Here’s a look at the six games that will decide region champions on the final weekend of the regular season:
Region 1: Mitchell County (8-1, 8-0) at Pelham (9-0, 8-0)This game will determine the champion in Region 1-A, one of only three Class A regions that are not subdivided and therefore not holding an official championship game. Pelham's Dondrial Pinkins, a former star player at the old Mitchell-Baker High, has led both teams to region titles as a head coach. He won in 2016 in his second year at Pelham and took Mitchell County to a title in 2010 in his second year of a three-year stint. Mitchell County's most recent region title came last year, in coach Deshon Brock's first season. Mitchell County has allowed 75 points this year, most of which came in its only loss, 43-6 to Brooks County in the season opener. Eagles QB James Thomas has passed for 959 yards, rushed for a team-leading 584 yards, and had a hand in 24 touchdowns. Pelham leads Class A in scoring (56.8 per game) and scoring defense (6.6). The Hornets have won all nine games by at least 41 points, so no player has been in games long enough to compile huge numbers. QB Kendrick Patterson leads the team in passing (733 yards and 15 TDs) and rushing (455 yards, 14 TDs on 48 carries). Senior LB Javoris Williams has 53 total tackles, 13 for losses. Mitchell County won 22-0 in 2017.
Region 3: Emanuel County Institute (6-3, 5-0) at Savannah Christian (8-1, 5-0), SaturdayBoth teams started their seasons inauspiciously, ECI moreso than Savannah Christian. The Bulldogs lost their first three games, all three to teams from Class AA (two, Dublin and Vidalia, in contention for their respective region championships, one Metter, playing for the last playoff spot in its region). The Raiders lost the season opener to No. 2 (Private) Athens Academy. Neither has lost since. Savannah Christian is looking for its first region title since 2011, the same year the Raiders went undefeated and won the state title. ECI is going after its fourth consecutive region crown. Since 2006, the Bulldogs have won seven region championships and two state titles. ECI leads the all-time series, 9-3, including the last meeting – a 40-20 win in the Region 3 title game in 2015. Savannah Christian does most of its damage on the ground, averaging more than seven yards a carry with three running backs with more than 500 yards this season – junior Nate Moon (735), senior Jordan Grant (729) and junior Marquell Brown (562). Moon also leads the team in tackles (96) from his safety spot. Both squads have linemen who colleges covet. ECI DE/G Curtis Fann Jr. (6-3, 250) is committed to Florida State, while Raider DT/G Dylan McMahon (6-3, 290) is committed to NC State.
Region 4: Schley County (8-1, 5-0) at Marion County (9-0, 5-0) This is the Region 4-A championship game, and it is a rematch of the teams' season opener on Aug. 17, when Schley County suffered its only loss. Marion County had 414 yards of offense (288 rushing, 126 passing) while holding Schley County to a season-low 225. Senior Travon Mathews, who ran for 133 yards in the first meeting, is Marion's leading rusher with 1,256 yards and 22 touchdowns on 117 carries (10.7 yards per carry). QB Trice McCannon has passed for 1,253 yards, rushed for 775 yards and had a hand in 17 touchdowns. Schley gets about 83 percent of its offense from a running game that averages 287.8 yards per game. Tra Sampson has run for 1,035 yards and 14 TDs on 165 carries. He went over the 1,000-yard mark with 94 on eight carries in a 45-0 victory over Pacelli last week. Zamon Ross has 769 yards and 12 TDs on 95 carries. The Wildcats attempt only about eight passes per game. Marion has won five region titles in its 13-year history, all coming between 2010 and 2015. Schley is seeking the first region title in its 19 seasons. Students from both counties once attended the now-closed Tri-County High. Marion County won 28-7 on Aug. 17.
Region 6: Fellowship Christian (9-0, 7-0) at Mount Zion-Carroll (8-1, 5-1) Fellowship in attempting to complete its second undefeated regular season in the past three seasons. Mt. Zion-Carroll is in the hunt for its first region championship since 1996. The Eagles have advanced to the state playoffs now for five consecutive seasons, after an eight-year post-season drought. Fellowship Christian leads the all-time series 3-1, including a 28-14 win in the 2016 region championship game. The Paladins went on to finish as state-runners up to Eagle's Landing Christian Academy, falling 34-27 to the Chargers in the private school final.
Region 7: Tattnall Square (6-3, 5-0) at Greene County (7-2, 6-0) Tattnall Square is going after its second region championship in just its fifth season in the Georgia High Schools Association (2016), all in Region 7-Division A. Greene County has won six straight including a 36-28 win over Aquinas, which had won four out of the previous five region championships. Green County last won a region title in 2005. This is the first time the teams have faced each other. Region 8: Commerce (8-1, 3-1) at Athens Academy (9-0, 4-0)The all-time series which begin in 1985 is close, with Commerce on top, 14-12. Athens Academy has won two of the last three meetings, including a 22-7 decision last season. The Spartans are in search of their fourth undefeated regular season as a program and their 300th win in program history. Commerce is coming off of a tough, 20-19 loss to Riverside Military Academy, after the Eagles stopped the Tigers on a two-point conversion attempt on the final play of the game.
About the Author
