Prep football: Playoff spots filling up

One of the oldest rivalries in northeast Georgia takes center stage this week in Region 7B-AAA, as Gainesville plays host to Johnson.

The two programs, which first faced off in 1960 (a 19-0 Gainesville win) will battle it out at City Park with a playoff berth on the line for No. 1-ranked Red Elephants (8-0, 3-0 Region 7B-AAA). Yet Johnson (3-6, 2-2) would love to get the upset in what could be their season finale.

The game will be broadcast live on 1240 AM ESPN Radio, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Gainesville will also be mindful of not overlooking the Knights to next week’s showdown at Flowery Branch (7-2, 4-0).

Meanwhile, Chestatee (4-4, 3-2 Region 7A-AAA) will look to bounce back from a two-game skid at West Forsyth (4-4, 2-2 Region 7B-AAA) in a game broadcast live on Majic 102.9 FM. The War Eagles are still very much alive in the playoff race in Region 7A-AAA, and though this weekend will not have much bearing on that battle, Chestatee will want to gain some confidence heading into a key season finale against Creekview (7-1, 3-1 Region 7A-AAA) on Nov. 6.

With North Hall already having wrapped up one postseason slot in 7A-AAA, several teams are still alive for the playoffs, though Creekview is the only team with a clear path (win out and the Grizzlies are in).

In Region 6-AA, third-ranked Buford will look to get back to the top of the league’s standings in a showdown with Westminster at Tom Riden Stadium in a game broadcast live on WDUN AM-550.

The Wolves (7-1, 4-1 Region 6-AA) could throw the region into a three-way tie for first if they can hand Westminster (6-2, 5-0) its first 6-AA defeat of the season. The contest could be a defensive slugfest, as Buford has allowed just seven points in its last five games. The Wildcats have allowed just 12 points in their last four games. Westminster also pulled off a 21-6 win over Lovett on Oct. 2 – the only team to get the best of Buford so far this season – 28-21 on Sept. 11.

A number of other key games will take place this weekend, as North Hall can clinch a subregion title with a win over Gilmer at The Brickyard.

Either West Hall or East Hall will get its first win of the season, as the Spartans (0-8, 0-3 Region 7B-AAA) travel to Rabbittown to face the Vikings (0-8, 0-4).

Union County (5-3, 4-3 Region 8-AA) can clinch a spot in the playoffs this weekend with a win over Riverside Military Academy (3-5, 3-4) in Blairsville. Yet the Eagles can also keep themselves alive for the playoffs with a victory. Meanwhile, third-ranked Jefferson (8-0, 7-0) will travel to North Oconee (7-1, 6-1) and East Jackson (8-0, 7-0) travels to Dawson County (1-7, 1-6). A win for both the Dragons and Eagles this week will set up a region title decider between the two on Nov. 6 in Jefferson.

While seventh-ranked Apalachee (8-0, 8-0 Region 8-AAAA) clinched its first-ever region crown last week with a 24-23 win over Heritage, the rest of the region is still undecided, as four teams are tied for third place at 5-3. Unfortunately for Habersham Central, the Raiders (4-5, 4-5) are not in on the playoff race, but Habersham could help ruin the postseason bid of Salem this weekend in their season finale in Conyers.

In 7-AAAAA, No. 3 North Gwinnett will look to keep its record unblemished (8-0, 6-0 Region 7-AAAAA) at Duluth -- winless in the region so far -- to set up a region title deciding game with Peachtree Ridge on Nov. 6. The Bulldogs knocked off North Forsyth 24-6 last Friday, but the Raiders (5-3, 3-3) are still very much alive in the playoff race. But they must win out against Chattahoochee this week and Northview next week and hope either Collins Hill or Peachtree Ridge can defeat Norcross (4-4, 4-2) -- North Forsyth holds the tie-breaker against the Blue Devils.


-- HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAMES FOR OCT. 30

Johnson at Gainesville -- Radio: 1240 AM ESPN

Chestatee at West Forsyth -- Radio: Majic 102.9 FM

Pickens at White County -- Radio: Ga. 105.1 FM

Gilmer at North Hall

West Hall at East Hall

Creekview at Lumpkin County

Westminster at Buford -- Radio: WDUN AM 550

Jefferson at North Oconee

Riverside Military at Union County

East Jackson at Dawson County

Oglethorpe County at Banks County

Fannin County at Rabun County

Commerce at Social Circle

Athens Academy at Lakeview Academy

Habersham Central at Salem -- Radio: WCON 99.3 FM

Apalachee at Madison County

Clarke Central at Winder-Barrow

North Gwinnett at Duluth

Mill Creek at Northview

North Forsyth at Chattahoochee

Robbinsville, N.C. at Towns County

Jackson County at Oconee County


-- AREA FOOTBALL STANDINGS

Region 7A-AAA Standings
TEAM..............Subregion...................Overall
North Hall.................4-0.........................6-2
Creekview................3-1.........................7-1
Chestatee................3-2.........................4-4
White County...........2-2.........................5-3
Gilmer.......................2-2.........................4-4
Lumpkin County.....1-3.........................4-4
Pickens....................0-5.........................1-7

Region 7B-AAA Standings
TEAM..............Subregion...................Overall
Flowery Branch......4-0.........................7-2
Gainesville..............3-0.........................8-0
West Forsyth..........2-2.........................4-4
Johnson..................2-2.........................3-6
East Hall.................0-4.........................0-8
West Hall................0-3.........................0-8


Region 8-AA Standings
TEAM..................Region...................Overall
East Jackson.........7-0.........................8-0
Jefferson.................7-0.........................8-0
North Oconee.........6-1.........................7-1
Union Co.................4-3.........................5-3
Riverside.................3-4.........................3-5
Fannin Co...............3-4.........................4-4
Banks Co................2-5.........................2-6
Oglethorpe Co.......2-5.........................3-5
Dawson Co............1-6.........................1-7
Rabun Co...............0-7.........................1-7


Region 6-AA standings
TEAM...................Region.................Overall
Westminster........5-0......................6-2
Lovett.....................4-1......................7-1
Buford...................4-1......................7-1
Avondale...............3-2......................5-3
Blessed Trinity....2-3......................5-3
Decatur.................2-3......................4-4
Cross Keys..........0-5......................1-7
GACS....................0-5......................0-8


Region 8-AAAA standings
TEAM..........................Region..............Overall
Apalachee...................8-0.....................8-0
Clarke Central............6-2.....................6-2
Madison County........5-3.......................5-3
Loganville....................5-3.....................5-3
Rockdale County.......5-3......................5-3
Salem..........................5-3......................5-3
Habersham Central..4-5......................4-5
Cedar Shoals.............3-6.....................3-6
Winder-Barrow..........2-6.......................2-6
Heritage, Conyers.....2-6......................2-6
Monroe Area...............0-8......................0-8


Region 8-A standings
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Wesleyan...................5-0.........................9-0
Commerce................3-1..........................4-4
Social Circle..............3-1.........................4-4
Athens Academy.......2-2.........................5-3
Athens Christian......1-3..........................4-4
Prince Avenue...........1-4..........................3-6
Lakeview....................0-4.........................1-6
*Hebron Christian....................................5-2
*Towns County.........................................2-6
(*-playing a non-region schedule)


Region 7-AAAAA standings
TEAM................Region...................Overall
North Gwinnett....6-0.........................8-0
P'tree Ridge.........6-0.........................7-1
Collins Hill...........5-1.........................7-1
Norcross .............4-2.........................4-4
North Forsyth......3-3..........................5-3
Mill Creek............2-4..........................3-5
Chattahoochee...2-4.........................3-5
Northview.............1-5.........................2-6
South Forsyth.....1-5..........................1-7
Duluth...................0-6.........................1-7