Falcons vs. Elephants one of three big finales

As a sports fan, all you can really ask for is interesting, competitive games (there are too many variables at play to expect results and championships).

With that being the case, area high school football fans should be thrilled with the final week of the regular season.

This Friday features three championship-deciding tilts, one each in Regions 7-AAA, 8-AA and 7-AAAAA -- two of which will be broadcast live.

In 7-AAA, Gainesville travels to Flowery Branch in a game that will decide the subregion B and overall region crown. The No. 1-ranked Red Elephants (9-0, 4-0 Region 7B-AAA) will be going for their 23rd straight regular season victory but know they face a tough task against a team that can match Gainesville’s explosive offense step-for-step.

The contest will air live on both 1240 AM ESPN Radio and WDUN AM-550, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The Falcons (7-2, 4-0) are led by quarterback Connor Shaw, who has produced more than his share of big plays this season, both with his arm and feet. Flowery Branch also has a strong running game, led by sophomore Imani Cross, and the Falcons boast a number of talented receivers on a unit that is averaging 45.1 points per contest. It should be an intriguing match-up against a Gainesville defense that has allowed just 52 points all season.

Meanwhile, Flowery Branch’s defense will have its hands full against Gainesville standouts quarterback Blake Sims, receiver Tai-ler Jones and running back Teryan Rucker. The trio has paced a Red Elephants unit that averages 47 points per game. And a win Friday would yield Gainesville’s second straight 7-AAA title and third in five years.

You can also expect plenty of ears to be tuned into this game in the north end of Hall County, as North Hall (7-2, 5-0 Region 7A-AAA) knows a Falcons win would make the 10th-ranked Trojans region champs for the fourth time in six years. In that scenario, Flowery Branch would also finish as subregion champs and clinch the second playoff seed from 7-AAA; Gainesville would drop to third and have to travel for the first round.

There aren’t any complicated situations in Region 8-AA. Jefferson and East Jackson both know that a win on Friday night will yield an 8-AA title, while the loser will finish second.

Both the Dragons and Eagles are undefeated at 9-0 and 8-0 in Region 8-AA and will battle for the top playoff seed live on Majic 102.9 FM beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Jefferson’s Memorial Stadium.

The fourth-ranked Dragons are gunning for their second straight 8-AA crown and 20th straight regular season win. The Eagles, meanwhile, come in to the contest aiming for their first region title of any kind after playing their first varsity, region schedule in 2008.

The game should be tight, as each team relies on solid defense and explosive players on offense. Jefferson is led by quarterback Darius Minor and running back Lucas Redd, while East Jackson has a plethora of solid running backs, including Deon Sewell and C.J. Allen. The Eagles average 37.1 points per game on offense and are giving up 14.4 points on average. The Dragons score 40.3 points per contest, while giving up 12.1.

And, in Region 7-AAAAA, No. 3 North Gwinnett will take on Peachtree Ridge looking for its first region title of any kind. The Bulldogs (9-0, 7-0 Region 7-AAAAA) have played for a state title under coach Bob Sphire and are 43-7 in three-plus seasons but have been pipped by Norcross and Peachtree Ridge for the 7-AAAAA crown in recent seasons.

To win it this season, North Gwinnett must find a way past a strong Lions (8-1, 7-0) squad currently ranked eighth. Both programs feature strong defenses this year, as Peachtree Ridge is allowing just 10.9 points per game. North Gwinnett is even better, allowing just 9.6 points. The Bulldogs offense -- led by junior quarterback C.J. Uzomah -- is also slightly more explosive, scoring 32.1 per game to the Lions’ 28.6.

In other key area games, Chestatee travels to Creekview looking to stop a three-game losing skid and throw Region 7A-AAA’s race for the second playoff spot into a mess. The Grizzlies (8-1, 4-1 Region 7A-AAA) will clinch a postseason berth with a win, but the War Eagles (4-5, 3-2) could force a three-way tie should they come out victorious and White County (6-3, 3-2) also defeat Gilmer on the same night.

Meanwhile, Riverside Military Academy (4-5, 4-4 Region 8-AA) took back control of its playoff destiny in a 28-27 win over Union County last week and can seal a postseason berth in Region 8-AA with a win over Dawson County (1-8, 1-7) on Friday in Gainesville. Union County (5-4, 4-4) could still get in with a win over Banks County (2-7, 2-6) and an Eagles loss.


-- Nov. 6 High School Football Games:

Gainesville at Flowery Branch -- Radio: 1240 AM ESPN and WDUN AM-550

Chestatee at Creekview

Lumpkin County at North Hall

West Forsyth at West Hall

Pickens at East Hall

White County at Gilmer -- Radio: Ga 105.1

Buford at Greater Atlanta Christian

East Jackson at Jefferson -- Radio: Majic 102.9 FM

Dawson County at Riverside Military

Union County at Banks County

North Oconee at Fannin County

Rabun County at Oglethorpe County

Prince Avenue Christian at Commerce

Lakeview Academy at Athens Christian

Salem at Apalachee

Winder-Barrow at Loganville

Peachtree Ridge at North Gwinnett

South Forsyth at Mill Creek

Northview at North Forsyth

Towns County at Glascock County

Jackson County at Stephens County


-- AREA STANDINGS AFTER OCT. 30:

Region 7A-AAA Standings
TEAM..............Subregion...................Overall
North Hall.................5-0.........................7-2
Creekview................4-1.........................8-1
White County...........3-2.........................6-3
Chestatee................3-2.........................4-5
Gilmer.......................2-3.........................4-5
Lumpkin County.....1-4.........................4-5
Pickens....................0-6.........................1-8

Region 7B-AAA Standings
TEAM..............Subregion...................Overall
Gainesville..............4-0.........................9-0
Flowery Branch......4-0.........................7-2
West Forsyth..........2-2.........................5-4
Johnson..................2-3.........................3-7
East Hall.................1-4.........................1-8
West Hall................0-4.........................0-9


Region 8-AA Standings
TEAM..................Region...................Overall
East Jackson.........8-0.........................9-0
Jefferson.................8-0.........................9-0
North Oconee.........6-2.........................7-2
Union Co.................4-4.........................5-4
Fannin Co...............4-4.........................5-4
Riverside.................4-4.........................4-5
Oglethorpe Co.......3-5.........................4-5
Banks Co................2-6.........................2-7
Dawson Co............1-7.........................1-8
Rabun Co...............0-8.........................1-8


Region 6-AA standings
TEAM...................Region.................Overall
Lovett.....................5-1......................8-1
Buford...................5-1......................8-1
Westminster........5-1......................6-3
Avondale...............3-3......................5-4
Decatur.................3-3......................5-4
Blessed Trinity....2-4......................5-4
GACS....................1-5......................1-8
Cross Keys..........0-6......................1-8


Region 8-AAAA standings
TEAM..........................Region..............Overall
Apalachee...................9-0.....................9-0
Clarke Central............7-2.....................7-2
Salem..........................6-3......................6-3
Rockdale County.......6-3......................6-3
Loganville....................5-4.....................5-4
Madison County........5-4.......................5-4
Habersham Central..4-6......................4-6
Heritage, Conyers.....3-6......................3-6
Cedar Shoals.............3-6.....................3-6
Winder-Barrow..........2-7.......................2-7
Monroe Area...............0-9......................0-9


Region 8-A standings
TEAM........................Region...................Overall
Wesleyan...................6-0.........................10-0
Commerce................4-1..........................5-4
Athens Academy.......3-2.........................6-3
Social Circle..............3-2.........................4-5
Athens Christian......1-4..........................4-5
Prince Avenue...........1-4..........................3-6
Lakeview....................0-5.........................1-7
*Hebron Christian....................................5-3
*Towns County.........................................2-7
(*-playing a non-region schedule)


Region 7-AAAAA standings
TEAM................Region...................Overall
North Gwinnett....7-0.........................9-0
P'tree Ridge.........7-0.........................8-1
Collins Hill...........6-1.........................8-1
North Forsyth......4-3..........................6-3
Norcross .............4-3.........................4-5
Mill Creek............3-4..........................4-5
Chattahoochee...2-5.........................3-6
Northview.............1-6.........................2-7
South Forsyth.....1-6..........................1-8
Duluth...................0-7.........................1-8