Playoff implications: Augusta high school football teams with the most at stake in Week 11

It's the penultimate week of the high school football season in Georgia.

Several region titles are still up in the air, while even more state playoff spots are up for grabs across all classifications. The next two weeks are arguably the most important of the season for a number of Augusta-area high school football programs.

Out of the slate of teams playing this week, here are the matchups with the biggest region implications on the line.

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State playoff scenarios for Week 11 Augusta-area high school football games

North Augusta

The Yellow Jackets (7-2, 3-0) travel to Midland Valley (9-0, 3-0) this week with the Region 4-AAAA title on the line. This was the same situation a year ago, as North Augusta took this game in the Jacket’s Nest 48-22. This Mustangs team, however, has been dominant all season behind superstar running back Traveon Dunbar. The Division-I prospect has racked up an impressive 1,876 yards and 24 touchdowns through nine games. Slowing him down will be priority No. 1 for Richard Bush’s defense. Going on the road in a hostile environment doesn’t help, but this North Augusta team has shown the ability to find ways to win even if it’s not at its very best.

Burke County

The Bears (7-1, 2-1) still have a firm grip on the No. 2 spot in Region 3-AAAA, but they’ll need to get past New Hampstead (4-4, 2-2) to maintain that standing. Going on the road late in the season is always tough, but this Phoenix offense brings with it a new set of problems. Senior quarterback Rashad Truell can sling the football against anybody, most notably carving up Benedictine’s secondary to the tune of 533 yards and four touchdowns. His 2,370 passing yards and 26 touchdowns make him one of the most prolific passers in the state and if the Bears get down by multiple scores early, it could be a long night. The best thing for Burke County would be controlling the football and keeping the New Hampstead offense off the field as much as possible, making sophomore quarterback Sean Vandiver’s job that much more important.

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Evans

Currently sitting in the No. 4 spot in Region 2-AAAAAA, the Knights (3-5, 2-2) are in a peculiar spot. They’re facing Brunswick (5-2, 3-1) and a win over the Pirates would be huge for Barret Davis’ squad. If they lose, however, fifth-place South Effingham (5-3, 1-3) is suddenly back in this thing. The Mustangs host a middling Grovetown team and with a win and Evans loss, it would come down to the regular-season finale next week as the Knights travel to South Effingham. The winner of that game would be in the state playoffs, the loser would go home.

Hephzibah, Cross Creek and Richmond Academy

The final two spots in Region 4-AAA are up for grabs over the next two weeks. Hephzibah (5-3, 1-2) and Richmond Academy (3-5, 1-2) play one another this week and both control their own destiny. The winner of that game will be in the driver’s seat for the No. 3 position and the loser will still have a chance at the No. 4 seed. Cross Creek is still alive but needs some things to go its way following a 28-0 loss to Richmond earlier in the season. They’ll need to get by Morgan County and Hephzibah to have a shot at a state playoff berth, while also needing last-place Salem to upset Richmond in the regular-season finale.

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Aquinas

The Fightin’ Irish’s 31-27 loss to Washington-Wilkes last week could put them on the outside-looking-in as far as hosting a first-round matchup in the state playoffs, but there’s still hope there. Aquinas is tasked this week with undefeated Greene County, the current leader in Region 8A-D2. If they can get by the Tigers this week, it could set up an interesting scenario next Friday. Aquinas would be sitting with one loss while Greene County and Washington-Wilkes square off in the regular-season finale. If the Irish take care of business against Warren County and the Greene County knocks off Washington-Wilkes, Aquinas can sneak back into the region title conversation.

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This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta-area high school football playoff scenarios for Week 11 games