Region title showdowns coming up

By Todd Holcomb

For the AJC

It’s not the state playoffs yet, but 10 high school football games this week will have a championship feel. Those are winner-take-all showdowns for region titles.

Lassiter, North Gwinnett, Hiram, Banneker and East Jackson are seeking their schools' first-ever region championships.

Unbeaten Lassiter plays unbeaten Roswell in Region 6-AAAAA. The only other game this week between undefeated teams is Jefferson vs. East Jackson in 8-AA. Both are 9-0.

North Gwinnett, 9-0 and ranked No. 3, has a chance to win its first region title in a 10th-game showdown for the fourth straight season. No. 8 Peachtree Ridge (8-1) is the opponent in 7-AAAAA.

St. Pius, 9-0 and ranked No. 4 in Class AAA, hasn’t won a region title since 1968 but is favored to beat Dunwoody in 5-AAA.

In each of these 10 games, both teams will qualify for the state playoffs, which begin Nov. 13. But region champions will have a more favorable draw and a better chance for home-field advantage.

Games with region titles on the line:

Lassiter vs. Roswell (6-AAAAA)

North Gwinnett vs. Peachtree Ridge (7-AAAAA)

Sandy Creek vs. Banneker (5-AAAA)

Hiram vs. Dalton (7-AAAA)

St. Pius vs. Dunwoody (5-AAA)

Carrollton vs. Ridgeland (6-AAA)

Fitzgerald vs. Thomasville (1-AA)

Pepperell vs. Armuchee (7-AA)

Jefferson vs. East Jackson (8-AA)

Miller County vs. Clinch County (1-A)

This week’s rankings:

CLASS AAAAA

1. Grayson (9-0)

2. North Gwinnett (9-0)

4. Newnan (9-0)

4. Lowndes (8-1)

5. Stephenson (9-0)

6. McEachern (9-0)

7. Northside, Warner Robins (8-1)

8. Peachtree Ridge (8-1)

9. Camden County (7-2)

10. Woodstock (8-1)

CLASS AAAA

1. Griffin (9-0)

2. Southwest DeKalb (8-1)

3. Sandy Creek (8-1)

4. North Clayton (8-1)

5. Hiram (9-0)

6. Thomas County Central (8-1)

7. Apalachee (9-0)

8. Marist (7-2)

9. Westside, Macon (8-1)

10. Dalton (7-2)

CLASS AAA

1. Gainesville (9-0)

2. Carver, Columbus (8-1)

3. Peach County (9-0)

4. St. Pius (9-0)

5. Carrollton (9-0)

6. Baldwin (7-2)

7. Jackson (9-0)

8. LaGrange (7-2)

9. North Hall (7-2)

10. Washington County (8-1)

CLASS AA

1. Calhoun (9-0)

2. Fitzgerald (9-0)

3. Buford (8-1)

4. Jefferson County (9-0)

5. Charlton County (8-0-1)

6. Lovett (8-1)

7. Thomasville (7-2)

8. Jefferson (9-0)

9. Swainsboro (8-1)

10. Westminster (6-3)

CLASS A

1. Wesleyan (10-0)

2. Savannah Christian (9-0)

3. Lincoln County (8-1)

4. ECI (8-1)

5. Twiggs County (8-1)

6. Greenville (9-0)

7. Miller County (8-1)

8. Johnson County (8-1)

9. Wilcox County (7-2)

10. Holy Innocents’ (8-1)

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