Week Eleven saw some teams nail down region titles or playoff berths.

*keep checking back for additions to the recaps as that data becomes available.*

#3 Commerce 23, #4 Rabun County 17 (OT)

It took extra time, but the Tigers broke the 9-year streak of Rabun’s region titles with a 23-17 OT win at home. Rabun held leads of 3-0, 10-7, and 17-10, but Jaiden Daniels reeled off 3 TD runs. Marcus Remillard and Ivy Tolbert exchanged FGs in the first half, as the game was tied at 17 apiece. Daniels had a 2-yd and 37-yd TD in the second quarter, while Ty Truelove had TD passes to Jake Payne (42 yds) and Reid Giles (40 yds). Neither team scored in the third, but Tolbert was in line with 6 seconds to go in the game for a potential 31-yd FG. It was blocked, and her leg was broken on the play. Her teammates rallied around her, as Daniels scored from 3 yards out in overtime. Without Tolbert, Commerce went for 2. It failed, setting up Rabun for a chance to win on a TD and extra point. Truelove found Giles, but the ball was punched out, and Daniels picked it up for the win.

#5 Lumpkin County 34, Dawson County 23

The Indians set a new school record with a 9th straight win, also making a new single-season wins record. But more importantly, Lumpkin County got its first Region Championship with a win over rivals Dawson County. It also came at Dawsonville for the first Lumpkin win there since 1998. To add to the historic night, Lumpkin tied its school record for points in a season (set last year), but with still many games to go.

#1 Stephens County 17, Oconee County 14

It didn’t come easy, but top-ranked Stephens County not only remained unbeaten, but won the Region Championship for 8-AAA with a convincing 17-14 win over Oconee County. The game-winning TD was from Tripp Underwood to Davon Swinton, and Aidan Butts hauled in a TD pass as well.

#2 Jefferson 42, Heritage 0

The Dragons stapled down the 8-AAAAA Region Championship with a 42-0 win over Heritage. The party got started with a 1-yd TD from Sammy Brown. Gavin Markey plunged in from a yard out to make it 14-0, and Brown got another rushing score in the second to push it up to 21-0. Before the break, Brown rattled off 2 more TD runs, giving him 4 in the half as part of a 35-0 blowout lead. Mickell Pittman put the finishing touches on in the fourth with a 2-yd TD.

Union County 35, #8 Athens Academy 21

Union County pulled off a signature win over #8 Athens Academy, 35-21. The Panthers led 21-7 at the half, and scored early in the third to make it 28-7 and minutes later it was 35-7. Braylen Rader had 2 rushing scores and Caiden Tanner had TD passes to Cade Dockery and a pair to Tyler Grasty. The Spartans made a comeback attempt, but the defense shut them down completely, with the last couple of scores coming after the game was well in hand. In total, it was a dominant effort by Union County in all phases of the game.

#3 Fellowship Christian 21, Banks County 10

The Leopards dropped a 21-10 decision to #3 Fellowship, losing a 5th straight contest heading into their season finale next week.

Pickens 39, White County 37

The Warriors lost a 39-37 shootout to Pickens. Tripp Nix got White County up 7-6 midway through the first, and Ryan Fowler’s 1-yd TD made it 13-6. Pickens went up 20-13 before Nix got in from 9 yards out. The XP failed, keeping the Dragons up 20-19 and 27-19 at the break. Fowler’s early third quarter TD from 4 yards out was followed by a failed 2PC, making it 27-25. Nix scored early in the fourth on a 5-yd run, but again the 2-point try failed. Nix’s fourth TD run was with about 4 minutes to go, getting it within 39-37. The 2-point try again was no good, as Pickens turned away White County.

Habersham Central 42, Apalachee 15

The Raiders were in a must-win, and did so with a 42-15 final over Apalachee. It started with a long TD pass from DJ Pass to Zeke Whittington. Antonio Cantrell had a short TD run late in the quarter, and Hab Central held a 14-0 lead going into the second and into the half. In the third, Cantrell scored from a couple yards out after the Raiders recovered an Apalachee fumble. Pass connected with Whittington from 34 yards out to extend the lead to 28-0 midway through the third. Pass and Whittington continued their career night with a third TD connection to make it 35-0. A short TD run polished it off at 42-0. Apalachee scored its points in garbage time in the fourth.

#10 Washington-Wilkes 41, Towns County 14

#10 Wash-Wilkes piled on 41 points in a win over Towns County, as the Indians will enter next week still in search of the first victory of 2023.

OTHER LOCAL GAMES

#3 Buford 51, Mountain View 0
#1 Gainesville 41, North Forsyth 14
Loganville 32, Flowery Branch 28
East Forsyth 51, Chestatee 20
North Hall 24, Cedar Shoals 14 (TH)
#1 North Oconee 70, East Hall 15
Johnson 35, Clarkston 6
Monroe Area 35, Franklin County 0
Hebron Christian 27, Hart County 0
Wesleyan 49, West Hall 21
Providence Christian 54, East Jackson 27
Loganville Christian vs Riverside Military Academy (Score Unknown)
George Walton vs Lakeview Academy (Score Unknown)