8-AAA, 8-AAAA titles will be decided on air

The battles for the Region 8-AAA and Region 8-AAAA titles will take place over the airwaves on Friday night.

Gainesville and White County will rematch for the 8-AAA crown in Cleveland in a game played live on 1240 AM. The Red Elephants edged the Warriors 31-22 on Sept. 3 in each team’s second game of the season, since then White County (8-1, 5-0 Region 8A-AAA) has gone on a seven-game win streak – No. 6 Gainesville (8-1, 5-0 Region 8B-AAA) is on an eight-game win streak. Each team features playmakers and very different styles, with White County looking to overpower opponents at the line and Gainesville looking to burn foes with speed.

Meanwhile, Flowery Branch and Clarke Central will tangle for the first time this campaign on AM 550 in Flowery Branch. The sixth-ranked Falcons and the third-ranked Gladiators both enter the game undefeated at 9-0. Each team features an explosive offense, with Clarke Central scoring 44.4 points per game and Flowery Branch scoring 39.4. The Falcons defense has been two points per game better, allowing just 11 per contest.

The showdowns are two of a number of contests with playoff implications this Friday night, as Fannin County heads to Elbert County to decide the Region 8-AA championship. The Rebels (6-3, 4-1 Region 8N-AA) earned the right to play for a championship and host a first round playoff game by edging Union County last week. They will travel to face a Blue Devils team (8-1, 6-0 Region 8S-AA) that poses one of the most formidable ground attacks in northeast Georgia.

Meanwhile, Buford (8-1, 4-0 Region 6A-AA) will look to regain the Region 6-AA title on Friday after finishing second in the region last season. The second-ranked Wolves will play host to Westminster for the second time this season after already defeating the Wildcats 32-10 on Sept. 10 at Tom Riden Stadium. Their first game was close until the fourth quarter and Westminster has not lost since the setback at Buford.

There are plenty of other key contests on Friday, as Region 8-AAA and 8-AA also hold play-in games in which the winners earn postseason berths.

Johnson travels to Stephens County looking for its first playoff berth since 2004. The Knights (2-7, 2-3 Region 8B-AAA) are the No. 3 seed from 8B-AAA, while the Indians (7-2, 4-1 Region 8A-AAA) are hoping to start a new playoff streak after missing out on state for the first time in 13 seasons in 2009.

Meanwhile, Lumpkin County, the No. 3 seed from 8A-AAA will rematch with Monroe Area (No. 2 8B-AAA), trying for its first playoff berth since 2003. The Indians (6-3, 3-2 Region 8A-AAA) fell 10-3 to the Purple Hurricanes (8-1, 4-1 Region 8B-AAA) on Sept. 17 in Dahlonega. Monroe hasn’t reached the state playoffs since 1969.

In Region 8-AA, Banks County travels to Hart County hoping to get back into the playoffs after missing out last season. The Leopards (7-2, 4-1 Region 8N-AA) missed out on the 8N-AA championship by two points after falling 13-12 to Fannin County. They face a Hart County (5-3-1, 4-2 Region 8S-AA) program that has reached state for seven straight seasons.

Dawson County will also travel to North Oconee look for its first playoff bid since 2004. The Tigers (3-6, 3-2 Region 8N-AA) travel to Bogart to battle a Titans team (8-1, 5-1 Region 8S-AA) that is coming off their first defeat of the campaign.

REGION CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
Region 8-AAA: Gainesville at White County – Radio: 1240 AM
Region 8-AA: Fannin County at Elbert County
Region 6-AA: Westminster at Buford
Region 8-AAAA: Clarke Central at Flowery Branch – Radio: 550 AM

PLAYOFF PLAY-IN GAMES
Monroe Area at Lumpkin County – Radio: 104.3 FM
Johnson at Stephens County
Banks County at Hart County
Dawson County at North Oconee

FINAL REGULAR SEASON GAMES
Oconee County at North Hall – Radio: 102.9 FM
West Hall at Franklin County
Walnut Grove at Chestatee
East Hall at Jefferson
Union County at East Jackson
Rabun County at Jackson County
Apalachee at Loganville
Habersham Central at Rockdale County – Radio: 99.3 FM
Winder-Barrow at Cedar Shoals
Commerce at Social Circle
Riverside Military at Prince Avenue Christian
Hebron Christian at Towns County
North Gwinnett at Peachtree Ridge
Mill Creek at Duluth
North Forsyth at Alpharetta

AREA REGIONS AFTER OCT. 29
Region 8A-AAA standings
TEAM..............Subregion...................Overall
White County...........5-0.........................8-1
Stephens County....4-1.........................7-2
Lumpkin County.....3-2.........................6-3
North Hall................2-3.........................4-5
Franklin County.......1-4.........................3-5-1
Chestatee................0-5.........................2-7

Region 8B-AAA standings
TEAM..............Subregion...................Overall
Gainesville..............5-0.........................8-1
Monroe Area...........4-1.........................8-1
Johnson..................2-3.........................2-7
Oconee County......2-3.........................3-6
West Hall.................1-4.........................3-6
Walnut Grove..........1-4.........................1-8


Region 8N-AA standings
TEAM..................Region...................Overall
Fannin County.........4-1.........................6-3
Banks County..........4-1.........................7-2
Dawson County.......3-2.........................3-6
East Hall...................2-3.........................3-6
Union County...........2-3.........................3-6
Rabun County..........0-5.........................1-8

Region 8S-AA standings
TEAM..................Region...................Overall
Elbert County.........6-0.........................8-1
North Oconee........5-1.........................8-1
Hart County............4-2.........................5-3-1
Jefferson.................3-3.........................5-4
East Jackson.........2-4.........................3-6
Jackson County.....1-5.........................3-6
Oglethorpe Co.......0-6.........................0-9


Region 8-AAAA standings
TEAM..........................Region..............Overall
Clarke Central............9-0.....................9-0
Flowery Branch..........9-0......................9-0
Apalachee...................6-3.....................6-3
Heritage, Conyers.....6-3......................6-3
Loganville....................6-3.....................6-3
Rockdale County.......4-5......................4-5
Salem..........................4-6......................4-6
Cedar Shoals............3-6.......................3-6
Habersham Central..2-7......................2-7
Madison County........1-8.......................1-8
Winder-Barrow..........0-9.......................0-9


Region 8-A standings
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Athens Academy.......5-1.........................8-1
George Walton..........4-1.........................8-1
Commerce................3-2..........................4-5
Prince Avenue...........3-2..........................6-3
Athens Christian.......1-4.........................2-7
Riverside Military......1-4..........................2-7
Social Circle..............1-4..........................2-7
*Hebron Christian....................................8-1
*Lakeview..................................................4-4
*Towns County.........................................3-6
(*-playing a non-region schedule)


Region 7-AAAAA standings
TEAM................Region...................Overall
North Gwinnett....6-0.........................9-0
Collins Hill...........5-1.........................6-3
Norcross .............4-2.........................7-2
Mill Creek.............3-3.........................4-5
P'tree Ridge.........3-3.........................6-3
Duluth...................2-4.........................4-5
Mountain View.....1-5.........................2-7
Meadowcreek......0-6.........................0-9


Region 6A-AA standings
TEAM...................Region.................Overall
Buford....................4-0......................8-1
GACS.....................3-1......................7-2
Decatur..................2-2......................6-3
Avondale...............1-3......................2-7
Clarkston..............0-4......................1-8