The regular season will end for teams in the northeast Georgia area tonight, while scores of teams around the state still have next week, and in some cases like Harlem, and as many as three games left after rescheduled games due to Hurricane Helene.
Last week North Hall won the Region 6-3A title, the Trojans’ first title since 2012.
How many other northeast Georgia area teams can wrap up region titles tonight? Just two.
Buford can win its 20th region title since 2000 tonight, which would match Calhoun for the most by any program in the state in any classification in that span. The Yellow Jackets won their 20th title this century earlier this season in Region 7-3A.
The Wolves take on Mill Creek in Hoschton. A win over the Hawks would give Buford its first region crown since 2022.
Jefferson can set a program record tonight with its third consecutive region title, this time in Region 8-3A. The Dragons have never won three straight region crowns but it would be their fifth in the last six seasons overall and 10th since 2008.
The Dragons had won just three region titles in their history from 1947 to 2007.
But one more area team has a chance to do something it has never done. Jackson County can secure its first-ever home playoff game with a win over Habersham Central in Region 8-5A. Both teams already have secured playoff spots and both could finish anywhere from 2nd to 4th depending on tonight’s results.
The Raiders, meanwhile, have not played a home playoff game since 2007 when they won the Region 8-4A title under Gene Cathcart. (Click here for a look at Region 8-5A playoff scenarios)
Lumpkin County also can secure a home playoff game with a win over Pickens and a GAC loss to Chestatee in Region 6-3A matchups. (Click here for a look at Region 6-3A playoff scenarios).
STAT LEADERS FOR NORTHEAST GEORGIA
Several northeast Georgia players are still in the top 10 in their respective classifications in rushing, passing, and receiving in the state. One still leads his classification in passing heading into the season finales.
(All stats are provided by Georgia High School Football Daily.)
White County’s Tripp Nix still leads Class 3A in passing (2,143 yards) with the Warriors set to take on winless Johnson. However, he is only second in the area overall. Gainesville’s Kharim Hughley is 3rd overall in the state at 2,543 yards but the Red Elephants will not play again until the playoffs start on Nov. 15.
The top five passers and the top five rushers in the area all are in the top 45 heading into Friday.
Here are the top 5 in the northeast Georgia area in each category, regardless of classification. (Overall state rankings on the left)
Rushing
19. 1,271 - Tysean Wiggins, Commerce -- 2nd in Class A D1
24. 1,239 - Benjamin Plemons, Chestatee -- 5th in Class 3A
25. 1,235 - Reid Giles, Rabun County -- 3rd in Class A D1
26. 1,225 - Elijah Hayes, West Hall -- 6th 3A
45. 1,054 - Jamarcus Harrison, East Hall
Passing
3. 2,543 - Kharim Hughley, Gainesville -- 2nd in 5A
14. 2,143 - Tripp Nix, White County (Class 3A leader)
32. 1,848 - Brooks Brien, Cherokee Bluff -- 2nd in 3A
35. 1,824 - Paris Wilbanks, Habersham Central
45. 1,054 - Jamarcus Harrison, East Hall
Receiving
17. 862 - Jeremiah Ware, Gainesville -- 6th in 5A
20. 849 - Zeke Whittington, Habersham Central -- 8th in 5A
28. 776 - K.T. Thompson, Cherokee Bluff -- 4th 3A
43. 704 - Taz Smith, Gainesville
62. 653 - Maddox Young, Union County
PREP FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD FRIDAY, November 1
Banks County at Oglethorpe County*
Buford at Mill Creek* -- WDUN AM 550
Commerce at Providence Christian*
Creekside Christian at Lanier Christian*
Dawson County at North Hall* -- 94.5 FM The Lake
East Hall at Cherokee Bluff*
Elbert County at Rabun County*
Flowery Branch at Cedar Shoals*
Forsyth Central at North Forsyth*
GAC at Chestatee* -- WDUN 102.9 FM
Jackson County at Habersham Central*
Jefferson at Oconee County*
Lumpkin County at Pickens*
Madison County at East Forsyth*
North Cobb Christian at Union County*
Stephens County at East Jackson*
West Hall at Monroe Area*
White County at Johnson*
(Gainesville, Lakeview Academy, Towns County all have completed their regular seasons.)
(* -- denotes region contest)
