If you like high school football, you’re going to love Friday’s slate of games. It will be perhaps the single-most important night of high school football Newton County has ever seen. For the first time since the county has had three high schools, each team’s season finale carries significant weight.

Newton — 2-AAAAA 2-4, 5-4 (fifth)

Two weeks ago, the Rams were an afterthought to make the state playoffs and it looked like Alcovy of all teams was going to be the county’s lone playoff team. After Friday’s 23-3 win over Langston Hughes, Newton is solidly in the mix.

The Rams improved to 2-4 in Region 2-AAAAA play while winning for the second straight week.

Newton broke a four-game skid with their win over Westlake the week before and in the process, they put themselves back in the playoff hunt after it looked like four straight region losses to open region play had sunk their chances. But Westlake's win over East Coweta shook things up and put the Rams back into the mix.

Newton still needs some things to go their way. As it stands, Newton and Westlake are tied for fifth with two region wins apiece while East Coweta currently owns the fourth and final playoff spot with a 3-3 region record. But because the Indians lost to Westlake, it’s possible all three teams could finish the regular season with identical 3-4 region

records. If that happens, the Rams would earn the fourth playoff spot based on their record against Class AAAAA opponents.

By virtue of Georgia High School Association rules, tiebreakers are decided by winning percentage against teams in the same classification. Should each team finish 3-4 in region play, the Rams would get the nod based on their two wins against Shiloh and Northview earlier in the season.

Newton’s playoff hopes hinge on three games. The Rams must first beat Luella at home Friday on senior night and hope Westlake beats Langston Hughes in its season-finale at home on senior night also on Friday. Then, the Indians must lose to Newnan. East Coweta travels to play the Cougars on their senior night.

Newton is in perhaps the best position of the three teams to capture the region’s final spot. If the games play out as history suggests, the Rams should beat Luella and Newnan will handle East Coweta. The Cougars haven’t lost to their rival in nine years and Newton has beaten Luella the past two years.

Westlake holds an important card as they would lose out even if they win and Newton wins. If Westlake loses, the Indians get the fourth seed win or lose regardless of whether the Rams win. Newton and East Coweta would finish with identical 3-4 region records but the Indians would win the tie-breaker based their win over the Rams in week five.

Eastside — 4-AAA4-3, 5-4 (fifth)