The regular season continues its weekly upsurge in magnitude and Week 9 was full of notable results. Here is a look at the most significant week yet.
In Region 1, the logjam continues. Shaw dropped to 0-4 in region play with a 22-14 loss to Americus-Sumter. Cairo improved to 4-0 with a 35-28 win over Carver-Columbus, but the rest of the field is in gridlock. Hardaway’s surprising 25-21 victory over Northside-Columbus places both teams at 2-2 and they are joined by Westover and Columbus at 2-2 after Columbus topped Westover 40-29 last night. To sum it up, this region now has six teams locked at 2-2 with three weeks left.
Upson-Lee scored a 31-7 victory over Perry to place both teams at 1-1 in region play. These were the only teams from the region that played this week, so the win bumps Upson-Lee to third-chair in the playoff standings behind Mary Persons (2-0) and West Laurens (2-0).
Region 3’s Thomson remains perfect after stomping Baldwin 45-0. The Bulldogs sit at the top of the region with Burke County, which defeated Richmond Academy 54-3. Thomson has outscored its two region opponents 115-0, while Burke County has compiled a 109-15 scoring margin.
Woodward Academy can clinch the No. 1 seed out of Region 4 with a victory over Luella next week after dominating Eastside 44-6 on Friday.
Sandy Creek lost its second consecutive region game Friday night in a 35-21 battle with Cartersville. The Purple Hurricanes moved to 4-0 in region play. Troup held off LaGrange 37-26 on Friday to move to 3-0 in region action and will face Cedartown (2-1) this Thursday in a game that will have tremendous playoff implications. A win over Cedartown would ensure Troup at least the No. 3 seed.
Ridgeland sits alone at the top of Region 6 after Northwest Whitfield dished out a 50-41 defeat to Pickens. Ridgeland faces Pickens this Friday to all but clinch the region race.
Marist opened region play on Friday with a 42-6 win over West Hall. The War Eagles join Blessed Trinity as the only teams in this small five-team region without a region loss. Blessed Trinity scored a 42-6 win over Chestatee.
Region 8 pinned three 1-0 teams against three 0-1 teams on Friday and the trends continued. Jefferson, Oconee County and Stephens County moved to 2-0, while North Oconee, St. Pius and Madison County dropped to 0-2. North Oconee and St. Pius are both 0-7 on the season, but neither team is mathematically out of the playoff picture yet.
Week 9 Schedule *(updated region records)
Region 1
(2-2) Americus-Sumter 22, (0-4) Shaw 14
(4-0) Cairo 35, (2-2) Carver-Columbus 28
(2-2) Columbus 40, (2-2) Westover 29
(2-2) Hardaway 25, (2-2) Northside-Columbus 21
Region 2
(1-1) Upson-Lee 31, (1-1) Perry 7
Region 3
Thomson (2-0) 45, Baldwin (1-1) 0
Burke County (2-0) 54, Richmond Academy (0-2) 3
Region 4
Woodward Academy (4-0) 44, Eastside (3-1) 6
Salem (2-1) 50, Henry County (0-3) 26
Luella (3-2) 21, North Clayton (1-3) 8
Region 5
Cartersville (4-0) 35, Sandy Creek (1-2) 21
Chapel Hill (1-2) 28, Central-Carroll (0-4) 7
Troup (3-0) 37, LaGrange (1-3) 26
Region 6
Southeast Whitfield (2-2) 13, Gilmer(0-3) 0
Ridgeland (3-0) 56, Heritage-Catoosa (2-2) 14
Northwest Whitfield (3-1) 50, Pickens (2-1) 41
Region 7
Blessed Trinity (2-0) 42, Chestatee (0-2) 6
Marist (1-0) 43, West Hall (1-1) 3
Region 8
Jefferson (2-0) 42, North Oconee (0-2) 14
Stephens County (2-0) 34, Madison County (0-2) 7
Oconee County (2-0) 20, St. Pius (0-2) 16
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