By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

LUCEDALE — Last season, George County had to await the outcome of a three-way tie-breaker to sneak into the Class 6A South State playoffs.

Starting this week, the Rebels hope to take away any of that suspense by winning a game or maybe even two to wrap up regular season play.

Friday night, George County heads to Terry in a battle for the third seed in the Region 3-6A race. The following week, the Rebels host Jackson Forest Hill to end the regular season portion of their schedule.

A win in either game will secure a spot in the state playoffs for CGHS for the fourth straight year, as well as the fifth time in the past six seasons.

George County is 3-5 overall, while Terry is 5-4. The Rebels are 1-2 in league play, and the Bulldogs sit at 2-1.

Hattiesburg and West Jones also face off this week for the top two seeds in the region race.

Those marks come after GCHS lost at home 32-7 to visiting Hattiesburg last week, while Terry popped Jackson Jim Hill 32-3.

The Rebels got only a touchdown run from quarterback Maddox Dunn last week in the loss to the Tigers from the Hub City. George County’s defense stood strong in the first half, allowing just two touchdowns as the home team trailed just 12-0 at halftime.

With the win, Hattiesburg moved t0 3-0 in league play. West Jones, which beat Forest Hill 42-14 last week, is also 3-0 in the loop.

George County finished just 3-8 last season after falling to Picayune in the opening round of the Class 6A South State playoffs. But, the Rebels also stood at the same 3-5 mark entering the final two weeks of the regular season last year just as they do this season.

George County then lost to both Terry and FHHS.

Starting Friday, the Rebels have a chance to construct an entirely different ending this year.