Class AAAAAAA blog: Grayson, McEachern take big steps toward region titles

There are three weeks remaining in the regular season, but figuring out which teams will be the No. 1 seeds from each region got clearer in Class AAAAAAA on Friday night. Here were the most significant results of the evening:

*Grayson 34, Archer 31: One or the other has won a region title each of the past eight seasons, and this almost certainly will be the ninth. Grayson, ranked No. 4, is going to win its seventh title in that span barring a big upset. No offense to Newton (5-2, 1-1), which is up next for Grayson (6-1, 2-0), the only team without a loss in region play (Region 8). Newton lost to Archer 29-13 earlier this month and has never played Grayson close. Read more about the Grayson-Archer game from AJC.com's Stan Awtrey.

*McEachern 14, Marietta 12: McEachern (7-0, 2-0) has beaten the ranked teams from Region 3 (Hillgrove, Marietta) in consecutive weeks. Only North Cobb (6-1, 2-0) stands in the Indians' way. McEachern plays North Cobb on Nov. 1 but will be heavily favored to win for the sixth straight time in the series. North Cobb is good but hasn't played any of the three top teams in the region. Read more about the McEachern-Hillgrove from AJC.com's Chip Saye.

*North Gwinnett 23, Collins Hill 8: This was a game between the only teams in Region 8 without a region loss. Sixth-ranked North Gwinnett (7-1, 4-0) has won 18 straight games in the region, and there's no legitimate threat to North remaining on the schedule. It should be three straight region titles for the Bulldogs.

*Walton 34, Etowah 30: Walton (4-3, 2-0) is in what might be called a rebuilding year, but that won't keep the Raiders from winning Region 4, which they didn't do last season with a stronger team. Walton is now the only team without a region loss. The waters are still muddy, though. Roswell (4-2, 1-1) is next on the schedule, and Cherokee (6-2, 2-1) also remains. This one isn't over.

*Colquitt County 34, Camden County 17: Colquitt beat Camden for the sixth straight time. This Camden team entered 7-0 and ranked No. 10, so the road win was impressive for the third-ranked Packers (7-1, 1-0), who figure to play at No. 1 Lowndes (8-0, 1-0) for the region title on Nov. 11.

*In other games: Newnan (d. Campbell 34-0) and Westlake (d. Pebblebrook 45-14) emerged as the top two teams in Region 2. Newnan (5-2, 2-0) and Westlake (4-3, 2-0) play each other next Friday. Westlake has won five straight region titles. ... Milton (d. South Forsyth 24-7) and North Forsyth (d. Lambert 49-21) emerged as the top two teams in Region 2. Milton (4-3, 2-0) and North Forsyth (5-2, 2-0) won't meet until Nov. 8. Milton is the defending region and state champion. ... Parkview (d. Berkmar 59-0) and Brookwood (d. Central Gwinnet 58-39) remain the only teams without a loss in Region 7. Parkview (6-1, 3-0) will play Brookwood (4-3, 3-0) on Friday. Parkview, ranked No. 8, is the defending region champion.