Week 8: Thrilling comebacks, big wins set stage for big finish

On a night of huge games, there were some even bigger comebacks, as area high school football fans were treated to some of the best contests of the season on Friday.

Gainesville and Flowery Branch bounced back from slow starts to maintain their collision course in Region 8-AAAAA, while Chestatee overcame Lanier in overtime to keep their place at the front of Region 8-AAAA. East Hall also pulled off an overtime defeat of West Hall in a Region 7-AAA showdown.

(For video highlights of the Gainesville-Clarke Central game, Flowery Branch-Heritage game, Chestatee-Lanier game and North Hall-White County game simply scroll down.)

The Red Elephants faced a 21-7 first quarter deficit at home to Clarke Central but bounced back for a dominating 49-28 victory. The Falcons, meanwhile, overcame an even bigger deficit, scoring 29 third quarter points to overhaul Heritage 35-27 in Flowery Branch.

Chestatee kicked a field goal with less than a minute to play to force overtime and then stonewalled Lanier in the extra frame for a school record sixth straight win – a victory that kept the War Eagles tied with Monroe Area for first place in 8-AAAA.

Austen Mahaffey also secured a victory for East Hall over rival West Hall in a Region 7-AAA battle, scoring on a two-point conversion in overtime for a 28-27 victory in Rabbittown.

Elsewhere there were plenty of big wins for area teams, including North Hall’s 42-7 defeat of White County at The Brickyard. The win, along with Buford’s 34-3 defeat of Dawson County at Tom Riden Stadium, kept the Trojans on track to face the Wolves for the 7-AAA championship on the last day of the regular season.

Also in 7-AAA, Banks County edged out a 47-46 shootout defeat of Fannin County in Blue Ridge.

There were also some big firsts on the night, as Riverside Military Academy pulled off a thrilling 35-34 win at Social Circle for the Eagles’ first victory of 2012. Towns County also broke its winless streak, smacking North Cobb Christian at home.

Jefferson also maintained its stranglehold on Region 8-AA in a 43-0 shutout of Oglethorpe County, while Union County and Rabun County suffered setbacks. Commerce also dropped its fourth straight contest, falling at No. 2 Athens Academy.

In Class AAAAAA, North Gwinnett also kept rolling, taking out Habersham Central 44-6, while Mill Creek hammered Duluth 56-21 behind 302 yards rushing from Jacorey Lewis. North Forsyth was also blanked by West Forsyth.

Be sure to check our sports and high school sports pages for in-depth game stories from contests around the area. Scroll down for a glance at area finals.

AREA FOOTBALL FINALS, Oct. 19

Apalachee 27, Cedar Shoals 23

Athens Academy 45, Commerce 7

Banks County 47, Fannin County 46

Buford 34, Dawson County 3

Chestatee 43, Lanier 36, OT

East Hall 28, West Hall 27, OT

Eastside 52, Lumpkin County 16

Flowery Branch 35, Conyers (Heritage) 27

Gainesville 49, Clarke Central 28

Greene County 37, Union County 19

Hart County 31, Jackson County 16

Jefferson 43, Oglethorpe County 0

Johnson 42, Druid Hills 15

Lakeview Academy 35, St. Francis 0

Loganville 28, Winder-Barrow 14

Mill Creek 56, Duluth 21

North Gwinnett 44, Habersham Central 6

North Hall 42, White County 7

Riverside Military Academy 35, Social Circle 34

Stephens County 49, Madison County 0

Towns County 38, North Cobb Christian 6

Washington-Wilkes 41, Rabun County 12

West Forsyth 38, North Forsyth 3

Chestatee vs Lanier


Gainesville vs Clarke Central


Flowery Branch vs Heritage-Conyers


North Hall vs White County