Here’s a recap of some of the big stories in Class AAAAA from Week 8:
- Lanier, a program that began in 2010 but is playing a full schedule for just the third time, took a huge step toward winning its first region championship when Mason Harwood kicked a 41-yard field goal with 14.7 seconds remaining to beat Gainesville 26-23 in an 8-AAAAA game. Lanier (6-0, 5-0) is the only remaining unbeaten team in the region. Defending region champ Gainesville (4-2, 4-1) is tied for second place with Salem, although the Red Elephants hold the tiebreaker after beating Salem 29-6 last weekend. Lanier has beaten three teams (Gainesville, Clarke Central and Flowery Branch) that represented the region in the state playoffs the past two seasons and plays the other (Heritage-Conyers) next weekend.
- Carver-Atlanta, the somewhat forgotten team in a Region 6-AAAAA that includes defending state champion and second-ranked Creekside, fifth-ranked Stephenson and No. 8 Mays, controls its fate in subregion B after knocking off Creekside 32-29. The Seminoles missed a potential game-tying field goal with three minutes remaining and turned the ball over five times. Carver (6-1, 2-0) is off next weekend but could lock up the subregion title with a victory against Mays at Lakewood Stadium on Oct. 24.
- Dalton is perhaps the hottest team in 7-AAAAA. The Catamounts routed Rome 63-17 on Friday for their fifth consecutive victory since their only loss, a 21-14 setback against Class AAA No. 2 Calhoun on Aug. 29. During the winning streak, Dalton is averaging 47.2 points per game and has given up a total of 47. The Catamounts (6-1, 4-0) can clinch the subregion A title with a victory in either of their remaining games – against River Ridge (3-3, 1-2) on Friday or at Woodland-Cartersville (0-6, 0-3) on Oct. 24.
- North Springs snapped a 13-game losing streak with a 24-17 victory against Riverwood in a 7-AAAAA Division B game. It was the Spartans’ first victory in a game that counted in subregion or region standings since a 23-20 win over Lithonia in the final game of the 2008 season (not including a 2009 loss that was overturned by a Stone Mountain forfeit). North Springs, which is 8-98 since the start of the 2004 season, is tied with Cambridge for fourth place in subregion B as the teams battle for a spot in the region play-in games.
- Elsewhere: Houston County moved into a four-way tie for first place in 2-AAAAA with a 51-12 victory over Cross Creek. The Bears are tied with Jones County, Northside-Warner Robins and Warner Robins at 4-1 in the region. Those four teams will go head to head next weekend when Jones County plays at Houston County and Northside faces Warner Robins at McConnell-Talbert Stadium. ... Carver-Columbus and Harris County are tied for first place in 1-AAAAA after Carver knocked LaGrange out of the top spot with a 56-31 victory. Carver and Harris County are 2-0 in the region, a half-game ahead of LaGrange (2-1), and will meet on Oct. 24 in a game that could decide the region championship. ... Mundy’s Mill and Drew recorded lopsided victories on Friday to remain unbeaten in 4-AAAAA Division A and set up next week’s showdown at Twelve Oaks Stadium for the subregion title. Mundy’s Mill (5-2, 4-0) beat Forest Park 41-7, and Drew beat Morrow 54-18. ... Sprayberry moved a half-game ahead of idle Kell for first place in 7-AAAAA Division B with a 31-7 victory against Cambridge. The win sets up a showdown with Kell on Oct. 31 that could determine the subregion champion.
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