Friday Night Football Roundup — Week 11

Game 9 and Week 11 are in the books for the GHSA, and the GIAA finished up their regular season as they prep for the playoffs next week.

Recap Week 11 with the weekly Friday Night Football Roundup:

Houston County

The Bears (8-1, 3-1 Region 2-5A) made the trip down to Thomasville to face Thomas County Central in a battle of Region 2-5A undefeateds, but the Yellow Jackets came out with the win, and the region championship, in a 31-7 final.

Both defenses wreaked havoc on the respective offenses. Explosive plays were the only way either team could get into scoring position, and when the field got short the defenses held firm.

The four turnovers TCC caused were the difference in the game — one of them gave the Yellow Jackets the ball on the HoCo 14-yard line.

HoCo might’ve lost their undefeated start and the region championship, but next week they have a chance to host a playoff game for the first time under head coach Jeremy Edwards.

Northside

Northside (0-9, 0-4 Region 2-5A) dropped their ninth game of the season and 17th straight in a 54-12 final against Lee County.

On the bright side, the Eagles posted their highest point total since Sept. 12 against Burke County, and avoided a third straight shutout.

Their last chance for a win will be next week against Veterans.

Perry

After last week’s close 21-14 loss to Ware County, Perry (4-5, 2-2 Region 1-4A) fell to region champion Benedictine 41-17.

The Panthers kicked a field goal with about nine minutes to go in the second quarter to cut the Cadets’ lead to 10-3, but Benedictine scored 17 unanswered points to take a 27-3 lead more than halfway through the third quarter.

Perry cut the lead to 10 to start the fourth quarter, and recovered a fumble on the next possession, but an 89-yard pick six put the game away for the Cadets.

Veterans

Veterans (2-7, 0-4 Region 2-5A) put up their second-highest point total of the season against Coffee, but fell in their sixth straight game 35-25.

After allowing 40 or more points in three straight games the Warhawks’ defense held the Trojans to 35, granted it’s a season high for Coffee.

Veterans has a chance to win three games for the first time in two years with the season finale against Northside next week.

Warner Robins

Warner Robins (5-4, 2-2 Region 1-4A) went toe-to-toe with region rival Ware County and came out on top 48-44 at McConnell-Talbert Stadium.

The Demons needed this win to keep their 14-year playoff streak alive, and they did it in thrilling fashion to rocket to second place in the region.

With a win against Perry next week, Warner Robins could host a playoff game in the same season their postseason hopes were in jeopardy.

Westfield

Westfield (7-3, 3-1 GIAA District 5-4A/3A) lost their first district game of the year on Friday in a 28-16 final against St. Anne-Pacelli.

That also snaps a five-game winning streak and gives the Hornets their first loss in six weeks. It’s the most points they’ve allowed and scored since Game 3’s 33-7 score against Deerfield-Windsor.

At the time of writing Westfield still sits at third in the 3A MaxPreps rankings, which the GIAA use to seed their playoff bracket. The Hornets are still in position for a bye during the play-in round, which will happen next week, and host the sixth seed on Nov. 7.