Week 11 secured some region titles or playoff spots for several teams!
#2 Jefferson 35, #3 Cherokee Bluff 7
It wasn’t even close. Undefeated Cherokee fell in a deep hole as Gavin Markey accounted for 4 TDs (2 rushing, 2 passing), and Chance Payne (2 INT, blocked punt) just suffocated the Bears. Jefferson was up 21-zip at the break before chewing up 8 minutes to start the second half. Dallas Russell had a rushing score, and Markey’s TD passes went to Talan Childress and Dalton Dye. The Dragons secured the Region 8-AAA Championship with the win.
Habersham Central 49, Apalachee 14
The Raiders got a second straight win, 49-14 at home against Apalachee.
Lumpkin County 38, Dawson County 14
In a tight region battle, the Tigers found themselves up 14-10 at the half. Nolan Matthews scored first for Lumpkin, but Gunnar Weaver’s 70-yd pass to Chatham Burnett led to a Preston Bannister TD run. Bannister then threw a 27-yd TD to Dylan Edwards for the 14-10 lead just before the half. The Indians had a brief lead on a 22-yd FG by Josue Nieto. Matthews was unstoppable in the serving half, as he scored on TD runs of 25 and 77 to put Lumpkin up 24-14 early in the fourth. A Cal Faulkner pick-six advanced it to 31-14. Another Faulkner trip to the end zone stapled down the win.
Chestatee 23, White County 21
The Warriors got a late first quarter TD on a 24-yd TD by Tripp Nix. Chestatee would notch a field goal in the second and later a TD to go into the locker room up 10-7. The War Eagles added to it with a late third quarter TD (XP missed), keeping White County down 16-7 heading into the final stanza. The Warriors needed a tuddy and got it, as Nix connected with Bryson Phillyaw from 5 yards out. But a Chestatee 80-yd TD run on the next play ratcheted it back up to 23-14. With just over a minute left, Nix had a 1-yd TD to get within 23-21. They wouldn’t get another shot as they dropped the game.
Stephens County 37, #10 Hart County 34
The Indians got a much-needed victory in a thriller against rivals Hart County, 37-34.
Sonoraville 32, Union County 30 (3 OT)
Union dropped a heart-breaking 3OT thriller to Sonoraville. The Panthers got a quick start on a TD run by Connor Schuknecht before Sonoraville tied it up. That 7-7 score held up through the break, as neither team could get much going offensively. Union went 80 yards on the opening drive of the second half, scoring on a Kamden Kendrick – Maddox Young TD for the 14-7 advantage. Unfortunately for Union, a scoop-n-score by Sonoraville tied the contest up. With mere seconds to go in the third, Young had a go-ahead 1-yd TD run. Sonoraville tied it up then with under 2 minutes to play had a FG attempt blocked. The Panthers got all the way down near the red zone. They couldn’t score, sending the game to overtime. In overtime, sophomore Grant Smith on his first career attempt nailed a 34-yd FG for the lead. Sonoraville matched it just inside the uprights to go to a second OT, then scored first to put the pressure on the Panthers (however, they missed their 2-point try). The Panthers got a TD run by Young, but also missed the 2-point attempt to go to the third overtime. In the third overtime, both teams went for a 2-point try. Union missed their attempt, dropping the 32-30 final.
#8 Commerce 27, Banks County 10
The old rivalry continued to be one-sided, as in Commerce claiming a 20TH STRAIGHT game over the Leopards, but Banks made a game out of it early on. Commerce was up only 14-10 at the half, courtesy of a pair of Adam Calderon field goals in the first. Jacari Huff added a 15-yd TD and Tysean Wiggins had a 2PC for the 14-0 lead early in the second. Banks County scored the next 10 to pull close. Jaiden Daniels had a late TD to cushion the lead. A Ty Sorrells pick-six sealed the win.
SE Whitfield 7, Towns County 3
Towns County dropped a baseball score of 7-3 in the Indians’ season finale.
#3 Athens Academy 34, #9 Rabun County 28
After the Spartans grabbed an early lead, a Reed Burrell interception led to a Lake Evans TD run to pull within 7-6. Athens Academy got that score back, but in the second, Reid Giles had a TD and Ty Truelove the 2-point conversion to knot the game at 14 apiece. The Spartans again took a lead before the break, up 21-14. With 3:33 left in the third, a Giles 9-yd TD tied the game. The Spartans scored on a 19-yd TD pass to open the fourth. With 5:20 left, Truelove again tied the game with a TD run for the Cats. It was short-lived, as the Spartans had a big TD pass to reclaim the lead. AA held on the rest of the way.
Other local scores
#10 North Hall 56, Johnson 7
East Hall 42, West Hall 35
#2 Hebron Christian 38, Franklin County 21
Lakeview 33, Loganville Christian 13 (Halftime score)
#1 Buford 49, Mountain View 7
#7 Roswell 48, #4 Gainesville 45
Jackson County 31, Loganville 0
#1 North Oconee 63, Flowery Branch 7
#2 Prince Avenue Christian 62, East Jackson 14
King’s Academy vs Riverside (Unknown Score)
BYE: NONE
SEE ALSO Singer Jelly Roll to perform for Apalachee students
Jefferson essentially nails down region title in blowout of unbeaten Cherokee Bluff [VIDEO]
