Region outlooks: Here's where Athens-area high school football teams stand before Week 9
Action is rising in the Athens-area high school football season and region pecking orders are beginning to take shape.
Some teams have set themselves up for success, and some still have a bit of work to do if they want to earn postseason berths. Who is who, and how did your preseason expectations match with the reality of the current situation?
There are four weeks left in the regular season for the state playoff picture to fully develop across the Classic City. Until then, here's where teams stand heading into Week 9.
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Athens-area high school football region outlooks for Week 9
Region 8-AAAAAA
Gainesville (6-0, 2-0)
Lanier (5-2, 2-1)
North Forsyth (3-4, 2-1)
Jackson County (4-4, 2-2)
Habersham Central (3-3, 1-1)
Shiloh (2-5, 1-2)
Apalachee (0-7, 0-3)
Apalachee is winless through seven games ahead of home matchups against Lanier on Thursday and Habersham Central on Oct. 27 and a trip to North Forsyth to end the regular season.
Jackson County is still in contention for a playoff berth after starting region play 2-2. Gainesville and Lanier, the top two teams in the region, are still on the schedule, with a win against either bolstering the Panthers postseason hopes.
Region 8-AAAAA
Eastside (5-2, 3-0)
Jefferson (6-0, 2-0)
Flowery Branch (4-3, 2-1)
Loganville (4-4, 2-2)
Winder-Barrow (4-3, 1-2)
Clarke Central (3-4, 0-3)
Heritage, Conyers (2-4, 0-2)
Undefeated Jefferson is in position to repeat as the region champion, but there are a few tough matchups in the way of the crown. The Dragons host Flowery Branch on Friday, with games against Loganville and Heritage, Conyers before closing out the regular season against Eastside, who started region play with three-straight victories
Winder-Barrow sits just outside the top four spots with a 1-2 record in region play. The Bulldoggs have a bye this week, play Heritage, Conyers on Oct. 20, Eastside on Oct. 27 and close the regular season at Clarke Central.
Clarke Central is behind Winder-Barrow in the standings after losing its first three region games following a promising start during the non-region portion of the schedule. The Gladiators need wins against Heritage, Eastside and Winder-Barrow and help from other teams to have a chance of reaching the playoffs.
Region 8-AAAA
North Oconee (6-0, 4-0)
East Forsyth (5-1, 4-1)
Madison County (5-1, 3-1)
North Hall (5-2, 3-2)
Cherokee Bluff (3-4, 3-2)
Johnson, Gainesville (2-4, 1-1)
Cedar Shoals (2-5, 2-3)
Walnut Grove (2-4, 1-3)
East Hall (2-5, 1-5)
Chestatee (0-5, 0-4)
Seckinger (1-5, 0-0)
Undefeated North Oconee is on track to win another region championship after going undefeated in 8-AAAA the past two years. They face one team who could potentially knock them off their high horse this Friday when they travel to East Forsyth. Other than that, Walnut Grove is set for Oct. 20 and East Hall on Oct. 27. Their regular season finale is against Cherokee Bluff.
Madison County is in contention for a playoff berth. East Forsyth figures to be a challenge, but if the Red Raiders will be in good shape if they can hold serve against Cedar Shoals on Friday and Walnut Grove Oct. 27 before closing the regular season hosting East Hall.
Cedar Shoals has work to do in the next four weeks if it wants to return to the postseason like it did last season. The Jaguars face a challenges against Madison County on Friday, with Chestatee and North Hall as seemingly winnable games also remaining on the schedule.
Region 8-AAA
Stephens County (7-0, 2-0)
Hart County (4-3, 2-0)
Monroe Area (4-3, 1-1)
Oconee County (2-5, 1-1)
Hebron Christian Academy (3-4, 0-2)
Franklin County (1-6, 0-2)
Despite a slow start during non-region play, Oconee County remains in contention for a playoff berth after starting region play 1-1. Monroe Area and Stephens County, two of the top three teams in the region, are still on the schedule, with a win against either bolstering the Warriors postseason hopes. They close the regular season with Franklin County.
GHSA Region 8-AA
Union County (5-1, 1-0)
Athens Academy (4-2, 1-0)
Fellowship Christian (4-2,1-0)
East Jackson (6-1, 1-1)
Providence Christian (4-1, 0-1)
Banks County (3-3, 0-2)
Athens Academy finished second in Region 8-AA last year and is maintaining pace for the same result this season. The Spartans face Fellowship Christian on Friday and Banks County on Oct. 20. Arguably their hardest challenge comes on Oct. 27 in the form of the top-ranked Union County, and they'll close the regular season with East Jackson.
East Jackson's undefeated start ended last weekend, and things won't be easy down the stretch with Union County and Athens Academy, the top two teams in the region, are still on the schedule. A win against either would help the Eagles case for a third postseason appearance in school history. They also host Providence Christian on Oct. 27.
Region 8-A Division 1
Commerce (6-1, 0-0)
Elbert County (6-1, 0-0)
Rabun County (6-1, 0-0)
Athens Christian (0-6, 0-0)
Commerce is having its best season since 2020, looking to claim its first region title of the Mark Hollars Era. The Tigers face Athens Christian on Friday, before traveling to Elbert County on Oct. 20 and closing the regular season with Rabun County on Oct. 27.
Athens Christian is winless, and things won't get any easier with region play starting. A playoff spot is automatic due to only four teams being in the region.
Region 5-A Division 1
Prince Avenue Christian (6-1, 0-0)
Jasper County (5-2, 0-0)
Oglethorpe County (3-4, 0-0)
Social Circle (1-4, 0-0)
Prince Avenue Christian is hungry for a four-peat as region champion, despite their 20-game win streak coming to an end in September. The Wolverines are on a bye this week, preparing to travel to Oglethorpe County on Oct. 20 and Jasper County on Oct. 27 before hosting Social Circle in the regular-season finale.
Oglethorpe County has been to the postseason twice since 2020 and is looking to add another appearance. They have a timely off week ahead of a matchup against Prince Avenue Christian on Oct. 20 and a trip to Social Circle on Oct. 27. They end their regular season against Jasper County.
GIAA 8-Man Region 1
Holy Spirit Prep (5-1, 2-0)
Westminster, Augusta (6-1, 1-1)
Westminster Christian Academy (2-5, 0-2)
Dominion Christian (1-5, 0-0)
Westminster Christian Academy is on a bye after losing to Westminster, Augusta last week. They'll host two more home games to close out the season, facing Dominion Christian on Oct. 20 and a non-region opponent in Johnson Ferry Christian Academy on Oct. 27.
11-Man District 4-AAAA/AAA
George Walton Academy (4-3, 1-0)
Bethlehem Christian Academy (7-0, 1-0)
Lakeview Academy (2-4, 0-1)
Riverside Military Academy (0-6, 0-1)
Loganville Christian Academy (2-4, 0-0)
Undefeated Bethlehem Christian is in position to repeat a playoff appearance for the third year in a row after dominating in its first seven games. They host Riverside Military on Friday before traveling to Loganville Christian on Oct. 20. They'll take a bye week before the regular-season finale matchup against George Walton Academy, which will likely be the determining factor on if the Knights program can top the region charts for the first time in program history.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Here's where Athens-area high school football teams stand in Week 9
