Where Savannah-area high school football teams currently stand in race for state playoffs

The high school football regular season is winding down as teams from the Greater Savannah area enter Week 10 and several squads are battling for GHSA playoff spots and seeding in the final weeks.

Here's a look at the current standings and where local teams stand with their playoff chances. The top four teams from each region earn postseason berths.

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Region 3-4A

Team|Region|Overall

Benedictine|2-0|5-2

Wayne County|2-0|6-1

Burke County|1-1|6-1

New Hampstead|1-1|5-2

SE Bulloch|1-2|2-6

Islands|0-3|0-8

Benedictine, the defending GHSA Class 4A state champion, is looking strong as the Cadets knocked off previously undefeated Burke County before dominating Southeast Bulloch in the past two weeks of region play.

BC (5-2, 2-0), ranked No. 5 in the state, is set to host No. 9 Wayne County on Friday night at Memorial Stadium in a pivotal region matchup, and then close out on the road with Islands and New Hampstead in the final two weeks.

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New Hampstead (5-2, 1-1) lost a heartbreaker in overtime at Wayne County on Friday. The Phoenix close out their final three games at Islands on Thursday and then at home against Burke County and Benedictine in the final two weeks as they try to improve their playoff seeding.

Region 3-3A

Team|Region|Overall

Calvary Day|4-0|6-0

Sav. Christian|3-1|6-1

Long County|3-1|5-2

Johnson|2-2|4-3

Liberty Co.|2-2|4-3

Sav. Country Day|1-3|3-4

Beach|1-3|1-6

Groves|0-4|1-6

Calvary Day (6-0, 4-0) is in control in the run for the region crown after beating Johnson 42-0 on Friday. The Cavaliers, ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 3A, close out with a home game Friay against Savannah Country Day Friday, before hitting the road to face Long County and Beach as they hope to enter the playoffs undefeated for the second year in a row.

Savannah Christian (6-1, 3-1) is coming off a bye after defeating Johnson 14-6. The Raiders host Beach this week, then are on the road to face Groves before hosting Liberty County in the final week. SCPS is a solid bet to hold on to the No. 2 spot in the region to earn that important home game in the first round of the playoffs.

Johnson (4-3, 2-2) is coming off its toughest stretch of its schedule after playing Savannah Christian and Calvary Day on back-to-back weeks.

The Atom Smashers and their strong defense host Groves at Islands Stadium on Friday and then are at Savannah Country Day and home against Long County in critical games. They are looking to reach the playoffs for the third year in a row for the first time in school history.

Liberty County has a huge game at Long County on Friday before hosting Beach and going on the road to face Savannah Christian in the regular-season finale. Winning two of the three would give the Panthers a solid playoff chance.

Savannah Country Day is at Calvary this week before hosting Johnson and facing Groves on the road in the regular-season finale.

Region 1-7A

Team|Region|Overall

Valdosta|2-0|8-0

Colquitt County|1-0|7-0

Camden County|1-1|5-3

Lowndes|0-1|4-3

Richmond Hill|0-2|3-5

The playoff outlook is not good for a Richmond Hill squad after the Wildcats lost their first two region games to Camden County (21-14) and Valdosta (20-0).

After a bye this week, Richmond Hill closes out with games at Lowndes (4-3, ranked No. 8 among Class 7A teams by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) and at home against No. 2 Colquitt County (7-0, 1-0).

Region 2-6A

Team|Region|Overall

Effingham County|4-0|6-2

Brunswick|3-0|7-0

Glynn Academy|2-2|4-4

Evans|1-2|3-4

Lakeside|1-2|3-4

South Effingham|1-2|3-3

Grovetown|0-4|3-5

Effingham County has reeled off six wins in a row and the Rebels have a shot at winning a region crown. After a bye this week, Effingham will be on the road against Lakeside-Evans (3-4, 1-2). The Rebels then travel to Brunswick for their regular-season finale against a Pirates squad ranked ninth in Class 6A in a game that will likely decide the region championship.

South Effingham beat Lakeside Evans 26-13 on Friday for its first region win as the Mustangs kept their playoff hopes alive. They close out their final three games by hosting Brunswick this week before going on the road to face Grovetown and Evans. They would likely need to win two of those three games to get in the playoffs.

Region 1-5A

Team|Region|Overall

Ware County|2-0|6-0

Coffee|2-0|6-1

Jenkins|1-1|2-5

Statesboro|1-1|2-5

Bradwell Inst.|0-2|0-7

Greenbrier|0-2|0-7

Jenkins earned its first region win with a 32-25 victory over Greenbrier on Friday — and it was an important one for the Warriors (2-5, 1-1), who are looking to make the playoffs in a region where just two teams miss out.

The Warriors host Coffee (6-1, 2-0), a team ranked No. 5 in the state, on Thursday night at Memorial Stadium. Then they are on the road at Bradwell Institute, before hosting Statesboro in the regular-season final. A win over Bradwell would put the Warriors in pretty good shape to secure the No. 4 seed, at least, heading into the Statesboro matchup.

• In other regions, Bryan County is looking to secure the No. 4 spot in Region 3-A Division I. Bryan County (4-4, 0-2) needs to beat visiting Savannah High (0-8, 0-2) on Oct. 28 in a game that should decide the No. 4 seed from the region.

Windsor Forest (1-7, 0-4 in Region 3-2A) is currently in last place in the seven-team region.

Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah area high school football teams and state playoff outlook