It's the final week of the regular season and there's still much to be decided before we head into the playoffs. Let's take a look at this week's top games. For playoff scenarios in all eight regions, click here.
No. 6 Lamar County (7-1-1, 4-0) at No. 8 Macon County (7-2, 4-0)
A week before we dig into the playoffs proper, Lamar County and Macon County are serving up a tasty appetizer with the Region 4-AA title at stake.
Lamar County is the three-time defending champion of the region and riding a six-game winning streak since a controversial 29-27 loss in a lightning-shortened game against rival Mary Persons.
Not to be overshadowed is the challenger, Macon County. The Bulldogs have won five straight and have been flat-out dominant since region play began, posting three straight shutouts and outscoring 4-AA foes by a combined total of 180-18. Their closest game in region play is a 28-0 win over third-place finisher Bleckley County.
Macon County is led on defense by Roquan Smith, one of the top linebacker prospects in the county. Offensively, a pair of sophomores have stood out, as quarterback K'hari Lane is throwing for nearly 200 yards per game, and running back Jared Daniels has rushed for 792 yards and seven touchdowns.
Lamar County leans heavily on a running attack spearheaded by running backs Noah Eure and Juan Tucker.
Macon County leads the all-time series, 8-6, but Lamar County has won the last three meetings.
The winner will host Chattahoochee County, the No. 4 seed out of Region 5 in the playoffs next week. The loser will face the loser of Friday night’s game between Bremen and Heard County.
No. 1 Greater Atlanta Christian (9-0, 6-0) at Wesleyan (6-3, 4-2)
Coming off an emotional, region-clinching win over defending state champ Lovett, Greater Atlanta Christian gets ready for the postseason with another game against a playoff-bound opponent.
Wesleyan assured itself of the No. 3 seed from Region 6 with last week’s 7-0 win over Holy Innocents’. It was the third shutout of the year for the Wolves, and the fifth game decided by seven points or less.
The Wesleyan defense will be put to the test by a balanced Spartan offense that features highly touted Darius Slayton at receiver and Tennessee commit Micah Abernathy at running back. GAC has more than star power, though. Running back Jaelen Venable led the Spartans in rushing last week, and receiver Justin Phan has been a reliable target for quarterback Davis Mills all season.
Six-foot-four freshman quarterback Banks Ramsey leads the Wesleyan offense, supported by leading receiver Harrison Cook and leading rusher Josh Garrard.
The Wolves will face the winner of Bremen and Heard County in the first round of the playoffs, while GAC will host Chattahoochee.
Greene County (5-4, 4-1) at Rabun County (7-2, 5-0)
While the four playoff teams from Region 8-AA are set, none of the seedings have yet been finalized. Multiple scenarios exist, but for Rabun County the path is clear: Win Friday and clinch the program’s first region championship since 1998 and just the second in school history.
The Wildcats survived tests from the region’s other two playoff teams – Union County and Washington-Wilkes – in its most recent games and had last week off to prepare for Greene County. Rabun County is led by Charlie Woerner, a versatile 6-5, 225-pound junior who leads the team in rushing, receiving and tackles.
For Greene County to win the region title, the Tigers need a win Friday plus some help. In 8-AA play, it’s been the Tigers defense that has lifted them to this position, giving up more than seven points only once – a 42-27 loss to Union County.
Other notable games:
Metter (4-5, 2-3) at Screven County (8-1, 4-1): Screven County missed its chance to clinch the 3-AA title last week in a loss to Dublin. The Gamecocks get another chance to claim their second title in three years with a win Friday.
Bremen (6-3, 3-1) at Heard County (4-5, 3-1): Bowdon defeated Bremen last week to claim the 5-AA championship. Now Bremen must defeat Heard County to sew up the No. 2 spot.
B.E.S.T. Academy (5-4, 3-3) at Pace Academy (4-5, 3-3): The playoffs start early for these two teams. The winner gets 6-AA's No. 4 seed, while the loser is knocked out of the hunt.
Washington-Wilkes (6-3, 3-2) at Union County (8-1, 4-1): Both teams have already wrapped up spots in the playoffs. The outcome of this game, coupled with the Rabun-Greene game, will decide the seeding in 8-AA.
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