Week 7: Region title races take center stage

If your team is gunning for a region title, chances are they face a must-win game this weekend.

Seven weeks into the high school football season, there are plenty of region races afoot for area programs, and a number of them face critical games this weekend.

Perhaps most intriguing is the battle between current Region 8-AA leaders Jefferson and Rabun County, set for tonight in Tiger (To see a video feature on the game, click here). Just as big in Region 8-AAAA is the showdown between Stephens County and Monroe Area in Monroe. The Indians will be itching to bounce back in the 8-AAAA race after falling to Chestatee two weeks ago and having a bye to gnaw over the defeat. Monroe Area is currently undefeated and ranked eighth in Class AAAA.

But there are plenty of other key contests tonight, including Buford at White County and Fannin County at North Hall, both in Region 7-AAA. Gainesville also heads on the road in Region 8-AAAAA, while Commerce will look to bounce back in Region 8-A.

Mill Creek will also look for the upset of North Gwinnett in Region 7-AAAAAA.

To see all of the games for area, simply scroll down (games listed by region, smallest to largest).

AREA PREP FOOTBALL GAMES, Oct. 12

REGION 8-A
COMMERCE at PRINCE AVENUE CHRISTIAN
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Wolverine Field, Bogart
-- COMMERCE (4-2, 0-2 Region 8-A): Lost to Athens Christian 19-14 last week.
-- PRINCE AVENUE (5-1, 1-1 Region 8-A): Lost to Athens Academy 14-7 last week.
-- HISTORY: Prince Avenue won the last meeting, 35-13 in 2011. Commerce leads the series 5-1.

LAKEVIEW at CROSS KEYS
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: North Dekalb Stadium, Chamblee
-- LAKEVIEW (2-2, playing a non-region schedule): Bye last week after losing to Athens Academy 21-6 on Sept. 28.
-- CROSS KEYS (0-5, playing a non-region schedule): Lost to St. Francis 48-24 last week.
-- HISTORY: This is the two teams’ first meeting.


REGION 8-AA
JEFFERSON at RABUN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Frank Snyder Stadium, Tiger
-- JEFFERSON (4-1, 2-0 Region 8-AA): Defeated Washington-Wilkes 31-0 last week. The Dragons are ranked No. 9 in Class AA.
-- RABUN (4-1, 2-0 Region 8-AA): Defeated Riverside Military 42-20 last week.
-- HISTORY: Jefferson won the last meeting, 36-6 in 2009. The Dragons hold a 16-3 lead in the series.

RIVERSIDE MILITARY at UNION COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Mike Colwell Memorial Stadium, Blairsville
-- RIVERSIDE (0-5, 0-3 Region 8-AA): Lost to Rabun County 42-20 last week.
-- UNION (4-1, 1-1 Region 8-AA): Defeated Oglethorpe County 21-14 last week.
-- HISTORY: Riverside won the last meeting, 28-27 in 2009. The series is tied 2-2.


REGION 7-AAA
BUFORD at WHITE COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: White County Stadium, Cleveland
-- RADIO: AM 550
-- BUFORD (4-1, 2-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated West Hall 61-0 last week. The Wolves are ranked No. 4 in Class AAA.
-- WHITE (4-1, 2-0 Region 7-AAA): Bye last week after defeating East Hall 41-12 on Sept. 28.
-- HISTORY: This is the two teams’ first meeting.

FANNIN COUNTY v NORTH HALL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: The Brickyard, Gainesville
-- FANNIN (1-4, 1-1 Region 7-AAA): Bye last week after defeating West Hall 31-8 on Sept. 28.
-- NORTH HALL (4-1, 2-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated East Hall 60-12 last week.
-- HISTORY: North Hall won the last meeting, 34-24 in 2005. The Trojans lead the series 5-1.


REGION 8-AAAA
WALNUT GROVE at CHESTATEE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: War Eagle Stadium, Gainesville
-- RADIO: 102.9 FM
-- WALNUT GROVE (1-4, 0-2 Region 8-AAAA): Bye last week after losing to Lumpkin County 13-12 on Sept. 28.
-- CHESTATEE (4-1, 2-0 Region 8-AAAA): Defeated Johnson 36-26 last week.
-- HISTORY: Chestatee won the last meeting, 29-21 in 2010. It is the only prior meeting between the teams.

MADISON COUNTY at LUMPKIN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: The Burial Grounds, Dahlonega
-- MADISON (0-5, 0-2 Region 8-AAAA): Bye last week after losing to Eastside 42-12 on Sept. 28.
-- LUMPKIN (1-4, 1-1 Region 8-AAAA): Bye last week after defeating Walnut Grove 13-12 on Sept. 28.
-- HISTORY: This is the two teams’ first meeting.

STEPHENS COUNTY at MONROE AREA
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Legion Field, Monroe
-- STEPHENS (4-1, 1-1 Region 8-AAAA): Bye last week after losing to Chestatee 24-20 on Sept. 28.
-- MONROE (5-0, 2-0 Region 8-AAAA): Bye last week after defeating Lanier 33-20 on Sept. 28. The Purple Hurricanes are ranked No. 8 in Class AAAA.
-- HISTORY: Stephens won the last meeting, 51-21 in 2007. The Indians lead the series 24-9-1, including 10 straight wins.


REGION 8-AAAAA
GAINESVILLE at SALEM
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Reid Stadium, Conyers
-- RADIO: 1240 AM
-- GAINESVILLE (5-1, 4-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Cedar Shoals 42-23 last week. The Red Elephants are ranked No. 7 in Class AAAAA.
-- SALEM (2-4, 1-3 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost to Clarke Central 37-0 last week.
-- HISTORY: Gainesville won the last meeting, 35-7 in 1993. The Red Elephants lead the series 2-0.

WINDER-BARROW at FLOWERY BRANCH
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Falcon Field, Flowery Branch
-- WINDER (0-5, 0-3 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost to Heritage, Conyers 37-12 last week.
-- FLOWERY BRANCH (4-2, 4-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Apalachee 30-20 last week.
-- HISTORY: Flowery Branch won the last meeting, 64-7 in 2011. The Falcons lead the series 2-0.

APALACHEE at LOGANVILLE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Red Devil Stadium, Loganville
-- APALACHEE (1-4, 0-3 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost to Flowery Branch 30-20 last week.
-- LOGANVILLE (1-4, 0-3 Region 8-AAAAA): Bye last week after losing to Cedar Shoals 28-26 on Sept. 28.
-- HISTORY: Loganville won the last meeting, 45-42 in 2011. The Red Devils lead the series 3-1.


REGION 6-AAAAAA
NORTH FORSYTH at ALPHARETTA
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Alpharetta Stadium, Alpharetta
-- NORTH FORSYTH (3-2, 0-2 Region 6-AAAAAA): Bye last week after losing to Lambert 21-7 on Sept. 28.
-- ALPHARETTA (2-3, 1-1 Region 6-AAAAAA): Bye last week after defeating South Forsyth 21-0 on Sept. 28.
-- HISTORY: Alpharetta won the last meeting, 42-7 in 2011. Alpharetta leads the series 4-0.


REGION 7-AAAAAA
NORTH GWINNETT at MILL CREEK
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Mill Creek Community Stadium, Hoschton
-- NORTH GWINNETT (4-1, 2-1 Region 7-AAAAAA): Defeated Duluth 42-28 last week. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 8 in Class AAAAAA.
-- MILL CREEK (4-2, 3-1 Region 7-AAAAAA): Defeated Meadowcreek 55-6 last week.
-- HISTORY: North Gwinnett won the last meeting, 29-7 in 2011. The Bulldogs lead the series 6-0.

MEADOWCREEK at HABERSHAM CENTRAL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Raider Stadium, Mt. Airy
-- MEADOWCREEK (0-5, 0-3 Region 7-AAAAAA): Lost to Mill Creek 55-6 last week.
-- HABERSHAM (0-6, 0-4 Region 7-AAAAAA): Lost to Norcross 55-0 last week.
-- HISTORY: Habersham won the last meeting, 14-7 in 1995. The Raiders lead the series 4-0.


AREA PREP FOOTBALL GAMES, Oct. 13
JOHNSON at CLARKSTON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
-- WHERE: Halliford Stadium
-- JOHNSON (3-3, playing a non-region schedule): Lost to Chestatee 36-26 last week.
-- CLARKSTON (2-4, playing a non-region schedule): Bye last week after defeating Hapeville Charter 16-14 on Sept. 28.
-- HISTORY: This is the two teams’ first meeting.