Sandy Creek, in the thick of a tight Region 6-AAA race, couldn’t afford to lose to region rival Cass Friday night.

Sandy Creek’s balanced offensive attack and its stout defense made sure the Patriots stayed near the top of the region standings Friday with a 31-14 victory over host Cass.

Starr’s Mill’s first road victory of the season couldn’t have come at a better time.

Starr’s Mill crushed host Northgate 37-0 Friday for its first two-game winning streak of the season, keeping its paper-thin state playoff hopes alive.

The Our Lady of Mercy Bobcats (4-4) took on Fellowship Christian last Friday and lost 43-18.

The Bobcats fell behind 22-0 in the first quarter and had a hard time catching back up. Touchdowns for Mercy were scored by Dominique McDermott (131 yards rushing on 13 carries, 40 yards receiving, seven total tackles), William Pearl (14 of 18 passing, 153 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 40 yards rushing on 14 carries, 1 TD, seven total tackles) and David Goemare (3 catches for 64 yards, 1 TD).

Aside from Fayette County, the hottest team in Region 2-AAAA is Whitewater, which came form behind to defeat region rival Woodward Academy 24-7 for its sixth straight victory Friday.

Last Friday the Landmark War Eagles went on the road and defeated the Eagles Landing Christian Academy Chargers in an important region game by the score of 35-30.

The region 2-AAAA cross country championships were held yesterday at Sandy Creek High School.

Whitewater’s girls won the region title, followed by Starr’s Mill in second place. McIntosh placed fourth and Fayette County placed seventh.

The McIntosh Lady Chiefs lost to the Starr's Mill Lady Panthers several times this season including in the area championship a few weeks ago. Yesterday though, McIntosh shed the monkey from their back that was continually losing to Starr's Mill and defeated them when it counted the most, winning the Class AAAA state title. The first state volleyball title in school history.

Mike and Kevin talk about Friday night’s football wins from Fayette County, Landmark, Sandy Creek, Starr’s Mill and Whitewater.

Welcome to the good life, Fayette County Tigers.

Fayette scored on five of its six possessions in the first half en route to pounding the McIntosh Chiefs 41-3 to win its first region title in, by some reports, around 50 years Friday at Tiger Stadium in Fayetteville.

Fayette County - 41 McIntosh - 3

Starr’s Mill -37 Northgate - 0

Whitewater - 24 Woodward Academy - 7

Sandy Creek - 31 Cass -14

Mike and Kevin make their picks for tonight’s football games.

Mike and Kevin name the first team of the first-ever All-Citizen softball team.

By MICHAEL BOYLAN and KEVIN WANDRA

The Fayette County Tigers have been taking things one step at a time this season and are now one victory away from a region title, their first in what some reports list as close to 50 years, and two steps away from a perfect regular season. The Tigers, ranked in the AJC poll at eighth in Class AAAA and fourth in the GaSports.com/Georgia Athletic Coaches Association poll, have clinched a playoff spot for the first time in 10 years.

Fayette County

Fullback Matt Daniels had 20 carries for 111 yards and three touchdowns, and defensively, he had nine total tackles.

And then there were three.

The volleyball playoffs started last Saturday and three local teams have moved on to the semifinals in their respective classifications.

Landmark’s boys placed ninth in the A-AA division of the Carrollton Last Chance Invitational on Saturday. Their top five runners were:

Win No. 2 had been a long time coming for the McIntosh Chiefs, who finally grabbed it Friday, handing the Northgate Vikings their seventh consecutive loss, 14-11 in a Region 2-AAAA game on homecoming night in Peachtree City.

Sandy Creek needed to win its final three games of the season to win the Region 6-AAA title.

The race to the region title got significantly tougher Friday for Creek, which lost to the Haralson County Rebels 24-14 in Tallapoosa in a Region 6-AAA game.

There is nothing like home sweet home for the Starr’s Mill Panthers.

Starr’s Mill continued its dominance at home Friday, defeating Region 2-AAAA rival Woodward Academy 28-12 to remain undefeated at Panther Stadium in Fayetteville.

Fayette County is one victory away from winning its first region title in nearly 50 years after pounding Banneker 38-12 Friday in College Park.

Mike and Kevin take a break while their sports team counterparts Rock Manlington and Ace Sporto take over The Citizen Sports Blitz. Looking like they are straight off the set of “Anchorman,” Manlington and Sporto talk about the wins from Fayette County, Landmark, McIntosh and Starr’s Mill and the losses from Sandy Creek and Our Lady of Mercy.

VIDEO — The Our Lady of Mercy Bobcats are in the process of laying the foundation for a winning football program. It’s inevitable that the Bobcats are going to take their lumps along the way.

Landmark Christian suffered its first region loss in six years last week. The War Eagles wanted to bounce back this week and they did just that, defeating Mt. Pisgah 56-7 in front of a homecoming crowd.

Fayette County - 38 Banneker - 12

Landmark Christian - 56 Mt. Pisgah - 7

McIntosh - 14 Northgate - 11

Whitefield Academy - 58 Our Lady of Mercy - 24

Mike and Kevin make their football picks for the game scheduled for Friday, Oct. 26, 2007. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for their special “Halloween” episode.

Sandy Creek’s Lady Patriots softball team has advanced further than any team in school history in the Class AAA softball playoffs.

East Coweta Indians (7-1, 4-0) vs. Hiram Hornets (4-3, 2-1)

Last week: East Coweta defeated Mundy’s Mill 29-17, Hiram was off.

The Peachtree City Classic was held last weekend, drawing a large crowd of runners and fans to the cart paths of Peachtree City. Here are the top finishers in each age division.

The Whitewater Middle School Wildcats defeated the Flat Rock Middle School Patriots 6-0 on Tuesday night to win the county championship.