As the high school football season kicks into midseason gear, volleyball and softball are already begin postseason play this week.

In softball, region tournaments begins today.

In 8-AA, Jefferson, a No. 2 seed from the North, will play No. 5 (South) Rabun County at 3 p.m., while No. 3 (South) Jackson County plays No. 4 (North) Banks County at 5. No. 3 (North) Dawson County plays No. 4 (South) Oglethorpe, also at 5. No. 1 seed Union County has a bye and plays an opponent to be determined at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

In Region 8-AAA, North Hall is a No. 5 seed and will play Walnut Grove on Thursday. White County is a No. 1 seed and will play an opponent TBD on Saturday.

In volleyball, in Area 8-AAAA, No. 1 seed Flowery Branch has a bye and will play Thursday at 5 p.m. against a winner to be decided later.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Games involving Hall County schools Friday include Chestatee at Stephens County, Union County at East Hall, Flowery Branch at Habersham Central, Gainesville at Oconee County, Johnson at West Hall, River Ridge at Lakeview, White County at North Hall and Riverside Military at Commerce.

ATLANTA BRAVES: The Braves (91-71) secured the National League wild card on Sunday with a win over the Philadelphia Phillies, and San Diego’s loss to San Francisco. This marks the first time in franchise history to enter the playoffs as the wild card.

Atlanta faces the San Francisco Giants, the NL West champions, starting on Thursday at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

ATLANTA FALCONS: The Falcons travel to Ohio to take on the Browns, who feature former NFC South division foe and quarterback Jake Delhomme. The Falcons last played the Browns in 2006, losing 17-13 at home. Atlanta is coming off a 16-14 win against the San Francisco on Sunday, thanks to Matt Bryant’s 43-yard game winning field goal in the final seconds.

GEORGIA: After traveling out west and losing to the University of Colorado, the Bulldogs are back in the friendly confines of Sanford Stadium, where they’ll host Tennessee in search of their first conference win of the season. Georgia is trying to avoid its first five-game losing streak in the same season since 1953.

GEORGIA TECH: The Yellow Jackets host the Virginia Cavaliers at Bobby Dodd Stadium in an ACC showdown.
Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.