Class 4A Blog: Region championships on the line in one of the biggest weekends of the season

The action around Class 4A has as much high stakes as ever this Friday night with not only wins and losses on the line, but region championships between ranked teams and respected high school football programs taking center stage.

Around the classification, there are four region titles to be decided this Friday night as the region championship slate includes Central-Carrollton versus Griffin in Region 3-4A, Benedictine versus Perry in Region 1-4A, North Oconee versus Flowery Branch in Region 8-4A and the only ranked matchup in a region championship in the classification, No. 8 Cambridge taking on No. 9 Kell in the Region 6-4A championship.

In Region 3-4A, Central-Carrollton puts its undefeated record on the line as the Lions travel to Griffin to face the Bears who have remained undefeated in league play. The two programs sit at the top two spots in the region and are a perfect 4-0 against those opponents this season. The Lions have held their opponents to seven points or less in six games this season during their eight-game win-streak and have only let up 76 points this season.

The Lions offense, led by four-star Notre Dame-commit running back Jonaz Walton has been explosive so far this season, firing on all cylinders averaging over 43 points per game this season.  With 1,046 all-purpose yards this season and seven total touchdowns this season, he will be at the top of the players to watch for a Griffin defense who has been a big piece of the Bears six-game win-streak.

Griffin has had a difficult start to the seasons with back-to-back losses to Tift County and Sumter County, but have been playing good football as of late with averaging over 37 points per game.

In Region 1-4A, Benedictine is riding a five-game win-streak as they travel to Perry looking to secure the program's first region title in two years. Benedictine head coach Danny Britt is searching for his ninth region title with the Cadets since he took over in 2011. The Cadets defense led by Class of 2026 five-star edge rusher LaDamion Guyton has allowed seven points or fewer in four of its last five matchups, allowing only 41 points during their win-streak.

With a Perry victory, Ward County, with only one-loss in the region, would still be able to take home the region title following the Panthers outcome on Friday night.

One of the most dominant teams in the state, the North Oconee Titans have a tough matchup in their potential region championship game on Friday night as they travel to take on Flowery Branch who is coming off of a 49-28 victory last week on the road at Walnut Grove. The Falcons will be looking to snap North Oconee’s four-year region title streak in Michael Perry’s first season at the helm.

They will have a tall-task ahead of them as the Titans defense has been relentless this season, only allowing 38 points this season through eight games.

In the only ranked region championship of the night, the high-powered Cambridge Bears travel to Kell to take on the Longhorns for a chance at the Region 6-4A crown.

The Bears are averaging 41 points per game so far this season and are led by one of the most-talented receivers in the state in four-star Georgia-commit Craig Daindridge as he has recorded 949 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Connor Langford has been exceptional throwing the ball this season as he has thrown for over 2,000 yards and 25 touchdowns this season.

The Kell defense will have their hands full, but are up for the task with many playmakers on their defense including a pair of Tennessee-commits in linebacker Brayden Rouse and Jowell Combay. Both have played a huge role for the Longhorns defense this season and will have to keep the explosive Bears offense in check.

1. Creekside: @ Maynard Jackson (Creekside has shut out six of its eight opponents this season)

2. North Oconee: @ Flowery Branch (Most amount of points they have let up this season is 13 to Eastside)

3. Cartersville: @ Hiram (Seeking first undefeated regular season since 2016)

4. Benedictine: @ Perry (Benedictine head coach Danny Britt is seeking ninth region title with the Cadets)

5. Marist: vs Lithonia (Allowed seven or fewer points in five matchups this season)

6. Ware County: @ Warner Robins (Seeking first region title since 2022)

7. Central-Carroll: @ Griffin (Seeking first undefeated season since 1987)

8. Cambridge: @ Kell (Seeking first region title since 2022)

9. Kell: vs Cambridge (Looking for first region title since 2023)

10. Blessed Trinity: vs Centennial (Have only let up 107 points this season)

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