Three region titles will be decided with championship games:
Region 3: Emanuel County Institute (8-1, 3-1 in Division B) at No. 4 Calvary Day (9-0, 5-0 in Division A).
Calvary Day had not won a region championship since 1996, until the Cavaliers won the title last season and went on to advance to the Class A private school championship game. The team is led by senior RB/LB Robert Heyward, who leads the team in total yards, tackles and touchdowns. ECI won the 2012 public school state title. The Bulldogs’ are heavily reliant on their running game with senior RB Michael Sutton leading the way with 1729 yards and 20 touchdowns. The teams have not faced each other since 2009. ECI has won the last six meetings.
Region 6: Mt. Pisgah Christian (7-2, 3-1 in Division B) at No. 3 Mt. Paran Christian (9-0, 5-0 in Division A).
Mt. Paran has one of the state’s most prolific offenses averaging nearly 50 points per game. The Eagles have been held under 40 points just once this season in a 31-14 win over Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in the season opener. Mt. Paran’s bevy of playmakers is led by senior RB Dorian Walker. The Eagles have never won a region title. Mt. Pisgah won the program’s first region championship last year when the Patriots went undefeated until a loss in the private school semi finals to eventual champion Aquinas. Mt. Pisgah is led by senior QB Aaron Winchester who has committed to Georgia State. The Patriots have won three of the four meetings with Mt. Paran, including the last two – 42-28 in 2012 and 28-24 last season.
Region 7: No. 7 Tattnall Square Academy (9-0, 5-0 in Division A) at No. 1 Aquinas (9-0, 4-0 in Division B).
The Irish are currently riding a 23-game winning streak, dating back to last season when they went 14-0 and won the private school championship. Aquinas is led by junior QB Liam Welch and RB/DB Ruben Garnett, who has several FBS offers. Tattnall Square is in its first season as a member of the Georgia High School Association after competing in the Georgia Independent Schools Association since the program started in 1971. The Trojans ground oriented offensive attack features four players who have gained at least 400 yards this season, led by senior RB/LB Jonathan Ward, who is also the team’s leader in tackles but may not play Friday due to an injury. This is the first meeting between the two schools.
In other key games:
Brookstone (4-5, 2-5 in Region 4) at Schley County (5-4, 3-4).
-- A spot in the playoffs could be on the line. Brookstone is currently tied for the 16th and final playoff spot in the private school power ratings. The Cougars have lost three of their last four. Schley County has alternated wins and losses each week of the season and is one spot out of the public school playoffs at No. 17 in the power ratings. Brookstone is 13-1 all time against Schley County, including the last 11 in a row. But Schley County has one of the state's best players in senior RB/LB Tra Minter, who hopes to lead the Wildcats to the post season for the first time since 2008.
Hebron Christian (5-4, 3-4 in Region 8) at Athens Christian (6-3, 6-1).
-- Athens Christian could win the school’s first region championship in football with a win and a loss by Commerce. The Eagles sit at No. 14 in the private school power ratings and have won the last two meetings with Hebron Christian by a combined score of 76-22.
Lakeview Academy (3-6, 3-4 in Region 8) at Commerce (7-2, 6-1).
-- Commerce could win the school's 18th region championship, its first since 2003, with a win and a loss by Prince Avenue Christian. The Tigers have won both meetings with Lakeview Academy (2008 and 2009) by a combined score of 88-7.
Landmark Christian (7-2, 2-1 in Region 5) at Our Lady of Mercy (6-3, 2-1).
-- A spot in the private school playoffs could be on the line for Our Lady of Mercy, which has advanced to the post season the last two seasons after previously making the playoffs just once (2004) since the program began competing in football in 2001. After a tough loss to Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (19-11) last week, the Bobcats are No. 15 in the private school power ratings. Landmark lost to ELCA two weeks ago (35-28). The teams are led by their quarterbacks, both candidates for region player of the year – junior Stockton McGuire of Landmark and senior Jameson Vest of OLM. Landmark has won 11 of the 12 meetings between the two schools, including the last three in a row.
Providence Christian (0-9, 0-7 in Region 8) at Prince Avenue Christian (7-2, 6-1).
-- Prince Avenue will win the program’s third region title overall – all since 2011 – with a win and wins by Commerce and Athens Christian, or a win and a loss by Athens Christian. This is the first meeting between the two schools. Providence is in its first full regular season and has yet to win a game as a program (0-12).
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