Class 5A Blog: A look at the region title races in 5A Football

As the football regular season approaches its climax, teams are still vying for region titles and playoff seeding. Class 5A has some of the most intriguing races in the state and should be extremely entertaining, with many major matchups upcoming.

In Region 1, Brunswick is in the driver’s seat. The Pirates are 6-1 and 5-0 in region play. The other contenders at this point all have one loss, and the biggest contender, Effingham County, has already lost to Brunswick. Statesboro and South Effingham both already have one loss and have yet to play each other or Brunswick. The Pirates will travel to Statesboro this week and will play South Effingham in the final game of the season. Brunswick has won four of the past five region titles and looks poised to do it once again.

In Region 2, a battle between Houston County and Thomas County Central looks inevitable. Thomas County Central is 7-0 and 2-0 in region play and has already beaten the third-best team in the region, Lee County (5-2). Houston County is also 7-0 and 2-0 in region play. The Bears will head to Thomas County Central on October 27 to face the Yellow Jackets. If they win, it will secure Thomas County Central the region title. If Houston County wins, they will then have to host Lee County in the final game of the season to secure the region title.

Region 3 still has three undefeated teams: Hughes, Lovejoy, and Northgate, all 7-0 and 4-0 in region play. All three teams are on a bye this week, but next week the first domino will fall when Northgate heads to Hughes. While Hughes is the favorite to win the region, Northgate has already upset one team that most had favored over them in Newnan. The Vikings are 7-0 for the first time since 2015. Lovejoy is another team far exceeding expectations, being 7-0 for the first time since 2020. Hughes is a traditional power that has made the finals in three of the past four years. The Panthers are the favorite to win the region and also have the most impressive non-region wins, with victories over Westlake and Douglas County.

In Region 4, Woodward Academy looks to be the frontrunner once again. The War Eagles, 5-2 and 4-0 in region play, only have one more major test in region play. Dunwoody, 4-3 and 3-1 in region play, has only one loss in region play, to Decatur, and will win the region if they win out. However, Woodward is in the way. The War Eagles have already defeated Shiloh, the other 3-1 team in region play, and if Dunwoody can defeat Shiloh, the War Eagles will only need to defeat Dunwoody.

Region 5 sees two undefeated teams in region play. New Manchester and Rome are 4-0 and 3-0 in region play, respectively. The two will face off in Douglasville on October 24. Rome has dominated the region in recent years, winning the past four titles, and has not lost the region since 2021. New Manchester has not won a region title since 2020. Rome should be the favorite to win; however, the Wolves seem to be more vulnerable than in years past.

Region 6 is in a state of chaos entering the final month of the season. There is currently a five-way tie at the top of the standings. River Ridge, Sequoyah, Sprayberry, Woodstock, and Creekview all currently sit at 3-1 in region play. This week could define the region title race. The game between River Ridge and Sprayberry will either put River Ridge or Sequoyah in the driver’s seat. If River Ridge wins, they will have wins over Sequoyah and Sprayberry; they will only need one Woodstock loss. If Sprayberry wins, Sequoyah will just need to win out to take the region, with River Ridge, the only team that beat them, having two losses.

Region 7 has a three-way tie at the top. The three traditional powers, Roswell, Milton, and Gainesville, all have no region losses. This week, Milton will host Gainesville in a game that may decide the region title. Roswell will then play both teams, Gainesville on the 24th and Milton on the 31st. The region could easily become a three-way tie; however, not much can be determined until after this week.

Region 8 looks to have its region title matchup already scheduled. Jackson County and Habersham Central are both 3-0 in region play. Habersham Central has beaten the region’s No. 3 and No. 4 teams, Winder-Barrow and Clarke Central, to nearly guarantee a shot at the region crown in Week 12. Jackson County still needs to win its match with Winder-Barrow but will most likely head into Week 12 with the region title on the line.

Class 5A top 10 schdeule

No. 1 Thomas County Central on bye.

No. 2 Hughes on bye.

No. 3 Houston County on bye.

No. 4 Gainesville travels to No. 5 Milton in a big region match up.

No. 6 Sequoyah travels to Woodstock.

No. 7 Roswell hosts Chattahoochee.

No. 8 Northgate on bye.

No. 9 Jackson County on bye.

No. 10 Lee County on bye.

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