With only four weeks left in the regular season, the playoff picture is beginning to become clearer and clearer. Here are five games that will either determine a region championship or have an effect on the seeding for the upcoming postseason.

FFIG101824

North Cobb at Cherokee: North Cobb could celebrate another region championship with a victory in this week’s edition of GPB’s Football Fridays in Georgia. The Warriors (7-0, 3-0) will claim the Region 5-6A championship if they can earn a road victory over dangerous Cherokee (4-4, 2-1) at Tommy Baker Field in Canton. Kickoff on GPB-TV will be 7:30 p.m.

North Cobb had its streak of three consecutive region titles broken a year ago by Walton. The Warriors defeated Walton 42-14 on Sept. 20 and a win over Cherokee would guarantee coach Shane Queen another title

North Cobb leads the series 18-12. The Warriors have won the last four meetings and prevailed 41-20 in 2023.

Sumter County at Carver-Columbus (Thursday): First place in Region 1-2A will go to the winner of this showdown. Sumter County (7-0, 4-0) is off to the best start since the school was created in 2004 by the merger of Americus and Sumter County. Carver (6-1, 4-0) has won four in a row since its upset loss to Harris County. Both teams had last week off to get rested and ready for this one. Carver leads the series 3-1 but the teams haven’t played since 2019.

Cherokee Bluff at Oconee County: This is the first of three games involving Cherokee Bluff, Oconee County and Jefferson to determine the Region 8-3A winner. Cherokee Bluff (7-0, 2-0) is coming off an impressive 52-24 win over Monroe Area, while Oconee County (4-3, 2-0) overpowered West Hall 50-0. Oconee has won four in a row since dropping its first three – two of them to state-ranked opponents. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.

Camden County at Lowndes: This contest in mighty Region 1-6A will have an effect on the playoff picture. Camden (6-1, 1-1) is coming a 28-10 win over a previously undefeated Richmond Hill team. Lowndes (6-1, 1-1) bounced back from a loss to Colquitt County to whip Tift County 26-7. Camden County has won the last two games of the series, including 34-23 in 2023 in Kingsland.

Clinch County at Irwin County: These age-old rivals – they began playing each other in 1952 --  will help determine the pecking order for the playoffs. Clinch (5-1, 0-1 Region 2-A Division II) took its first loss of the season last week against No. 4-ranked Brooks County. No. 1 Irwin County (7-0, 2-0) hammered Charlton County by 30 points. The teams haven’t played since 2021.