A quick look at the new region standings

The regular season continues its weekly upsurge in magnitude and Week 9 was full of notable results. Here is a look at the most significant week yet.

In Region 1, the logjam continues. Shaw dropped to 0-4 in region play with a 22-14 loss to Americus-Sumter. Cairo improved to 4-0 with a 35-28 win over Carver-Columbus, but the rest of the field is in gridlock. Hardaway’s surprising 25-21 victory over Northside-Columbus places both teams at 2-2 and they are joined by Westover and Columbus at 2-2 after Columbus topped Westover 40-29 last night. To sum it up, this region now has six teams locked at 2-2 with three weeks left.

Upson-Lee scored a 31-7 victory over Perry to place both teams at 1-1 in region play. These were the only teams from the region that played this week, so the win bumps Upson-Lee to third-chair in the playoff standings behind Mary Persons (2-0) and West Laurens (2-0).

Region 3’s Thomson remains perfect after stomping Baldwin 45-0. The Bulldogs sit at the top of the region with Burke County, which defeated Richmond Academy 54-3. Thomson has outscored its two region opponents 115-0, while Burke County has compiled a 109-15 scoring margin.

Woodward Academy can clinch the No. 1 seed out of Region 4 with a victory over Luella next week after dominating Eastside 44-6 on Friday.

Sandy Creek lost its second consecutive region game Friday night in a 35-21 battle with Cartersville. The Purple Hurricanes moved to 4-0 in region play. Troup held off LaGrange 37-26 on Friday to move to 3-0 in region action and will face Cedartown (2-1) this Thursday in a game that will have tremendous playoff implications. A win over Cedartown would ensure Troup at least the No. 3 seed.

Ridgeland sits alone at the top of Region 6 after Northwest Whitfield dished out a 50-41 defeat to Pickens. Ridgeland faces Pickens this Friday to all but clinch the region race.

Marist opened region play on Friday with a 42-6 win over West Hall. The War Eagles join Blessed Trinity as the only teams in this small five-team region without a region loss. Blessed Trinity scored a 42-6 win over Chestatee.

Region 8 pinned three 1-0 teams against three 0-1 teams on Friday and the trends continued. Jefferson, Oconee County and Stephens County moved to 2-0, while North Oconee, St. Pius and Madison County dropped to 0-2. North Oconee and St. Pius are both 0-7 on the season, but neither team is mathematically out of the playoff picture yet.

Week 9 Schedule *(updated region records)

Region 1

(2-2) Americus-Sumter 22, (0-4) Shaw 14

(4-0) Cairo 35, (2-2) Carver-Columbus 28

(2-2) Columbus 40, (2-2) Westover 29

(2-2) Hardaway 25, (2-2) Northside-Columbus 21

Region 2

(1-1) Upson-Lee 31, (1-1) Perry 7

Region 3

Thomson (2-0) 45, Baldwin (1-1) 0

Burke County (2-0) 54, Richmond Academy (0-2) 3

Region 4

Woodward Academy (4-0) 44, Eastside (3-1) 6

Salem (2-1) 50, Henry County (0-3) 26

Luella (3-2) 21, North Clayton (1-3) 8

Region 5

Cartersville (4-0) 35, Sandy Creek (1-2) 21

Chapel Hill (1-2) 28, Central-Carroll (0-4) 7

Troup (3-0) 37, LaGrange (1-3) 26

Region 6

Southeast Whitfield (2-2) 13, Gilmer(0-3) 0

Ridgeland (3-0) 56, Heritage-Catoosa (2-2) 14

Northwest Whitfield (3-1) 50, Pickens (2-1) 41

Region 7

Blessed Trinity (2-0) 42, Chestatee (0-2) 6

Marist (1-0) 43, West Hall (1-1) 3

Region 8

Jefferson (2-0) 42, North Oconee (0-2) 14

Stephens County (2-0) 34, Madison County (0-2) 7

Oconee County (2-0) 20, St. Pius (0-2) 16