Class AA blog: What to watch in Week 11

Last meeting: Swainsboro won 14-0 in 2018.

Maxwell's projection: Swainsboro by 29

Notes: For the second year in a row, a Tigers win over Jeff Davis will clinch them the region title. Last year's region title was their first since 2010. They're coming off a big 21-9 win over Vidalia that put them in the driver's seat for the 2-AA title, with quarterback Kade Youmans completing 8 of his 16 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns, and Ja'von Brown catching four passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns. John Henderson rushed for 93 yards on 22 carries. The Yellow Jackets, on the other hand, are trying to hold on to faint playoff hopes after losing 31-0 to Toombs County last week, which left in them in fifth place. Their season started very promisingly as they won their first six games, but their current two-game losing streak came at the worst possible time — they lost to Vidalia before playing Toombs County off a bye — and now the odds are against them to qualify for the postseason a third straight year. In 2017, they beat Swainsboro 36-14 in the regular season, then 8-6 in a region mini-game tiebreaker that clinched the fourth and final playoff spot.

Vidalia Indians at Metter Tigers

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Jungle, Metter

Records, rankings: Vidalia is 6-2, 3-1 in Region 2 and unranked; Metter is 7-1, 3-1 and unranked.

Last meeting: Vidalia won 20-7 in 2018.

Maxwell's projection: Vidalia by 2

Notes: Last year Vidalia clinched the No. 2 seed by beating Metter. The winner of this year's game will also all-but-clinch the coveted No. 2 seed and the right to host in the first round. In their win over Metter last year, the Indians had over 450 yards of offense, with nearly 400 coming in the run game as they jumped to a 14-0 lead and never let go. They're coming off a 21-9 loss to Swainsboro that effectively served as the 2-AA title game, and that snapped a six-game win streak that included region wins over Bryan County, Jeff Davis and Toombs County. The Tigers, under second-year coach Rodney Garvin, are in line for their first playoff berth since 2015 and in search for their first postseason win since 2003. However, should the Tigers lose on Friday, their game against Jeff Davis next week would determine 2-AA's fourth and final playoff spot. The last time the Tigers beat Vidalia was 2010, and they've gone 0-6 against the Indians in the time since.

Heard County Braves at Lamar County Trojans

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Trojan Field, Barnesville

Records, rankings: Heard County is 3-5, 3-1 in Region 5 and unranked; Lamar County is 6-2, 2-2 and unranked.

Last meeting: Heard County won 40-14 in 2018.

Maxwell's projection: Heard County by 4

Notes: The defending state champion Braves have been adjusting to a full reloading year in which they lost seven key starters, enduring an 0-4 start to the season before winning their first three region games. That set up what was basically the Region 5 championship, where Callaway thumped them 34-0. The last time they were shut out was 33-0 to Rockmart in their third game last season. The Braves wound up beating them in the state championship game. Could the Braves repeat history and beat Callaway in the AA title game? Probably not. But if they beat the Trojans, then Bremen in their finale, it will at least be a theoretical possibility, as Callaway would be a No. 1 seed on one side of the bracket, and the Braves would be a No. 2 seed on the other side. The Braves are still in position to claim second place thanks to league wins over Spencer, Temple and Jordan, though Temple is the only team from that group with a mathematical chance of qualifying for the postseason. If the Trojans lose on Friday, they'd play Temple for the fourth and final playoff spot. The Trojans began the season 6-0 — including a 27-6 win over A-Private's then-No. 7 Mount Zion-Carroll — but are on a two-game skid that includes region losses to Callaway and Bremen in which they were outscored 80-14.