Buford and East Forsyth got off to a solid start in Week 9 on Thursday, winning key regional games to stay in the playoffs and regional title hunt in their respective regions.

But they aren’t the only ones with a chance to secure regional titles this week in the final third of the season.

Gainesville, Cherokee Bluff, Jefferson, North Hall and Lumpkin County are all in position to win a number of regional titles and play extremely important games tonight.

The Red Elephants (6-1, 3-0 Region 7-5A) are looking for their third straight regional title, but they have the toughest task. No. 1 ranked and reigning Class 7A state champion Milton (7-0, 3-0 Region 7-5A) comes to City Park for a monster Region 7-5A showdown. Gainesville is undefeated at home in the Josh Niblett era (16-0), but is just 3-25 all-time against No. 1 ranked teams, including a 45-16 loss to Carrollton last month.

But all three of those victories have come at City Park over the years. The last was in 2011 when they defeated Sandy Creek in the Class 3A playoffs led by Deshaun Watson.

Jefferson and Cherokee Bluff in Region 8-3A face off next week at Memorial Stadium and both would like to go into this matchup undefeated with first place on the line. But first they have to prevail against two goal-dangerous offensives this evening.

The Dragons (5-2, 2-0 Region 8-3A) are at home against East Hall (3-4, 0-2 Region 8-3A), while the Bears (6-0, 1-0 Region 8-3A ) Take on Monroe Area (4-2, 1-1 Region 8-3A) at Yonah Field. Also in 8-3A is Oconee County, which has West Hall tonight at Watkinsville.

Jefferson, Cherokee Bluff and Oconee County (3-3, 1-0 Region 8-3A) are all undefeated in regional play tonight and if all three win, there will be a fantastic trio of games down the stretch as they all win compete against each other in the last three weeks of the season.

And in Region 6-3A, North Hall and Lumpkin County could be headed to a title showdown next week in Dahlonega. Perhaps.

But both, especially the Trojans, will have to take care of business tonight to make that happen.

North Hall (4-2, 3-0 Region 6-3A) has not won a regional title since 2012 and hosts the GAC at The Brickyard in Region 6-3A. The Trojans are 0-5 against the Spartans (3-3, 3-0, Region 6-3A), but this could be the year they end that streak as they are red hot and have won four straight games.

Lumpkin County (4-2, 2-1 Region 6-3A), which lost to GAC last month, faces winless Johnson but can get back in the hunt with a win over the Knights and a North Hall win, to set up a duel at The Burial Grounds and a possible three-way tie at the top if the Indians can win both games. The Indians won Region 7-3A last year and captured their first-ever region title.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING?

Lakeview Academy can set a new program record for wins in a season if it can beat King’s Academy tonight in Woodstock. The Lions (6-1, 3-1 GIAA District 4A/3A) have won 6 games in a season twice, in 2012 with Matthew Gruhn and 2022 with Lee Shaw.

East Forsyth set a program record for wins in a season with its 34-15 victory over Walnut Grove on Thursday. If the four-year team can pick up another win in the final two games of the regular season (Eastside and Madison County), it will set a record for wins in a season for the third straight year.

For the third time under Krofton, Montgomery West Hall has four wins. However, Montgomery and the Spartans failed to reach that elusive fifth place in his final six seasons. And they weren’t in the playoffs with Montgomery as coach.

But the Spartans (4-3, 0-2 Region 8-3A) can still do both this year. Things get tough again with a three-game finish against Oconee County, East Hall and Monroe Area in a brutal Region 8-3A. But if they can get at least one win, they will also get the fifth win. A possible playoff spot could be their final against the Hurricanes at The Hot Gates.

STATE YARDAGE GUIDES

Entering the final third of the 2024 season, only White County’s Tripp Nix leads the state in his respective rankings among the nation’s leaders in yardage for players from the Northeast Georgia region.

(All statistics provided by Georgia High School Football Daily.)

Nix leads Class 3A in passing with 1,482 yards, which is 17th overall in the state. Brooks Brien of Cherokee Bluff is fourth in 3A and 30th overall with 1,328 yards.

But Gainesville’s Kharim Hughley leads the box with 1,628 yards. That’s good for 11th overall in the state, but only third-best in a pass-happy Class 5A.

Houston County’s Antwann Hill Jr. leads the state and 5A with 2,198 yards. Matt Pearch of Dunwoody is second in 5A and fifth overall with 1,753 yards.

Habersham Central’s Paris Wilbanks moved up to 23rd overall and 6th in 5A with 1,433 yards after two great weeks.

West Hall’s Elijah Hayes had led Class 3A in rushing the past two weeks. But two difficult outings in a row have dropped it to third place in Class 3A and ninth overall in the state. He is now 167 yards behind leader Bryian Duncan Jr. (1,250 yards) of Cairo, who is second overall in the state.

Chattooga’s Zayden Cook of Class A Division 1 has amassed a whopping 1,752 yards to lead the state.

Commerce’s Tysean Wiggins continues to climb the rankings and is now ranked 2nd in A D1 and 6th overall in the state with 1,113 yards. Rabun County’s Reid Giles moved to 15th overall and 3rd in A D1 with 1,006 yards.

Giles, Wiggins and Hayes are three of just 15 runners statewide to reach the 1,000-yard mark so far this season.

In receiving, Habersham Central’s Zeke Whittingham moved to 11th in the state and 4th in Class 5A with 700 yards receiving.