Cherokee Bluff won its second Region 7-3A title in the program’s four-year history after beating North Hall 28-26 Friday. The Bears will face the No. 4 seed from Region 5 in the first round of the playoffs, which begin Nov. 12-13.
The Bears have one more game in the regular season and will complete its first unbeaten regular season with a victory.
Against North Hall, Cherokee Bluff trailed 14-0 with eight minutes left before halftime but tied the game 30 seconds before the half. North Hall scored on two field goals to take a 20-14 lead with nine minutes left in the third quarter, but Cherokee Bluff scored with 1:43 left to take a 21-20 lead. The Bears took a 28-20 lead with 6:03 left in the game. North Hall replied with a touchdown with 2:14 left to cut into the lead but could manage no more offense.
No. 7 Carver-Atlanta avoided upset Friday in its 22-20 victory against Greater Atlanta Christian. Two 2-point conversions were the difference for Carver.
Bryce Bowens scored on a 40-yard run early in the game, and the Panthers set the tone after Quintavious Lockett scored the 2-point conversion. GAC replied with a passing touchdown early in the second quarter and took a 14-8 lead on a 40-yard pass from Josh Sharpe to Will Hardy seven minutes before half. Joshua Stone scored on a 20-yard interception return with seven minutes left in the third quarter, and the Panthers took the lead on a 70-yard run from Jarveous Brown. The 2-point conversion put Carver ahead 22-14.
Sharpe passed to Hardy again near the end of the third quarter to cut into the lead, but the Panthers defense kept GAC scoreless in the fourth quarter.
To see the full 3A region standings go here.
Here’s a look at the eight regions:
Region 1: No. 2 Appling County and No. 5 Pierce County will meet Friday for the region title. Appling beat Brantley County 48-7, and Pierce beat Tattnall County 35-0 this week.
Region 2: Crisp County has the region title locked up and leads 6-0 over Peach County (5-1), Mary Persons (4-2) and Pike County (2-4). Crisp County beat Central-Macon 48-0 this week.
Region 3: Liberty County leads the region (5-1) ahead of Southeast Bulloch (4-1), Windsor Forest (3-2) and Johnson-Savannah (2-2). The Panthers likely will end the regular season tied with Southeast Bulloch (5-1), but Liberty beat SEB 28-21 on Oct. 1 and should take the region via a head-to-head tiebreaker.
Region 4: Thomson all but has the region title locked up. The Bulldogs will play Hephzibah on Friday for a chance at the program’s first unbeaten regular season since 2016 under head coach Rob Ridings.
Region 5: No. 1 Cedar Grove (6-0) and No. 8 Sandy Creek (5-1) will meet Friday, and Cedar Grove needs a victory to win the outright title. If Sandy Creek wins, there will be a three-way tie at the top between Sandy Creek, Cedar Grove and Carver-Atlanta.
Region 6: No. 10 Rockmart and Ringgold, both 7-0 in the league, will meet Friday for the region title. Rockmart is coming off a 38-30 victory against LaFayette. Ringgold beat Sonoraville 40-7 this week.
Region 8: No. 3 Monroe Area (4-0) will play No. 9 Hart County (3-1) Friday, and if Hart wins, there will be a three-way tie at the top between Monroe, Hart and No. 4 Oconee County. This week, Monroe beat Franklin County 50-7, Hart defeated East Jackson 52-18 and Oconee County narrowly beat Stephens County 16-7.
Class 3A top-10 results
1. (1) Cedar Grove (7-2) beat Douglass 42-10. (5-3A Game)
2. (4) Appling County (9-0) beat Brantley County 48-7 (1-3A Game)
3. (7) Monroe Area (9-0) beat Franklin County 50-7 (8-3A Game)
4. (2) Oconee County (8-1) beat Stephens County 16-7 (8-3A Game)
5. (5) Pierce County (7-2) beat Tattnall County 35-0 (1-3A Game)
6. (6) Thomson (8-0) Off.
7. (NR) Carver-Atlanta (6-2) beat Greater Atlanta Christian 22-20 (5-3A Game)
8. (3) Sandy Creek (8-1) beat Redan 68-15 (5-3A Game)
9. (8) Hart County (7-1) beat East Jackson 52-18 (8-3A Game)
10. (9) Rockmart (7-1) beat LaFayette beat 38-30 (6-3A Game)
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