Eastside of Covington hasn’t won a region title since 2009. Douglas County hasn’t won one since 2002. Dutchtown of Henry County has never won one.
Those three on-the-rise programs took big steps toward region-title goals on Friday with victories over top-10 teams that are big rivals in their regions.
In a Region 4-AAAA game, 10th-ranked Eastside (6-0, 3-0) defeated ninth-ranked Woodward Academy (3-3, 2-1) 38-31 after trailing 24-7 at halftime. Jeffery Haynes returned an interception from midfield for a touchdown with 1:20 left to break a 31-31 tie. Noah Cook threw three TD passes, two to Colby Shivers.
A year ago, Eastside lost only one region game – to Woodward – and finished second. Woodward has won four straight region championships.
In Region 5-AAAAA, 10th-ranked Douglas County (6-1, 5-0) beat ninth-ranked Mays (3-3, 3-1) 23-8. That avenges Douglas County’s only region loss from last season, when Mays was the region, and leaves Douglas County as the region’s lone unbeaten team.
And in 4-AAAAA, ninth-ranked Dutchtown (7-0, 4-0) defeated fourth-ranked Jones County (6-1, 3-1)18-10. Dutchtown, which had been allowing a Class AAAAA-best 3.8 points per game, slowed the classification’s No. 2 scoring offense (42.2 ppg). To win its first region title, Dutchtown (opened in 2004) still must contend with third-ranked Stockbridge (7-0, 4-0), a Henry County rival. They’ll play in two weeks.
In other games of note Friday, No. 9 Hillgrove defeated No. 7 McEachern 31-21 in a cross-Powder Springs rivalry in Region 3-AAAAAA.
Also in Cobb County and the highest class, Newnan upset No. 8 Wheeler 36-34. Newnan never trailed.
No. 6 Northside of Warner Robins beat No. 2 Coffee 30-20 in a Region 1-AAAAAA game.
In AAA, No. 5 Westminster beat No. 9 Pace Academy 28-16, and No. 6 Greater Atlanta Christian beat No. 10 Dawson County 23-20. That was GAC’s 28th straight region victory.
In AA, Dublin upset No. 5 Dodge County 34-10, and No. 10 Brooks County beat No. 7 Thomasville 27-11.
In A, No. 2 Athens Academy defeated No. 8 George Walton Academy 38-31. Len’Neth White scored on a 40-yard run in the final two minutes to break a 28-28 tie.
Also in A, No. 10 Savannah Christian beat No. 4 Calvary Day 24-21, holding on after taking a 24-7 lead in the fourth quarter.
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