Region 8 a toss up now. There is now a three-way tie for first in Region 8 as Athens Christian, Commerce and Prince Avenue Christian are all 3-1 in league play. In the last game of the regular season round robin involving the three teams, Prince Avenue rolled up 383 yards on the ground en route to a 48-27 win over Commerce. Last week, Commerce defeated Athens Christian, 10-7. Back on Sept. 19, Athens Christian, which is in the midst of a bit of a resurgence under new head coach Chris Williams and had lost four straight to Prince Avenue, downed the Wolverines 42-32. Commerce has won 17 region titles, but the last one came more than a decade ago in 2003. Prince Avenue has won just two region crowns but both have come in the last three seasons, 2013 and 2011. Athens Christian has never won a region championship in football.
Region 3 upstarts split. Two teams in Region 3 trying to earn respect had grossly different nights on Friday. Claxton won its fourth consecutive game, scoring 21 unanswered points to down Portal, 31-14, as quarterback Cornelious Taylor rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns and threw for two more scores. Claxton, led by new head coach Rodrick Williams, has made the state playoffs just twice since 2002. Jenkins County, was 4-0 for the first time in school history but was slapped by No. 4 Calvary Day 41-12. The Eagles, also being led by a new head coach, Charley Watters, are attempting to make the state playoffs for the first time since 1960. The two teams will face off next week at Jenkins County.
Pacelli drops another close one. Last week, Pacelli lost a heartbreaker to No. 10 Dooly County, 28-21, turning the ball over inside the Bobcats' 20-yard line in the final seconds of the game. Friday, the Vikings went toe-to-toe with the defending Class A public school champion No. 2 Marion County but fell 21-18. Pacelli failed to convert a point after kick and two, two-point conversion attempts in the loss.
Weather forces St. Francis-Mt. Pisgah into Saturday. The violent storms predicted for much of the area Friday night caused St. Francis and Mt. Pisgah to move their Region 6 match up to Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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