WHO'S HOT: Swainsboro. The Tigers (8-1) can claim the Region 3-AA title with a home win against hapless Metter (0-9) on Friday. They've outscored their past seven opponents 211-35.

WHO'S NOT: Richmond Academy . Should they lose at home to Glynn Academy on Friday, the Musketeers (0-9) will record the program's second winless season in history.

The Georgia High School Football Historians Association lists one other zero-win season (1984) dating back to 1948.

BIG GAMES THIS WEEK

1. Benedictine (6-3) at Burke County (7-2) : Savannah's Cadets will aim to keep the Bears from claiming the third region title in team history.

2. Washington County (4-5) at Thomson (8-0-1) : If Burke County wins, a victory earns Thomson the region's second playoff seed. WACO must win to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 1990.

3. Central (7-3) at Silver Bluff (8-3): A Bulldogs win puts them in the Class AA quarterfinals.

ODD: Burke County (7-2) and Laney (6-2) have lost to Jefferson County and Screven County this year. Burke County coach Eric Parker left Laney in January.

STYLE POINTS: Augusta Christian's new all-black get-ups are easily one of the top uniform styles in the area.

The team's new checkerboard-style end zones also went the Johnny Cash route last week.

That added touch was modeled after the famed end zones at the University of Tennessee's Neyland Stadium.

It took almost six hours, but the finished product helped complete the "blackout" look for visiting Pinewood Prep.

STEPPING UP: Thomson junior Darius Eubanks has five interceptions since injuries forced a move to free safety three games ago.

CAPTAIN COMEBACK: Hephzibah junior quarterback Connell Reddick has led his team to a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns in back-to-back games.

Reddick completed 5-of-8 passes for 165 yards in the fourth quarter for two scores last week. His dive into the end zone on the two-point try secured a 28-27 win at South Effingham.

It was the biggest win in Rebels coach John Bowen's three-year tenure.

DAPPER DAN: North Augusta coach Dan Pippin is at a loss for words about his team. The Yellow Jackets went 1-10 last year, but made the playoffs with a 6-5 mark this year.

"I thought the feeling couldn't get any better after we beat Strom Thurmond," he said. "Then we beat South Aiken. I thought that was as good as it gets. Then we beat the region champ in Irmo in the last game of the regular season. I don't know what to say other than 'Gee whiz.' I don't know how this can get any better. But then again, I've already said that twice this year."

North Augusta is at Westside-Anderson (9-2) this week.