Postseason play begins this week for nine area South Carolina teams and several private schools. Those teams with one game left in the regular season continue to play for region titles and playoff positioning.
The following area Georgia teams have earned or are expected to earn a region title: Lincoln County, Jefferson County, Lakeside and Thomas Jefferson. Playoff brackets for all Georgia High School Association teams and Class AAAA South Carolina teams will be released this weekend.
ROAD BACK HOME: Greenbrier junior D.J. Tyson scored touchdowns on a kickoff return and pass reception Saturday night in the Wolfpack's 48-13 loss to nationally ranked Stephenson. A winnable game at Redan (1-8) on Saturday will bring the Wolfpack's two-year run in Class AAAAA to an end. They will likely move back to Class AAAA next season.
LOOKING AHEAD: Region 3-AAAA is matched up with Region 2-AAAA for the first round of the playoffs, and the two regions mirror each other. Both have their four playoff teams set, but the order still needs to be determined. The teams should be familiar with each other, because most of them were in the same region before the most recent realignment.
Next week, Lakeside (7-1 region), Evans (7-1), Hephzibah (6-2) and Richmond Academy (6-2) will play some combination of Ware County (4-1), Brunswick (4-1), Glynn Academy (4-2) and Statesboro High (3-2).
BIG GAMES THIS WEEK
7:30 P.M. FRIDAY
REGION 3-AAA
Burke County (6-3, 2-3) at West Laurens (5-4, 2-3): Bears still have not clinched a playoff spot. This game is essentially a playoff for the region's No. 4 spot.
REGION 3-AAAA
Josey (1-8, 1-7) at Lakeside (8-1, 7-1): Lakeside captures the first region title in school history with a win over the Eagles. The Panthers have given up the fewest points in Class AAAA and will be chasing their sixth shutout.
Evans (8-1, 7-1) at Richmond Academy (6-3, 6-2): The winner of this one is guaranteed a home playoff game; both teams have qualified for the playoffs. Evans won 27-10 a year ago to complete a 10-0 regular season.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Aiken (4-6, 2-4) at North Augusta (9-1, 5-1): The last regular-season game in which North Augusta was dominated came last year in a 21-7 loss to Aiken. The Hornets need a win to improve their playoff resume.
Crestwood (5-5) at Midland Valley (8-2): This Class AAA first-round playoff game figures to be the most competitive among games involving area teams; Crestwood has played a very tough schedule and owns wins over two teams who will make the Class AAAA playoffs: Sumter and Blythewood.
Reach Matt Middleton at (706) 823-3425 or matt.middleton@augustachronicle.com.
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The Panthers have given up the fewest points in Class AAAA - WAY TO GO PANTHERS!!!
Okay, it is written here. If Lakeside beats Josey, they are the Region Champions...not Co-Champions. Finally, it has been clarified.