With the regular season dwindling down to only four more weeks, the games are starting to have more significance. Although it’s too early to start mathematically clinching championships, there are many games this week that will help sort out who will be advancing to the state playoffs as the No. 1 seeds.

Here are five games to watch this week:

FFIG- Marist

Marist at St. Pius:  One of the state’s oldest and most intense rivalries will be in the spotlight when Football Fridays in Georgia broadcast features No. 1 Marist (6-0, 4-0 Region 5-4A) travels to St. Pius (6-1, 5-0). The rivalry between two of the oldest Catholic schools in Metro Atlanta began in1962 and has come to known as the “Fish Bowl,” with a trophy going to the winner to possess for the next year. Marist leads the series 37-18-3.

Coffee at Lee County: Two of the top teams in Class 5A meet in this crucial Region 2 contest. No. 6 Coffee (6-0, 1-0) won the 5A championship a year ago and has won 21 straight games. No. 2 Lee County (6-0, 1-0) is coming off a win over defending 6A champion Thomas County Central. Lee County has won the last five meetings, but the teams haven’t played since 2019.

Eastside at North Oconee: This Class 4A showdown could determine the Region 8 champion when No. 7 Eastside (7-0, 3-0) travels to No. 5 North Oconee (7-0, 3-0). North Oconee warmed up by beating Madison County 56-13. Eastside rolled past Walnut Grove 41-7 on Saturday. This will be the first meeting between the two teams.

North Cobb Christian at Rockmart: No. 9 Rockmart (4-2, 4-0) hosts No. 8 North Cobb Christian (6-0, 4-0) in a showdown that could determine the Region 7-2A championship. Rockmart did not play last week, while North Cobb Christian rolled to a 49-0 win over Murray County. The only prior meeting between the two schools came in the second round of the 2022 playoffs, with Rockmart prevailing 63-10

Thomasville at Fitzgerald: Playoff positioning is on the line Class A Division I’s Region 1 when No. 5 Thomasville (5-2, 2-1) travels to play No. 6 Fitzgerald (4-1, 2-0). Thomasville is backed into a corner after suffering a 28-27 loss to Worth County. Fitzgerald, which beat Brantley County 46-14, has won four straight games. The two rivals, who met for the first time in 1922, have not played since 2021, when Fitzgerald avenged a regular-season defeat by beating Thomasville in the state championship game.