Jefferson County Warriors at Westside Patriots
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Battlefield, Augusta
Records: Jefferson County is 5-3, 4-1 in Region 4; Westside is 6-2, 4-1
Last meeting: Jefferson County won 42-20 in 2020.
Maxwell’s projection: Jefferson County by 2
Notes: With No. 6 Putnam County having already beaten both teams, and on its way to a 10-0 season and the region title, the winner of this game will be in the driver’s seat for the No. 2 seed and home-field advantage in the first round. Pay no attention to last year’s crooked score, because the Warriors are down from last season’s region title and quarterfinals run, and the Patriots — under first-year coach Lee Hutto — are looking to match their highest win total since going 7-3 in 2006. The Patriots started turning a corner last year, posting their first winning season since 2006 and reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Patriots senior Xzavier Green leads the team with 1,211 yards and 13 touchdowns on 173 carries. The Warriors have beaten Westside in each of the last five seasons and have a seven-game win streak in the series dating back to 2006. They’re led by Keyshawn Vaughner, who has 668 yards and seven touchdowns on 139 carries.
Pace Academy Knights at Washington Bulldogs
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Lakewood Stadium, Atlanta
Records: Pace Academy is 4-4, 4-2 in 6-2A; Washington is 4-3, 2-3.
Last meeting: First meeting
Watch the game: NFHS Network
Maxwell’s projection: Pace Academy by 12
Notes: This game will, in all likelihood, determine the fourth and final playoff spot in Region 6. If the Bulldogs’ game with KIPP, originally scheduled for Sept. 16, isn’t made up, then it counts as a win for them. That means if they beat the Knights, they’ll be in the playoffs unless they squeeze KIPP (1-6, 1-4) into the final week of the season — they already play Towers (2-6, 2-4) next Friday — and somehow lose. These teams didn’t play last year after Covid wiped out their matchup. Senior Niejay Gaston leads the Bulldogs with 490 yards and seven touchdowns on 57 carries. They’re looking to reach the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2004-05. The Knights are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2013. They’re looking to avoid their first non-winning season since 2017, when they went 5-5. After starting 1-4 — with that lone win coming via forfeit — the Knights are 3-0, including a 17-14 win over rival Lovett. They’ve won their last two games over Therrell and Towers by a combined 93-0.
Heard County Braves at Bremen Blue Devils
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Bremen Athletic Field, Bremen
Records: Heard County is 4-4, 1-1 in Region 5; Bremen is 5-3, 1-1.
Last meeting: Heard County won 21-14 in 2020.
Watch the game: NFHS Network
Maxwell’s projection: Heard County by 4
Notes: If the Blue Devils beat the Braves, then beat Haralson County next week, they could win 5-2A if Heard County then beats Callaway (4-4, 1-1). If the Braves win, then beat Callaway, they can do no better than the No. 2 seed since Haralson County (8-1, 3-0) already beat them. The loser could end up the No. 4 seed. The Braves will look to rebound from a 21-0 loss to Haralson County last week. They started 3-0, but are 1-4 since beating 1A Public’s No. 7 Manchester on Sept. 3 to move into the rankings at No. 10. They lost their ranking for good the following week with a 20-7 loss to 1A Private’s unranked Darlington. Braves senior Isaiah O’Neal leads the team with 565 yards and seven touchdowns on 79 carries. The Blue Devils are hoping to win a region title for the first time since 2008, the last of three straight 6-1A titles. They rebounded from an Oct. 15 35-7 loss to Callaway with a 28-26 win over Temple, eliminating the Tigers from the playoffs.
Washington County Golden Hawks at Dodge County Indians
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday,
Records, rankings: Washington County is 4-3, 2-2 in 3-2A; Dodge County is 5-3, 2-2.
Last meeting: Dodge County won 35-16.
Maxwell’s projection: Washington County by 1
Notes: The winner takes third place and the loser takes fourth. The Golden Hawks nearly upset undefeated Bleckley County last week, falling 28-23. They’re 1-3 after starting 3-0, but all losses were to ranked opponents — No. 9 Northeast (27-23), 4A’s No. 10 Perry (37-24) and No. 4 Bleckley County — which is presumably why they’re the only three-loss team in 2A that’s still ranked. The Indians have a similar record in that they started 3-0, with their three losses coming to ranked opponents — No. 3 Fitzgerald (15-6), No. 5 Bleckley County (21-19) and No. 6 Northeast (21-7). Junior Demron Gordon leads the Indians with 620 yards and seven touchdowns on 80 carries.
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