VALDOSTA —
The high school football regular season has three weeks remaining and several teams are making pushes for playoff berths, and some are positioning themselves for region championships.
A region championship could be decided Friday night in Quitman, while the Lowndes Vikings and Valwood Valiants can position themselves just one win away from clinching championships.
Teams like Valdosta and Clinch County are working to position themselves back into playoff positions, but have work to do.
Cook Hornets (6-1) at Brooks County Trojans (8-0)
The Region 1-AA championship is on the line Friday night in Quitman when the Brooks County Trojans host the region rival Cook Hornets. With a win, the Trojans will secure the region championship for the first time since 2008. They would also improve to 9-0 with a visit to Berrien standing in the way of a perfect 10-0 regular season.
Cook enters with a 6-1 record, following a 20-6 win over Jefferson County last week. The Hornets’ lone loss this season was a 21-15 defeat to Fitzgerald three weeks ago. A victory for Cook and there would be a three-way tie atop Region 1-AA, pending Fitzgerald beats Early County Friday night.
Brooks County avenged a 52-12 loss to Cook in 2010 with a 19-15 win last year in Adel. It will be the Hornets’ first trip to Quitman’s Veterans Stadium since their 2010 victory. Cook owns a slim 24-23 all-time record against the Trojans, although the Trojans have won three of the last four.
Colquitt County Packers (5-2) at Valdosta Wildcats (4-3)
A playoff spot may be on the line Friday night at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. With three teams (Colquitt County, Coffee and Valdosta) fighting for the final two playoff spots in Region 1-AAAAAA, neither team can afford a loss Friday night at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. Valdosta is currently the fifth seed in the region, while Colquitt County is the third seed. That can change Friday night with a Wildcat victory.
Valdosta beat the Packers 27-24 in overtime last year to clinch the Region 1 championship. The Wildcats are 27-13 all-time against Colquitt County.
Lowndes Vikings (8-0) at Tift County Blue Devils (2-6)
In their first season under head coach John Reid, the Tift County Blue Devils are struggling. This week, the Blue Devils will host the fourth-ranked Lowndes Vikings, who are one week away from clashing with top-ranked Camden County for the Region 1-6A championship live on ESPNU.
Lowndes narrowly escaped last week’s 31-29 win over Coffee after allowing 22 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Tift County endured its fourth straight blow out region loss, losing to Valdosta 42-7. The Blue Devils have scored a combined 21 points in the previous four weeks.
Valwood Valiants (8-0) at Brookwood Warriors (2-6)
The Valiants can secure a first round home playoff game with a win Friday night over the Warriors in Thomasville. The Valiants are 8-0 this season, following a 48-18 win over Westwood last week at Goddard Field. Brookwood is 2-6 this season, following an 18-9 win over Terrell Academy last week. The Warriors’ only other win was a 20-14 victory over Tiftarea Academy Sept. 21. Valwood is 6-17 all-time against Brookwood.
Telfair County Trojans (4-3) at Lanier County Bulldogs (2-6)
Since starting the season with a 2-1 record, the Bulldogs have lost five straight games by a combined 182-32, including three shutout losses. Friday night, the Bulldogs host the Telfair County Trojans on senior night at Roquemore Field. The Trojans ended a two-game losing streak last week when they beat Turner County 43-24. Lanier County will close out its season next week at Clinch County.
Clinch County Panthers (3-4) at Charlton County Indians (4-3)
With a public and private school champion each being crowned from Class A this season, the top 16 teams from each (public and private) will qualify for the state playoffs based on a points system determined by the Georgia High School Association. If Clinch County wants to make its way back into the top 16, it will need three straight victories to make the playoffs, including Friday on the road at Charlton County. The Panthers are riding a two-game losing streak following a 33-7 loss to Wilcox County. It is their first two-game losing streak since the start of the 2009 season.
Charlton County is 4-3 on the season and also in need of wins. The Indians beat Lanier County 41-7 two weeks ago and were idle last week. They also beat Wilcox County 32-26 earlier this season.
Berrien Rebels (2-5) at Pelham Hornets (1-6)
The worst two teams, record wise, in Region 1-AA will battle Friday night in Pelham. The Rebels enter riding a four-game losing streak, including a 42-18 loss to Fitzgerald last week. Pelham is 1-6 in its first season as a Class AA school and has struggled. The Hornets have allowed 40 or more points in three straight region games and have lost six straight games since starting the season with a 40-0 win over Baconton Charter.
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