8-AAAA showdown features among three big broadcasts set for Friday

Plenty of area prep football teams could go ahead and clinch region title this weekend, and one of those showdowns will feature among three big battles that will feature on the Jacobs Media family of broadcast stations.

Chestatee is in the midst of what is arguably its best season yet on the gridiron, and things could get even better for the War Eagles on Friday, as they play host to Monroe Area in a contest that could decide the Region 8-AAAA crown and will be broadcast libe on 102.9 FM.

Chestatee (7-1, 5-0 Region 8-AAAA) has already equaled its best win total for a season and is in the midst of its longest ever win streak at seven games. And yet the War Eagles could make things even more exciting on Friday if they can knock off the Purple Hurricanes (8-0, 5-0) to clinch their first ever region title.

The showdown promises plenty of fireworks between the only two teams undefeated in 8-AAAA play, and Chestatee has already shown a knack for playing in -- and winning -- dramatic region contests this season, including three huge wins by a combined 12 points (a span that features two overtime victories).

The two teams battled to a 41-35 win for Monroe Area last season, and both teams feature a number of the same standouts from a year ago, and both lean on powerful rushing attacks. The Purple Hurricanes also still feature former War Eagles coach Matt Fligg, who led Chestatee’s program into its first varsity campaign in 2002.

Meanwhile, Region 7-AAA’s teams will also learn a great deal more about their postseason future this weekend -- including Buford and East Hall, who will face off on Friday in Rabbittown in a game broadcast live on 550 AM.

The Wolves (5-3, 3-2 Region 7-AAA) battered Fannin County 51-0 last week but must continue their winning ways in order to assure playoff positioning after also forfeiting two region victories last week (for briefly fielding an ineligible player).

Buford will travel to face an East Hall team on the rise after the Vikings (4-4, 2-3) have ripped off two straight region victories. Last week’s 56-20 defeat of Banks County proved particularly impressive, as East Hall scored in a number of manners, including a big night from running back Austen Mahaffey.

The last time the two teams faced off was in 2005, which resulted in a 48-0 victory for Buford.

Region 7-AAA could be decided by the time the two foes finish up, as North Hall (7-1, 5-0) will play host to Banks County (3-5, 2-3) knowing that a win would seal the Trojans’ first region title since 2007.

Region 8-AAAAA’s playoff teams are all but decided, with Flowery Branch and Gainesville leading the way and Heritage, Conyers, grabbing another spot and Clarke Central battling Apalachee for the last.

The only question for the Falcons and Red Elephants is which order? They won’t find out this weekend, though Gainesville will be looking to head into next weekend’s showdown at Flowery Branch on a high after facing Loganville on Friday.

The Red Elephants’ final home regular season game will be broadcast live on 1240 AM. Gainesville (7-1, 6-0 Region 8-AAAAA) will not want to overlook Loganville (2-6, 1-5), especially considering that the Red Elephants will face Flowery Branch (7-2, 7-0) on Nov. 9 in a game that will decide No. 1 and 2 seeds from 8-AAAAA.

The Red Elephants are coming off a bye and have won seven straight games.

There are plenty of other big contests on Friday, including Jefferson’s opportunity to clinch its first 8-AA crown since 2009 with a win over Riverside Military in Gainesville.

Rabun County can also take a bigger step toward the state playoffs -- for the first time since 1998 -- in a key showdown against fellow postseason seeker Greene County.

White County and Dawson County will also battle to consolidate their playoff positioning this Friday in Region 7-AAA, as the Warriors play host to West Hall and Dawson County travels to Fannnin County.


AREA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, Nov. 2
Monroe Area at Chestatee -- Radio: 102.9 FM
Loganville at Gainesville -- Radio: 1240 AM
Buford at East Hall -- Radio: 550 AM
Banks County at North Hall
West Hall at White County
Dawson County at Fannin County
Lumpkin County at Lanier
Eastside at Stephens County
Jefferson at Riverside Military
Rabun County at Greene County
Social Circle at Union County
Towns County at Lakeview Academy
East Jackson at Franklin County
Elbert County at Jackson County
Winder-Barrow at Clarke Central
Heritage, Conyers at Apalachee
Mountain View at North Gwinnett
Habersham Central at Mill Creek
Johns Creek at North Forsyth

STANDINGS FOR AREA REGIONS AFTER OCT. 26
Region 8-A
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Athens Academy.........4-0..........................8-0
Prince Avenue............3-1...........................7-1
Athens Christian..........3-1..........................4-4
Pinecrest Academy.....2-2..........................4-3
George Walton............2-2..........................5-3
Commerce..................1-4..........................5-4
Hebron Christian.........0-5..........................1-7
*Lakeview Academy...................................5-2
*Towns County...........................................2-6
(*-playing a non-region schedule)

Region 8-AA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Jefferson......................5-0..........................7-1
Washington-Wilkes......4-1..........................7-1
Rabun County..............3-2..........................5-3
Greene County............3-2..........................3-5
Union County...............2-3..........................5-3
Oglethorpe Co.............2-3..........................4-4
Riverside Military.........1-4..........................1-7
Social Circle................0-5..........................0-8

Region 7-AAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
North Hall......................5-0..........................7-1
Buford...........................3-2#........................5-3#
White County................3-2..........................5-3
Dawson County............2-3..........................4-4
East Hall.......................2-3..........................4-4
West Hall......................2-3..........................3-5
Banks County...............2-3..........................3-5
Fannin County..............1-4..........................1-7
# - forfeited two victories

Region 8-AAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
North Oconee...............5-0..........................7-1
Hart County..................5-0..........................5-3
Morgan County.............3-2..........................6-2
Jackson County............3-2..........................5-3
Elbert County................3-2..........................4-4
Oconee County.............1-3..........................2-5
Franklin County.............0-5..........................1-7
East Jackson................0-5..........................0-8

Region 8-AAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Monroe Area................5-0..........................8-0
Chestatee....................5-0..........................7-1
Eastside.......................4-1..........................6-2
Stephens County.........3-2..........................6-2
Lumpkin County...........2-3..........................2-6
Lanier...........................1-4..........................3-5
Walnut Grove...............0-5..........................1-7
Madison County...........0-5..........................0-8
*Johnson.....................................................5-4
(*-playing a non-region schedule)

Region 8-AAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Flowery Branch...........7-0..........................7-2
Gainesville..................6-0..........................7-1
Heritage, Conyers.......5-2..........................7-2
Clarke Central.............3-3..........................3-5
Apalachee...................3-3..........................4-4
Cedar Shoals..............1-5..........................3-5
Loganville....................1-5..........................2-6
Salem..........................1-5..........................2-6
Winder-Barrow............1-5..........................1-7

Region 6-AAAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
West Forsyth...............4-1..........................7-1
Johns Creek................4-1..........................7-1
Alpharetta....................4-1..........................5-3
Chattahoochee............3-2..........................5-3
Centennial...................3-2..........................3-5
Lambert.......................2-3..........................5-3
North Forsyth..............0-5..........................3-5
South Forsyth..............0-5..........................3-5

Region 7-AAAAAA
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Norcross.....................7-0..........................9-0
North Gwinnett............5-1..........................7-1
Collins Hill...................4-2..........................5-3
Mill Creek....................4-2..........................5-3
Peachtree Ridge.........3-3..........................3-5
Duluth.........................2-4..........................3-5
Mountain View............2-4..........................3-5
Habersham Central....1-6..........................1-8
Meadowcreek.............0-6..........................0-8