No. 1 (Private) Athens Academy (8-0, 4-0 in Region 8-Division A) at Hebron Christian (6-2, 4-0 in Region 8-Division B)(Preview courtesy of Georgia High School Football Daily) These teams have clinched their subregions and will meet again next week for the Region 8-A championship game. The scheduling quirk stems from the 10-team region's decision in 2018 to split into subregions, meaning this game doesn't factor in the region race. In the 2018 game, Athens Academy took a 22-7 lead into the fourth quarter and held on, once stopping Hebron on a fourth-and-goal attempt. Hebron is 12-8 over the past two seasons, but that's deceiving. This will be the Lions' 12th ranked opponent in that time. It's an up-and-coming program under coach Jeff Saturday, the retired Indianapolis Colts center. Colten Gauthier has passed for 1,604 yards. Donnovan Moorer has 805 receiving yards. Both have major Division I offers. Athens Academy is typically more of a running team, but Peyton Bush has imitated Peyton Manning lately with five TD passes each of the past two weeks, during which he's 27-of-35 for 664 yards. More predictable is the Spartans' defense, which allows 6.3 points per game, fewest among Class A private schools. Athens Academy won last year's contest, 22-20.
Whitefield Academy (7-1, 6-0 in Region 6-Division B) at No. 5 (Private) Fellowship Christian (8-0, 6-0)(Preview courtesy of Georgia High School Football Daily) The winner of this game will clinch first place in subregion B of Region 6-A and move on to face fourth-ranked Darlington in the region championship game next weekend. The two programs, both of which are less than 20 years old, have won two region titles each - Fellowship Christian in 2007 and 2016, Whitefield Academy in 2007 and 2008. Whitefield Academy has won six consecutive games since a 43-21 loss to Prince Avenue Christian on Aug. 30. Freshman Ayden Duncanson has run for 505 yards and passed for 640 this season. RB/LB Jaden Griffith had 73 yards rushing, made 10 tackles and returned an interception 73 yards for a touchdown in a 42-7 victory over rival Walker last week. Fellowship Christian averages 48 points per game, fourth-best among all Class A schools, and has scored at least 42 in every game. The Paladins average 344.5 yards rushing and attempt fewer than 10 passes per game. Murphy Reeves (97 carries, 971 yards, 12 touchdowns) is the leading rusher, but Jayven Hall (57-483-9) and Josh Cole (42-446-9) are significant contributors. Fellowship won last year's contest, 44-42.
No. 8 Darlington (8-0, 5-0 in Region 6-Division A) at North Cobb Christian (6-2, 3-2)Darlington has already secured a spot in next week's Region championship game, against either No. 5 Fellowship Christian or Whitefield Academy. So, this week's game at NCC is about maintaining the Tigers' No. 3 power rating and avenging the program's first loss to the Eagles, who went to Rome last season and registered a signature win for the NCC program, 35-21. In the two previous meetings in 2016 and 2017, Darlington had outscored the Eagles 70-14. The Tigers are coming off a 31-0 win over Bowdon. Kolin Rogers rushed for 120 yards and three touchdowns, while Griffin Brewster was 10-of-12 passing for 147 yards and a touchdown. NCC is attempting to rebound from a 21-20 loss to Christian Heritage last week. The Eagles gave up a blocked point after kick late in the game, which proved to be the difference.
No. 10 (Private) Savannah Country Day (8-0, 4-0 in Region 3-Division A) at Calvary Day (6-2, 3-2)
The undefeated Hornets, like Darlington, have already claimed a spot in the region title game next week. They did so by beating community rival Savannah Christian 35-21. Davion Smith rushed for 142 yards and one touchdown on 24 carries, and Barry Kleinpeter was 13-of-17 passing for 231 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 59 yards for Savannah Country Day, which is having a historic season. The Hornets are seeking their first undefeated regular season since 1980, which is also the last time they won a region title. They have been the lesser of the three Savannah-area Class A private programs: the Hornets, Savannah Christian and Calvary Day. Savannah Country Day has now won two of its last three games against Savannah Christian, but had lost 11 in a row to the Raiders prior to that. The Hornets have lost nine in a row to Calvary Day, including a 27-0 shutout last season.
Other games of note:
No. 7 (Private) Prince Avenue Christian (6-2, 2-1 in Region 8-Division A) at George Walton Academy (6-2, 2-1)
No. 4 (Public) Wilcox County (6-2, 3-2 in Region 2) at Turner County (6-2, 4-1)
No. 8 (Public) Bowdon (6-2, 3-2 in Region 6-Division A) vs. Trion (5-3, 2-3)
No. 9 (Public) Manchester (6-2, 4-1 in Region 4-Division A) vs. Schley County (5-3, 4-1 in Division B)
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