The Etowah-Woodstock game at Woodstock on Friday is the only meeting of unbeaten Class AAAAAA teams this week. The winner (both are 4-0 overall, 2-0 in Region 5) will emerge as the first-place team, a half-game ahead of Roswell (3-1, 2-0), which is idle this week.
Woodstock, which opened in 1997, has never been 5-0. Etowah started 6-0 last season but stalled and finished 7-4.
Etowah's Raishod Devezin is the leading rusher in Class AAAAAA and No. 5 overall, according to GHSF Daily's Leaderboard, with 854 yards in the Eagles' four games. He has rushed for 200 yards in a game three times.
Woodstock also relies heavily on the running game. The Wolverines rushed for 445 yards in a 51-42 victory against Lassiter two weeks ago, led by Deante Robinson with 215 yards and Donovan Brand with 130. But it was the defense that stood out in the first three games as Woodstock allowed just 10 total points in victories against River Ridge, Johns Creek and Wheeler.
Etowah has won five of the past seven meetings leads the series 8-6-1.
Other stuff to watch this week in Class AAAAAA --
-A year ago, North Gwinnett trailed 34-14 in the second half against Mill Creek and scored 29 points in the fourth quarter to win 50-47. The rematch is Friday at Mill Creek. It's likely that no Top 10 team passes more and runs less than North Gwinnett. QB John Urzua has thrown for 1,241 yards, which leads the state. WR Joshua Imatorbhebhe has 27 catches for 500 yards, which ranks third in AAAAAA. Mill Creek's David, who is committed to Appalachian State, is a dual-threat player who is 39-of-66 passing for 502 yards and a touchdown and has 230 yards rushing. He ran for over 200 yards in the 2013 game. The game features two Super 11 offensive linemen – Kaleb Kim of Mill Creek (Auburn) and Mitch Hyatt of North Gwinnett (Clemson).
-Lee County, the only Region 1 team in action, tries to complete an undefeated non-region schedule for 1-AAAAAA with a home game against Mitchell County, a Class A school with a 1-3 record. The victory would make the region 29-0 entering region play next week. Only one other region in history (1-AAAA in 1980) has gone unbeaten in non-region play during the regular season with a minimum of five region teams and two non-region games apiece. That region went 10-0. No other Region 1 teams play this week.
-Lovejoy, ranked 10th, plays its final non-region game on Saturday at Mays. A Mays victory would not surprise those who are watching closely. Mays was without starting QB Joe Turner, a Banneker transfer, in the opening loss to Hughes, 27-7. Mays suffered four interceptions and six sacks and was 4-of-15 passing. Mays has six seniors with Division I offers. DE Natrez Patrick (committed to Georgia) has five sacks and three forced fumbles. OL Dallas Warmack (Alabama) was picked this week as a U.S. Army All-American.
-Regions 3 and 4 begin region play this week. Hilgrove at Marietta (Region 4) is probably the most interesting game, though both are only 2-2. KirVonte Benson of Marietta has 682 yards rushing this season, second in Class AAAAAA.
-Northview (4-0, 3-0) plays at West Forsyth (2-2, 2-1) in an interesting Region 6 game. Both are playoff contenders, but perhaps the most interesting thing is their quarterbacks. Northview’s D.J. Pearson (committed to Arkansas State) is 61-of-86 passing for 955 yards and 14 touchdowns. West Forsyth’s Hampton McConnell (Georgia Southern) is 32-of-65 passing for 576 yards.
-The best Region 8 game is Archer (0-3, 0-1) at Parkview (2-2, 1-1). Both are pretty good despite their records. Parkview lost to fourth-ranked Grayson 13-7 last week. Archer lost to Grayson 14-10 the week before. Archer began the season ranked No. 3 but has lost to some pretty good teams, including Sandy Creek and Peachtree Ridge.
