Gavin Markey News Today

Just seven northeast Georgia area teams made it out of the first round of the playoffs in the GHSA, GIAA, and GAPPS leagues. But it’s a potent field that is left as the Sweet 16 kicks off on Friday around the state.

There may only be seven teams from the northeast Georgia area still left in the Georgia High School Association playoffs, but there are more than a few compelling storylines coming into Fridays second-round showdowns.

The final week of the high school football season has region titles and playoff seedings on the line.

Not only is it the busiest week of the season in terms of number of games, but Week 11 may be the biggest week of the season with playoff fates hanging in the balance for a dozen teams in the northeast Georgia area.

Almost a dozen crucial games involving 24 of the 26 teams covered by AccessWDUN/Friday Game Night highlight a 19-game schedule on Friday, one of the busiest weeks of the season.

After Flowery Branch took a 7-0 lead on the first drive of the game, Jefferson outscored Flowery Branch 41-6 en route to a 41-13 Region 8-5A win at home last week.

The Week 9 schedule has no larger match-up than the behemoth Class 7A battle between No. 1 Buford and No. 2 Mill Creek.

Week 6 could be a pivotal week for several area teams already involved in region play. Meanwhile, three more regions -- 8-5A, 7-3A, and GAPPS 11-man -- all open their region schedules this week with some critical matchups.

Region 8-4A will go full throttle on Friday night as the rest of the region joins East Forsyth and Cedar Shoals for some key matchups right out of the gate.

The Dragons had an emotionally-charged 2022 season that ended in the first round of the playoffs despite a Region 8-5A championship and winning their final six regular season games...