The playoff picture in Region 7-AAA is starting to take shape after last Friday night’s action.
In fact, the playoff qualifiers in Region 7B-AAA are already in tact. Flowery Branch (8-1, 3-0) wrapped up the subregion title with a 42-13 win over Johnson at ‘The Branch.’ Gainesville (7-3, 3-1) also wrapped up a playoff berth with a 40-14 win against West Hall in Oakwood.
The Falcons earned the subregion title as a by-product of its head-to-head 49-38 win against the Red Elephants on Oct. 12.
In Region 7A-AAA, North Hall (9-0, 3-0) is still one win away from the subregion and region championship after its 73-20 win against East Hall last Friday at Valhalla. The Trojans have already secured a playoff spot.
North Hall wraps up the regular season against Chestatee (7-2, 3-1) on Friday at War Eagle Stadium. With a win North Hall can earn the school’s third region championship in the past four seasons.
White County controls its own destiny as far as making the playoffs concerned.
If the Warriors are able to get a win Friday night against Lumpkin County in Dahlonega, they will represent Subregion 7A-AAA in the Class AAA playoffs.
Records are meant to be broken
The Trojans established a pair of new school records against the Vikings last Friday.
North Hall set a new single-game scoring record (73) breaking its previous mark from Oct. 19 against Gilmer (68). The Trojans had nine different players score touchdowns and 16 different ball carriers in setting the new school mark for points.
In just nine games, North Hall also established a new school record for points in a regular season (455). It broke the mark of the 2004 Trojans with 427 points in 10 games.
Fordham passes for school milestone
Gainesville High senior quarterback Justin Fordham threw for 390 yards en route to becoming the first quarterback in school history to eclipse the 3,000 yard mark in a single season. He now stands at 3,042 yards with the regular season now complete.
On Friday, Gainesville’s no huddle offense worked to perfection with senior receiver Gerald Ford catching 13 passes for 211 yards. Ford and fellow senior receiver Tyler Adetona each are closing in on the 1,000 yard mark catching this season.
Gainesville begins the Class AAA playoffs Nov. 16 against an opponent to be determined.
War Eagles tie record
The War Eagles tied the school record for wins in a season (7) last Friday night in their 24-22 win over Lumpkin County in Dahlonega. Chestatee’s senior tailback Jo Jo Sweet finished with 212 rushing yards while War Eagles tailback Ben Souther also had a good night with 144 yards on the ground.
Falcons air raid
Flowery Branch senior quarterback Jaybo Shaw put on another show on senior night at ‘The Branch.’ The Falcons signal caller threw for 249 yards and four touchdowns last Friday night against the Knights. In his career, Shaw has amassed 8,589 passing yards.
Tracy Sykes led the Flowery Branch receivers in the win with three touchdown catches. Connor Shaw added a 53-yard touchdown grab from his brother.
News, notes
Habersham Central, Banks County and Dawson County all face region play-in games Friday night in the hopes of earning playoff spots in their respective region... Jefferson can earn the Region 8-A championship with a win against Athens Academy on Friday.