The GHSA will officially announce the playoff brackets at 4 p.m. today. In the meantime, here’s what went down over the weekend, as six of the eight region champs were decided in title games:
(Note: Irwin County and Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy had already clinched the Region 2 and Region 5 titles, respectively, prior to the regular season’s final weekend.)
Region 1: Pelham 34, Mitchell County 13.
The Hornets (10-0, 9-0) raced to a 21-7 first-half lead and never looked back, en route to winning their second region title in three seasons. Junior QB/DB Kendrick Patterson had a 123 yards rushing, a touchdown run and picked off three passes, while senior LB/RB Javoris Williams piled up 165 yards on the ground with three scores. Mitchell County (9-1, 8-1) had their chances but turned the ball over a total of six times. In four seasons under head coach Dondrial Pinkins, who played at now-closed Mitchell-Baker, Pelham is 34-10 with two region championships.
Region 3: Savannah Christian 29, Emanuel County Institute 14.
The Raiders (9-1, 6-0) got two fourth-quarter touchdowns from junior Nate Moon and the defense stood tall to give Savannah Christian its ninth win in a row and first region crown since 2011, when they went on to win the classification's last joint state championship. Class A split into public and private divisions for the playoffs the next season. After Eric Dixon scored on his second touchdown run of the night for ECI (6-4, 5-1), the Bulldogs led 14-13 headed into the fourth quarter. But Moon scored on a 49 yard pass from sophomore QB Spencer Robicheaux and a 3-yard run in the final period. Savannah Christian capitalized on its opportunities to pick up the win as the Raiders were outgained 232 yards to 289 by ECI. However, Savannah Christian's defense held the Bulldogs to just 87 yards in the second half.
Region 4: Marion County 21, Schley County 7.
The Eagles (10-0, 6-0) closed the regular season the same way they opened it, with a win over Schley County (8-2, 5-1). Senior RB Travon Mathews led the way with 141 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while the Eagles’ other score came on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Trice McCannon to Josh Rodgers. The win gave Marion County its sixth region title in just 13 seasons as a program, and its fourth in the last six seasons. This is the third season the Eagles have finished the regular season undefeated.
Region 6: Mount Zion-Carroll 20, Fellowship Christian 7.
The Eagles (9-1, 6-1) won their first region title since 1996 with a stifling defensive effort and spoiled Fellowship Christian’s (9-1, 7-1) bid for its second undefeated regular season in the past three. It was revenge for the 2016 region championship game, which Fellowship won 28-14. Since 1996 the Mt. Zion-Carroll program had been struggling, with no winning seasons until Keith Holloway took over in 2012. In five seasons, Holloway put the program back on the map, going 35-20 with three straight state playoff appearances. Last season, Brad Gordon picked up where Holloway left off, leading the Eagles to the public semifinals.
Region 7: Greene County 35, Tattnall Square 10.
Greene County (8-2, 7-0) won its first region title since 2005, completing a huge turnaround from last season, when the Tigers finished 3-7 and did not advance to the state playoffs. Greene County has now won seven games in a row. Tattnall Square (6-4, 5-1) was going after its second region championship in just its fifth season in the Georgia High Schools Association.
Region 8: Athens Academy 21, Commerce 14.
The game lived up to its billing as the Spartans (10-0, 5-0) got two touchdown runs from Len’Neth Whitehead to clinch their second consecutive region championship, their fourth undefeated regular season as a program and their 300th win in program history. Whitehead finished with 144 yards on 16 carries, including touchdown runs of 22 and 41 yards. Palmer Bush’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Barrett McLanahan gave the Spartans a 21-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Commerce (8-2, 3-2) moved the ball effectively, racking up 302 yards of offense, all on the ground. The Tigers got a 77-yard touchdown run by DaJuan Wood in the first quarter, and 1-yarder by Sam Roach midway through the fourth pulled them to within one score.
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