Here’s a quick rundown of how the region championships played out Friday night. Now it’s time to wait on the Georgia High School Association/MaxPreps Power Ratings, which will be made official on Wednesday, to see the playoff pairings.
Region 1
Randolph-Clay claimed its second region crown in school history with a 28-20 win over Mitchell County and Terrell County – were tied for first with 3-1 records. The Red Devils from Cuthbert finished 7-3 and capped off their best regular season since 2005, when they finished 10-2 and won the region championship. Randolph-Clay had been the only team from Region 1 to make the top 16 of the power ratings, at No. 14. Now, as a region champion, the Red Devils will host a first-round playoff game.
Region 2
Party time in Ocilla. Irwin County (7-2-1) earned its second consecutive Region 2 championship by defeating Turner County, 34-24. Irwin, last season’s runner up for the public school title, went into Friday’s action in a three-way tie for first with Turner County and Clinch County. Irwin defeated Clinch earlier this season and so the win over Turner sealed the title. Five teams from the region could make the playoffs as Turner (2), Charlton County (3), Clinch (4), Irwin (8) and Telfair County (15) all went into Friday in the top 16.
Region 3
Emanuel County Institute (9-1) rode the performance of Ricky Lee to a 40-20 win over Savannah Christian (8-2) in the region championship game. Lee rushed for 201 yards on 16 carries, five of which went for touchdowns, including a 90-yarder in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
Region 4
Marion County (9-1) already had clinched the championship, but the Eagles closed the regular season strong anyway with a 55-0 thumping of Central-Talbotton (3-7). Marion, the 2013 public school champion, went through the region scheduled undefeated en route to winning its fifth title in six seasons.
Region 5
Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (7-3) wrapped up its sixth consecutive region championship two weeks ago with a 48-28 win over Landmark Christian. All of the Chargers’ losses this season came at the hands of region champions from higher classifications – Stockbridge (AAAAA), Greater Atlanta Christian (AA) and Woodward Academy (AAAA).
Region 6
Pinecrest Academy (9-1) pulled off one of the top upsets of the season thus far, with a 28-21 win over previously unbeaten No. 1 Mt. Paran Christian (9-1) in the region title game. The Paladins from Cumming avenged their only loss of the regular season as they fell to the Eagles 35-19, back on Sept. 25. Pinecrest was led by its bruising quarterback Ryan McCarthy, who ran 20 times for 153 yards and three touchdowns, including the game winner from 48 yards out in the final five minutes, according to the Forsyth County News. It was the first win for Pinecrest over Mt. Paran in three tries, as the Eagle’s 23-game winning streak -- the longest in Cobb County history – was snapped.
Region 7
Aquinas (9-1) let it be known that it should be considered one of the favorites to win the private school title, with a 48-28 win over Stratford Academy (7-3) in Macon. The Irish, the 2013 private school champs, were paced by sophomore running back D’Angelo Durham, who ran 25 times for 244 yards and three touchdowns, while senior quarterback Liam Welch, one of the state’s best dual threat quarterbacks, ran for 122 yards, threw for 139 and accounted for four scores – two rushing and two passing – according to The Macon Telegraph.
Region 8
Prince Avenue Christian (10-0) clinched the championship weeks ago but punctuated a dominant regular season with a dominating performance, a 49-0 win over winless Providence Christian (0-10). It is the third consecutive region title for the Wolverines from Bogart, and the fourth in the past five years.
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