Here’s what to look for during Week 11 of the high school football season.
Class AAAAAA
North Cobb and Alpharetta can clinch region tiles with victories Friday.
In Region 4, North Cobb (7-1, 6-0) and junior quarterback Tyler Queen (1,530 yards passing) are at home against Marietta (6-2, 4-2). North Cobb has won five consecutive in the series. It would be the school’s fifth region title, first since 2007.
In Region 6, Alpharetta (6-2, 5-0) and junior quarterback Austin King (1,568 yards passing) are at Centennial (1-7). Alpharetta is trying to win its second region title, the first since 2011.
Lovejoy (8-1) in Region 2 and Hughes (7-1) in Region 3 also can clinch Friday, but only if their second-place teams lose.
Other things to watch this week in AAAAAA and the other classifications:
- Mill Creek (5-3, 3-3) can expect to beat Habersham Central (0-9) this week, but the Hawks will become the best team in the state that didn't make the playoffs unless there's a major upset in Region 7 — either Duluth (2-6, 2-4) over Collins Hill (7-1, 4-2) or Meadowcreek (1-7, 1-5) over Peachtree Ridge (6-2, 4-2). According to the computer Maxwell Ratings, the region has five of the top 14 teams in AAAAAA. Only four can make the playoffs.
- Archer (9-0, 7-0) has wrapped up Region 8, but a convincing victory against Grayson (4-4, 4-2) might help the Tigers — the only unbeaten team in AAAAAA — get more respect. They would become the first team to defeat Brookwood, Parkview and Grayson in the same season.
- Walton (4-4, 3-2) has missed the playoffs once (2009) in the past 12 seasons, but the Raiders need to beat Etowah (7-1, 4-1) to keep fate in their hands. The other big game in Region 5 is Milton (6-2, 3-2) against Cherokee (5-3, 3-2).
Class AAAAA
- Northside-Warner Robins (2-AAAAA) and Ware County (3-AAAAA) can clinch region titles with victories Friday. Ware County has the easier task. The Gators will clinch their 10th region championship if they beat Bradwell Institute (3-5). Northside must beat city-rival Warner Robins, which is 7-1 overall and tied for second place in the region. Warner Robins would take the title with victories in its final two games.
- Thomas County Central (1-AAAAA) and Tucker (6-AAAAA) will win region titles if they win out, but they also can clinch this week if they get help. Thomas County Central is off this week, but the Yellow Jackets will be region champions if Harris County loses to Hardaway. Tucker will win its 15th region title and eighth in 13 years if the Tigers beat M.L. King and Stephenson beats Mays this week.
- The Region 5 title won't be decided this week, but the picture will be a lot clearer after North Paulding meets Allatoona on Friday. North Paulding and Allatoona are tied with South Paulding for first place. North Paulding, which beat South Paulding earlier this season, can claim its first region title with victories against Allatoona and Villa Rica (4-4). An Allatoona victory likely gives the region title to South Paulding, which beat Allatoona and closes the season against Paulding County (2-7) and Lithia Springs (0-8).
Class AAAA
- A giant Friday in AAAA is highlighted by No. 1 Sandy Creek's visit to No. 2 Carrollton. The Patriots are the defending state champions and have beaten the Trojans three consecutive times by an average margin of 14.6 points. But Carrollton has been the more impressive team this season, outscoring opponents 344-54. The Trojans have not been scored upon in the first quarter all season. "I don't know if we're the favorite," Sandy Creek coach Chip Walker said, "but we're the defending champs." Sandy Creek won last season's meeting 30-7 and has won three of the four meetings with Carrollton overall, including in the 2010 state championship game.
- Region titles are at stake in Regions 2, 7 and 8. Mary Persons hosts a Veterans team that has won five consecutive to set up a battle between the only two unbeaten teams in Region 2 play. The winner will get the top seed out of Region 2. Mary Persons has won all three meetings with Veterans, including 21-7 last season. … In Region 7, Gilmer gets a crack at slowing down Cedartown running back Nick Chubb and the undefeated Bulldogs. Gilmer shut out Cedartown 38-0 last season, holding Chubb to around 75 yards. Chubb has averaged 264.3 yards and scored 33 touchdowns this season. … In Region 8, Chestatee travels to Monroe Area, with the winner claiming the top seed out of the region in the state playoffs. Five Monroe Area starters, including star quarterback Stanton Truitt, are suspended for the game after being ejected for fighting in last week's victory against Madison County.
Class AAA
St. Pius at Blessed Trinity: Blessed Trinity (5-3, 3-1), led by tailback Chad Manthey, seems to have found its offense. The Titans have scored 150 points in their past five games. St. Pius (6-2, 3-1) had its defense rattled last week for 42 points, a fact that will challenge the unit led by Nick Ruffin and Daniel Crochet. St. Pius has won all five meetings against its fellow Catholic school competitor, including last year's hard-fought 24-17 decision.
Cedar Grove at Woodward Academy: Cedar Grove (6-2, 3-1) had last week off after its loss to St. Pius. The Saints are led by running back Deion Sellers and quarterback James Hartsfield. Woodward Academy (7-2, 4-1) has the skills to match the Saints, particularly with Terry Googer, who ran for 180 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 165 and one touchdown in last week's victory against St. Pius.
White County at West Hall: White County (6-2) will finish no worse than third in Region 7-AAA with a victory this week. Should White County win out and Buford beats North Hall, the Warriors would finish second and get a first-round home game. But West Hall is a dangerous team that's in search of its first playoff appearance since 2002. White County leads the series 9-8 and has won the past seven meetings.
Class AA
- Region 3-AA will be decided when the Laney Wildcats travel to the Dublin. Both teams are 6-2 overall and 4-0 in region play. The Fighting Irish will play for the 21st region title in program history, according to GHSFHA.org, and second in three years. They have rebounded from last year's 2-8 season, when the Wildcats beat them 38-7 on the way to a state playoff appearance. If the Wildcats win, it will be their first region championship since 2004. Dublin owns a 7-2 edge in the all-time series, which dates to 1998.
- The No. 5-ranked Calhoun Yellow Jackets will travel to the Model Blue Devils to decide the 7-AA title. The teams have identical records (7-1, 5-0 in 7-AA), although the Yellow Jackets have won nine consecutive in the series, outscoring the Blue Devils 135-0 the past three meetings and 368-53 during the streak, which includes six shutouts. Should the Yellow Jackets win, it will be their 13th consecutive region title, dating to 2001. Should the Blue Devils pull the upset, it would be their first region title since 1979.
- Although it would appear to be more a formality, the No. 1-ranked Lamar County Trojans will look to lock up Region 4-AA when they play Macon County. The Trojans (8-0) are 5-0 in the region, with Macon County and Bleckley County both 4-1. The Trojans have already beaten Bleckley County, which defeated Macon County. So, for conversation's sake, if Macon County wins, there will be a three-way tie atop 4-AA. The most likely outcome, however, is that the Trojans win their third consecutive region title.
Class A
Pace Academy (4-4, 1-3) at No. 1 Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (7-0, 4-0). A victory by ELCA will set up the biggest game in Class A this season, when the Chargers, the defending private-school champs, travel next week to No. 6 Landmark Christian (8-0, 4-0) with the Region 5 title on the line. Pace Academy needs an upset to increase its power rating and bolster its chances of making the playoff field of 16. Currently, the Knights are on the outside looking in.
No. 6 Landmark Christian (8-0, 4-0) at Holy Innocents' (5-4, 3-2). If both Landmark Christian and ELCA stave off upsets, next week will be the biggest game to date for both, as ELCA will go to downtown Fairburn for the Region 5 title game. Holy Innocents', like Pace, needs a victory to fortify its standing in the top 16.
Fellowship Christian (5-3, 2-2) at No. 8 Mount Pisgah Christian (8-0, 4-0). The Patriots can take a huge step toward winning their first region title in the program's history with a victory against rival Fellowship Christian. Mount Pisgah is in the No. 1 spot in the Class A private-school power ratings.
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