What began with such anticipation for so many schools across Georgia and South Carolina is now rounding into its homestretch turn.
Welcome to the last week of high school football’s regular season. For some teams, its an anticlimactic ending as dashed playoff hopes only allows this final week to serve as a last hurrah for seniors and perhaps a premature dash of hope for 2025 for returning players.
But for others, there are region championships, playoff berths and playoff seedings on the line.
Here you’ll see both the top games we’re watching this week with predictions, plus the full slate of games happening Friday and Saturday.
High school football scoreboard
With games on both Friday and Saturday, here’s a complete list of matchups in our coverage area we’ll keep the score tracker on.
Richmond County
Glenn Hills (1-8, 1-3) at Butler (3-5, 1-3)
Laney 48, Josey 0 | FINAL
Harlem (8-1, 6-1) at Hephzibah (2-7, 1-6) Saturday, 1 p.m.
Howard (4-5, 3-4) at Westside (7-2, 5-2), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Baldwin (5-4, 5-2) at Richmond Academy (2-7, 2-5), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Cross Creek (1-8, 0-7) at Aquinas (5-4, 4-3), Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Columbia County
Glynn Academy 28, Evans 24 | FINAL
Greenbrier 56, South Effingham 0 | FINAL
South Gwinnett (6-3, 3-2) at Grovetown (1-8, 1-4), Saturday, 6 p.m.
Harlem (8-1, 6-1) at Hephzibah (2-7, 1-6) Saturday, 1 p.m.
Lakeside 31, Statesboro 8 | FINAL
Augusta Area Private
Cross Creek (1-8, 0-7) at Aquinas (5-4, 4-3), Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Augusta Christian 17, Ben Lippen 7 | FINAL
Thomas Jefferson (1-9) at Edmund Burke Academy (8-1)
Westminster 55, David Emanuel 8 | FINAL
Georgia CSRA
Burke County 47, Thomson 35 | FINAL
Greene County 28, Warren County 14 | FINAL
South Carolina CSRA
Gilbert 52, Aiken 7 | FINAL/Thursday
North Augusta 20, Gray Collegiate 17 | FINAL
Newberry 33, Silver Bluff 21 | FINAL
South Aiken 40, Airport 27 | FINAL/Thursday
Batesburg-Leesville 8, Thurmond 7 | FINAL
Thomson (7-2, 4-0) at Burke County (8-1, 4-0)
The Matchup: No game in the area this week will be bigger than this one. And that for several reasons. Let’s start with the fact that this is one of the most — if not the most — intense and entertaining rivalries the CSRA has to offer. Burke County leads the overall series 22-18 dating back to 1987 when the two teams first began playing. Since 2014, Thomson is just 4-8 against its Waynesboro nemesis, and the Bulldogs have dropped two straight against Burke County — both one-score games. But this year’s battle has added intrigue because, with both teams nestled in Region 4-AA, this last game of the regular season has winner-take-all stakes as far as the Region championship goes. For Thomson, the Bears stand in the way of a fourth straight region crown. For Burke County, a win against Thomson gives coach Franklin Stephens his first region crown at Burke County, and the Bears’ first since 2019. Burke’s only blemish is To Benedictine early in the season. Thomson shook off an 0-2 start and now looks like what we’re accustomed to seeing from a Michael Youngblood-coached team. Expect a raucous, rowdy crowd in Waynesboro tonight and a game that should live up to the hype.
The Prediction: Look for these two Class AA heavyweights to trade haymakers with each other all evening. We think, though, home field advantage will prove to be the ultimate edge. Burke County 38, Thomson 35.
Howard (4-5, 3-4) at Westside (7-2, 5-2), Saturday, 1 p.m.
The Matchup: After a couple of “struggle games,” Westside got right in impressive fashion last week, knocking off one of Region 4-AAA’s top teams in West Laurens 28-7. Senior Jeanarion Kamga starred with four rushing touchdowns and 113 yards on the ground. Jaylen Stone’s 9-of-17 passing performance with 150 yards through the air is the kind of efficiency coach Lee Hutto wants from his young quarterback. And the Patriots’ defense held dynamic sophomore tailback Ty Cummings to just 96 yards on 18 carries. The Howard team that Westside will face is no pushover, though. Despite its five losses, the Hawks from Macon have lost just one game by more than two scores. That was a 32-13 defeat at one-loss Harlem back on Oct. 25. Howard will compete, and if Westside is caught looking ahead to the playoffs, Howard’s got enough talent to knock the Patriots.
The Prediction: Tougher game than some may think. Westside 27, Howard 24.
Gray Collegiate (0-9, 0-6) at North Augusta (8-1, 6-0)
The Matchup: Seven days ago, we were pegging this as a game to watch on the level of Thomson-Burke County. Both North Augusta and Gray Collegiate sat atop SCHSL Region 4-AAAA, and after both teams won last week, it set up the regular season finale as the perfect de-facto region title game. But a 10-2 vote by the South Carolina High School League’s executive committee in favor of upholding sanctions against Gray Collegiate for use of an ineligible player forced the War Eagles to forfeit all wins that the player participated in. That means, Gray Collegiate is technically a winless football team, despite playing to an undefeated mark in region play on the field. Friday’s game with North Augusta will continue as scheduled, according to Yellow Jackets head coach Richard Bush. But in all likelihood, North Augusta will win the region championship regardless of the outcome of the game. Gray Collegiate will be seeking an appeal to save its hopes for participating in the South Carolina state playoffs. But any answer from that likely won’t come before Monday. Meanwhile, when you watch this game, remember you’re still looking at the top two teams, talent wise, in the region.
The Prediction: We liked North Augusta in this one anyway. But the intangibles could play a factor. Gray Collegiate could come in really motivated and eager to prove it belongs, or really flat and despondent. Either way…North Augusta 27, Gray Collegiate 14
Lakeside (8-1, 6-1) at Statesboro (4-5, 3-4)
The Matchup: After a much-needed bye week that followed a 3-games-in-8-days stretch, the Panthers should be rested to close out its historic regular season well. Statesboro represents a tough, rugged opponent that can beat you in an assortment of ways. Also, the trip to Statesboro isn’t exactly across the street. And then there’s the fact that Lakeside’s first round playoff opponent (New Manchester out of Douglasville in metro Atlanta) has already been confirmed. It could be a recipe for an “overlook your current opponent” game. Or it could be another testament to the job coach Steve Hibbitts and his staff has done to keep Lakeside playing at a high level all year.
The Prediction: Maybe a bit of a slow start after a week off and going on the road, but the Panthers should roll and be in good shape to host New Manchester next week. Lakeside 40, Statesboro 26.
Evans (5-4, 3-4) at Glynn Academy (5-4, 4-3)
The Matchup: Let’s start here: Evans can still make the playoffs. Here’s how it would have to happen. The Knights, currently tied for fifth place with Statesboro, would need to first beat Glynn Academy which is currently sitting alone in fourth place in Region 1-AAAAA. Then, the Knights would need Statesboro to lose to Lakeside. That combination would give both Glynn and Evans a 4-4 mark in region play, and Evans would hold the tiebreaker. That has to be encouraging for a team that started off the season with so much promise, only to lose four of its next five. But back-to-back region wins against Greenbrier and Bradwell Institute give the Knights hope. Meanwhile, Glynn Academy is riding the momentum of a 28-21 win against Greenbrier last week, and is hoping to solidify its No. 4 seed. What does it all mean? Expect a dog fight.
The Prediction: Two evenly matched teams fighting for the same postseason stakes and positioning is bound to produce a lot of good football drama. Maybe it’ll come down to the leg of Tyler Wallace, one of the area’s best kickers. Evans 24, Glynn Academy 21.
