With 19 games involving the 26 northeast Georgia-area teams we cover at AccessWDUN/Friday Game Night on the schedule, it’s one of the busiest nights of the season.
However, none have officially clinched a playoff spot and none have officially been eliminated coming into tonight’s action.
Both of those could change depending on the outcomes of the 16 crucial region matchups on tap. Several could help decide things in the nine Georgia High School Association and GIAA regions that will be in action for our area teams.
However, regions like 8-6A and 8-4A still are very murky with many of those teams still with three region games left.
“WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL! WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL!”* (Or have we?)
In Region 7-3A, both Lumpkin County (7-0, 3-0 Region 7-3A) and White County (4-3, 2-1 Region 7-3A) are looking for their first-ever region titles. They meet tonight at The Burial Grounds in perhaps the most important matchup ever between the long-time rivals.
The undefeated and seventh-ranked Indians are in the current driver’s seat. A win tonight over White County would put them one win from the title. They still have arch-rival Dawson County, which has beaten the Indians eight straight times, but close out the season with a struggling West Hall team.
The Warriors can force a three-way tie for first place with the Indians and Wesleyan with a win but would still need some help. They would need Lumpkin County to turn around and knock off Dawson County and West Hall while also winning out. The Warriors will be favored over their final two opponents -- Pickens and Gilmer -- at home.
However, if the Warriors can win out and get a Wesleyan (5-3, 3-1 Region 7-3A) loss of any kind, they would capture the title.
Does the 8-2A title, or at least a home playoff spot, go through Union County still?
It does. But the Panthers (5-2, 1-1 Region 8-2A) have been decimated by injuries over the past month. It didn’t manifest itself until last week in their stunning 55-35 loss to Providence Christian.
The Panthers finish with East Jackson (6-1, 1-1 Region 8-2A) tonight, play host to Athens Academy (4-3, 1-1 Region 8-2A) next week, and close out the season at Fellowship Christian (5-2, 2-0 Region 8-2A). Union County, East Jackson, and Athens Academy are all tied for second coming into tonight’s action.
The Panthers will need to win out and have Providence Christian lose two of its last three. The Storm have back-to-back road games with Fellowship Christian and East Jackson starting tonight.
Eastside (6-2, 4-0 Region 8-5A) leads Region 8-5A after last night’s 14-7 win over Clarke Central. But the region title will run through Jefferson (7-0, 3-0 Region 8-5A), who sits alone in second place at the moment.
The Dragons travel to Loganville tonight and have Heritage-Conyers (2-5, 0-3 Region 8-5A) next week before traveling to Eastside in the season-finale.
Flowery Branch (4-4, 2-2 Region 8-5A) and Loganville (4-4, 2-2 Region 8-5A) are tied for second place.
In Region 8-4A, six teams are within 1 1/2 games of second place with most teams still having three games left. However, North Oconee (7-0, 5-0 Region 8-4A) can clinch the region title with a win over Walnut Grove tonight. The Titans already own wins over North Hall (6-2, 4-2 Region 8-4A), East Forsyth (5-2, 3-2 Region 8-4A) and Madison County (5-2, 3-2 Region 8-4A).
STAT LEADERS
Eight of the state’s top 49 rushers are still in our northeast Georgia coverage area of AccessWDUN/Friday Game Night after Week 9, according to the comprehensive stats released by Georgia High School Football Daily on Friday.
Lumpkin County’s Mason Sullens, who led the state after last week, leads the area with 1,302 yards but has dropped into 5th place overall and 2nd in Class 3A, behind Duke Watson of Mary Persons, who leads 3A with 1,311 yards.
Matthew Fuller of Wayne County took over the overall lead with 1,560 yards and also leads Class 4A.
Javin Gordon of Stephens County is now 12th with 1,124 yards, which puts him 3rd in Class 3A behind Sullens.
Commerce’s Jaiden Daniels still sits at 1,160 yards, which has him 18th overall and 2nd in Class A Division I behind Toby Maddux of Trion, who has 1,111 yards. Daniels’s teammate, Tysean Wiggins, is 28th with 1,002 yards.
Jefferson’s Sammy Brown climbed 26 spots to 23rd overall after his best game last week and has 1,025 yards.
Conner Hulsey of Cherokee Buff (36th, 964 yards), Tripp Morris of East Forsyth (42nd, 936 yards), and Elijiah Hayes of West Hall (49th, 908 yards) all could crack the 1,000-yard barrier tonight.
In passing, only four area quarterbacks have thrown for over 1,500 yards. But Flowery Branch’s Josh Oliver is in the top 10 overall with 1,844 yards. However, that’s only good for 3rd in Class 5A.
Brody Hannah of Loganville, who has 2,264 yards, still leads the state but will have to go against the mighty Jefferson defense tonight.
Union County’s Caiden Tanner is 21st overall with 1,700 yards despite several key injuries, and in particular WR Jensen Goble. Buford’s Dylan Raiola is 25th with 1,603 yards and Ty Truelove of Rabun County is 31st with 1,519 yards.
In receiving, still only two area players are now in the top 30.
However, Willie Goodwyn of Rabun County now leads Class A Division 1 with 754 yards. That’s good for 11th overall in the state.
Flowery Branch’s Jeremiah Ware moved up another spot to 4th with 915 yards but is just 3rd in Class 5A behind Ahmed Souare of Loganville, who leads the state with 1,115 yards, and Sacovie White of Cass, who has 1,018 yards.
(* -- RUSH, 2112 album)
