Five high school teams from the Prep Sports Report coverage area are still chasing state championships after advancing to the GHSA Elite Eight in volleyball and softball this week.
Savannah Christian, Savannah Arts Academy, and South Effingham advanced in volleyball, while Richmond Hill and South Effingham punched their tickets to the softball state tournament in Columbus.
And while those five teams prepare for the next round, high school football takes center stage Friday night with a full Week 10 schedule across the Coastal Empire.
Volleyball: Three teams still standing
Savannah Christian (44-3) is headed to the Elite Eight after sweeping Pace Academy 3-0 at home Wednesday night.
The Raiders also settled a score from last season. Pace eliminated Savannah Christian in the second round last year, but this time the Raiders turned the tables and kept their championship hopes alive.
Next up: Savannah Christian will host Holy Innocents' Episcopal (29-10) on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m.
South Effingham (35-9) had to work a little longer to get there.
The Mustangs battled Johns Creek through five sets Tuesday before pulling out a 3-2 victory. Five sets in a playoff match? That's a battle. The Mustangs found a way to win when it mattered most.
Next up: South Effingham will take to the road face Pope (33-9) in the GHSA Elite Eight on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 11 a.m.
Savannah Arts Academy (28-14) took a different route.
The Panthers swept Bryan County 3-0 Tuesday, winning 25-8, 25-4, and 25-9. Savannah Arts controlled all three sets and never allowed Bryan County to reach double figures.
Next up: Savannah Arts Academy will travel to face Armuchee (32-11) on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 3:30 p.m.
Three teams, three wins, and all three are moving on. Each is now one victory away from the GHSA Final Four.
Softball: Mustangs and Wildcats headed to Columbus
South Effingham (26-2) is making another trip to Columbus after sweeping Coffee on Wednesday in the Class 6A Sweet 16 series.
The Mustangs won the opener 5-2 before taking Game 2, 7-5.
Next up: That sweep sends South Effingham to Columbus for the fifth consecutive season, where the Mustangs will face Houston County on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 3:30 p.m.
Richmond Hill had to play one more game to keep its season going.
The Wildcats split Wednesday's doubleheader with Dacula, winning the opener 5-4 in eight innings before dropping the second game 3-2.
That set up Thursday's deciding third game.
Freshman Delaney McDonald hit a two-run home run for Richmond Hill in the fifth inning, and the team added two insurance runs in the sixth to secure a 4-2 win, via Savannah Morning News sports reporter Dennis Knight.
Next up: Richmond Hill returns to Columbus for the second consecutive season after winning its first region championship since 2016. The Wildcats will face Buford in the GHSA Elite Eight on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 3:30 p.m. at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus.
And how about South Effingham? Two teams from the same school, volleyball and softball, are among the final eight in their respective classifications.
Not a bad week to be a South Effingham Mustang.
But before the next round of playoff action, another big Friday night of football is on the schedule.
Week 10: Friday night football schedule
Friday, Oct. 23, 2026
Several important regional games are on tap.
Effingham County (5-2, 4-0) looks to stay unbeaten in region play when Grovetown comes to town.
Benedictine (6-1, 4-0) also puts its perfect region record on the line against Wayne County, while Liberty County (5-3, 4-0) welcomes West Laurens in another important region matchup.
Richmond Hill hosts undefeated Lowndes, South Effingham travels to Brunswick, and Savannah Christian visits Screven County in a meeting of teams unbeaten in Region 3-AA play.
All games kick off at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Records are listed as overall, then region.
Week 10 High School Football Schedule
Friday, October 23, 2026
All games kick off at 7:30 PM unless noted.
Lowndes (7-0, 1-0) at Richmond Hill (5-3, 0-2), 7 p.m.
Bradwell Institute (5-2, 3-1) at Lakeside-Evans (0-7, 0-4)
Grovetown (2-5, 2-2) at Effingham County (5-2, 4-0)
South Effingham (6-2, 2-2) at Brunswick (3-4, 2-2)
Wayne County (2-5, 1-3) at Benedictine (6-1, 4-0)
Richmond Academy (5-2, 2-2) at Groves (0-7, 0-4)
Jenkins (3-4, 3-1) at Ware County (5-2, 4-0)
West Laurens (4-4, 3-1) at Liberty County (5-3, 4-0)
Long County (1-6, 0-3) at New Hampstead (2-5, 1-2)
Harlem (5-2, 3-0) at Windsor Forest (3-4, 0-3)
Beach (2-5, 1-3) at Tattnall County (2-2, 3-4)
Islands (3-4, 0-4) at Appling County (7-0, 4-0)
Johnson (records unverified) at Toombs County (7-0, 4-0)
Metter (0-7, 0-2) at Bryan County (0-7, 0-2)
Calvary Day (6-1, 2-0) at Savannah High (0-7, 0-2)
Savannah Christian (3-4, 2-0) at Screven County (6-1, 2-0)
Bethesda Academy (5-1, 1-0) at Hilton Head Prep (1-7, 0-1)
Records are listed as overall, then region.
With five area teams already in the Elite Eight and several football programs fighting for playoff position, the next few weeks will be busy around the Coastal Empire.
Five teams are still chasing state titles, and Friday night's football games could shake up several region races.
October isn't finished yet, and neither are these teams.
Photo credit: Richmnd Hill High School Softball Facebook page
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Optim Orthopedics presents Prep Sports Report’s 2026 high school football coverage.
Optim Orthopedics team physicians include Dr. Don Aaron (Bryan County), Dr. David Sedory (Benedictine, Bradwell Institute, Liberty County), Dr. David Palmer (Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, South Effingham), and Dr. Thomas Alexander (Savannah Country Day, St. Vincent’s Academy).
