2-5, 1-1 Region 8-7A).
REGION 8-6A
In Region 8-6A, Gainesville (7-0, 3-0 Region 8-6A) can clinch a playoff spot this week with a win over Habersham Central (3-4, 1-2 Region 8-6A) AND a win by Lanier (6-2, 3-1 Region 8-6A) over Jackson County (4-4, 2-2 Region 8-6A). Lanier clinches a playoff spot, and no worse than the No. 2 seed, if the Longhorns and Gainesville both win this week.
The Red Elephants can clinch their second straight 8-6A title with wins this week and next week over North Forsyth (3-4, 2-1 Region 8-6A).
North Forsyth, Hab Central, and Jackson County sit third, fourth, and fifth currently, and all are right in the playoff mix. Lanier holds the tiebreakers over both Hab Central and North Forsyth and can clinch the No. 2 seed with a win over Jackson County.
However, a Jackson County win over Lanier and a North Forsyth win over Hab Central on Friday would put NoFo in second, with Jackson County third and Lanier in fourth.
REGION 8-5A
Jefferson (7-0, 3-0 Region 8-5A) and Eastside (5-2, 3-0 Region 8-5A) are steamrolling toward a season-finale showdown for the region title. Those two teams are tied at the top of the standings and can clinch playoff berths this week.
Jefferson clinches with a win over Loganville (4-4, 2-2 Region 8-5A) AND a Winder-Barrow (4-3, 1-2 Region 8-5A) loss to Heritage-Conyers (2-5, 0-3 Region 8-5A). Eastside clinches with a win over struggling Clarke Central (4-4, 1-3 Region 8-5A) on Thursday AND a Winder-Barrow loss or a Loganville loss on Friday.
Flowery Branch (4-4, 2-2 Region 8-5A) is off but could move into third place all alone with losses by both Loganville and Winder-Barrow.
REGION 8-4A
With every team but second-place North Hall (6-2, 4-2 Region 8-4A) in action on Friday, the movement in this tight region could be fast and furious. What we do know is that No. 2 North Oconee (7-0, 5-0 Region 8-4A) can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Walnut Grove (3-4, 2-3 Region 8-4A).
Chestatee (0-7, 0-5 Region 8-4A) and East Hall (2-5, 1-4 Region 8-4A) could be eliminated on Friday -- the War Eagles with a loss to Cedar Shoals (3-5, 3-3 Region 8-4A) OR a Walnut Grove win. The Vikings would be eliminated with a loss to Cherokee Bluff (3-5, 3-3 Region 8-4A).
And that’s it for now. Six teams are within 1 1/2 games of second place with some ultra-important matchups on Friday, with every game having a huge impact on the standings.
East Forsyth (5-2, 3-2 Region 8-4A) and Madison County (5-2, 3-2 Region 8-4A) are tied for third and probably have the most to lose on Friday as far as the playoff contenders. The winner will climb into a tie for second, while the loser could drop to sixth place if Bluff and Cedar Shoals both win.
REGION 7-3A
Five teams are within 1 1/2 games of first place, with Lumpkin County (7-0, 3-0 Region 7-3A) the only undefeated team left. However, the Indians have a tough finish with arch-rivals White County (4-3, 2-1 Region 7-3A) this week and Dawson County (2-6, 2-2 Region 7-3A). They can clinch a playoff berth this week and the region title next week. But a loss to the Warriors could put White County in line to win the title.
On the flip side, West Hall (1-6, 0-3 Region 7-3A) and Pickens (1-6, 0-3 Region 7-3A) both could be eliminated. The Spartans would be knocked out with a loss to Pickens, while the Dragons would be eliminated with a loss.
Loss to West Hall AND a White County win.
REGION 8-A DIVISION 1
First off, all four teams will make the playoffs. But in what order and who will claim the region title are still very much in doubt.
Commerce and Elbert County both set themselves for the best runs at the region title with wins last week. The Tigers (7-1, 1-0 Region 8-A Division 1) and Blue Devils (7-1, 1-0 Region 8-A Division 1) meet on Friday at The Granite Bowl.
An Elbert County AND an Athens Christian (0-7, 0-1 Region 8-A Division 1) loss to Rabun County (6-2, 0-1 Region 8-A Division 1) would give the Blue Devils the region title. But a Commerce win and a Rabun County win could set up a potential region title showdown in Commerce next week.
As for the rest, Regions 8-2A and 8-A Division 2 need one more week before anyone can begin staking a potential claim to playoff spots.
No matter what happens on Friday, it figures to be a fun ride to the finish.
