Several state playoff berths were decided on the field Friday night, but most remain in play. The most surprising final came in a game that directly affects our Devils in two weeks: Bowdon trailed Trion 34-18 with 3 minutes left but won in overtime 41-34 in the Western Red Devils' biggest comeback in 40 years.
Our Devils, having clinched the 7-A title, will host the #4 seed from Region 6 in the first roun d of the playoffs. Bowdon hosts Bremen and Trion visits Gordon Lee. If we understand the tie-breakers correctly, the #4 seed will be the loser of next Friday's Trion at Gordon Lee contest. A win by Bremen gives the Blue Devils the #1 seed. Bowdon can finish first, second, or third.
In our own 7-A, the winner of Hancock Central and Warren County appears to clinch the #2 seed. A loss by Wilkinson County to Twiggs County eliminates the Warriors, while a win gives them #4.
In Region 8, Jefferson missed a winning field goal by a foot as time expired, falling 15-13 to Commerce. Athens Academy shellacked Social Circle 48-6 to essentially lock in the #1 seed. Commerce will finish second, followed by Jefferson and Social Circle.
Landmark Christian defeated Eagles Landing Christian Academy 28-14 to seal the #1 berth in Region 5-A. ELCA will finish second. Next Friday's game between Fellowship Christian and Whitefield Academy will decide the 3rd and 4th seeds.
Region 2-A continues to be the most hotly contested, spurred on by its unique-in-Class-A subregion format. Four region playoff games next Friday will decide the state playoff teams from 2-A: Wheeler County at Turner County, Treutlen at Wilcox County, Hawkinsville at Telfair County, and Irwin County at Johnson County.
ECI continued rolling in 3-A with a 39-7 pounding of Portal. The 3-A title and top two seeds will be decided in Twin City Friday when 7-2 Savannah Country Day visits the undefeated Bulldogs. Portal will finish third, probably followed by Bryan County.
Brookstone and Pacelli meet Friday in Columbus to decide Region 4's top two spots. Four teams are still in the running for the other two spots.
To no one's surprise, Clinch County wins Region 1, with Seminole County second. Terrell County, Lanier County, and Atkinson County will slug it out for third and fourth.
In Region 8-AA, Washington-Wilkes will host 2-7 Dawson County in a region playoff game. Greene County hosts Banks County. The W-W Tigers edged Greene County 14-6 to win Region 8-AA Subregion A Friday night.