Get ready for the most important week of the season thus far!

Last week’s prep football schedule had a few surprises up its sleeve like: Allatoona 23, Harrison 7; Aquinas 47, Washington-Wilkes 7; Brooks County 27, Thomasville 11; and Bainbridge 17, Veterans, 14.  

As we move deeper into the regular season, there were a few other surprising outcomes in Week 7 when the horns blew all across the state signaling games end. There was Northside-Warner Robins over Coffee in Region 1-6A, 30-20, along with Valdosta’s walloping of Houston County in the same region, 56-14.

Heading into Week 8 of this prep season, in my opinion this week is the most critical week for most teams. There are key games all across the state with serious ramifications to the losers this week for the finish line is clearly in sight. Here are just a few games scheduled to whet your appetite. One of the state’s oldest rivalries will be renewed this week when Vidalia from the GPB Sports Top 10 plays Region 2 rival Toombs County in a Class 2A showdown.

Carrollton's Kevin Swint

Other top-drawer matchups finds Kell at Carrollton in Class 5A. Camden County, rolling along at 6-1 and reborn here in 2018, travels to top-ranked Colquitt County (7-0) for a Region 1-7A showdown. In that same tough South Georgia region, Tift County rolls into Valdosta to meet Lowndes. This week’s winners have the inside track to a Region 1-7A title.

In Class 2A, Washington County (7-0) rolls into Eastman to take on Dodge County (6-1). Dublin (6-1) plays at Southwest Macon in that same region for a key Matchup. In another showdown in Class 2A, Brooks County (5-2) heads into Blakely to meet surprising Early County (6-1) in a Region 1-2A showdown.

This list is just beginning. Here are some other top games: Blessed Trinity at Flowery Branch in the Football Friday Georgia game of the week. Both teams are unbeaten at 6-0 and the Titans are highly-ranked nationally. The All-Access Pass begins at 7 p.m. and the kickoff is right behind at 7:30 p.m. Do not miss this game.

All across the state, top games dot the schedule. There’s Archer (5-1) at Grayson (4-2) in 7A, Richmond Hill (3-3) at Glynn Academy (2-4) in 6A, Monroe Area (7-0) at Hart County (2-4) in 4A and Jefferson (6-1) at Morgan County (3-4) in Class 3A.

Top-ranked 6A power Lee County (7-0) travels to Northside-Warner Robins (4-3) in class 6A. Marietta (3-4) at McEachern (6-1) while 5A’s top team, Rome (7-0) travels to Paulding County (0-6).  

Cartersville (7-0) takes on Sandy Creek (4-2) in Class 5A. It’s North Oconee (6-1) at St Pius X (6-1). Warner Robins (6-1) is at Thomas County Central (5-1), and Fitzgerald (5-2) is at Thomasville (4-3) in Region 1-2A. 

I’ll see you this Friday night on the All Access Pass for “Tommy’s Takes.” Have a great week every one.