The Heritage football team claimed a share of the Region 8-AAAA championship on Friday night.

The Patriots, who defeated Madison County 35-18, picked up the three-way tie thanks to Clarke Central's 38-35 win over Flowery Branch.

The road loss to the Gladiators was the only one of the season for the Falcons, and Clarke Central picked up its only loss to the season at the hands of Heritage, which fell to Flowery Branch.

The three teams will now leave their playoff fate to the hands of an official Saturday morning. At 7:30 p.m. there will be a drawing out of a hat to decide which teams earn the No.'s 1, 2 and 3 seeds in next week's state playoffs.

It is the first time Heritage has every won a region championship.