Dacula is probably the state’s most inconspicuous No. 3 team in the state. That’s despite a run to the Class AAAAAA quarterfinals last season and an unbeaten record this season. The Falcons (7-0, 5-0) don’t have a major-college prospect. Their opponent Friday, second-ranked Grayson (8-0, 6-0), has five just on defense, including Georgia-committed defensive lineman Justin Young, who has 13 sacks.
Dacula has run (287.1 rushing yards per game) and stopped the run (74.9 rushing yards allowed per game) as well as any team in the state. Two-way starter C.J. Mays leads Dacula in rushing (633 yards on 60 carries) and interceptions (three, two returned for touchdowns). Also prominent on defense are linebacker Lawson Cook (team-leading 52 tackles) and linemen Bijan Sirleaf (12 tackles for losses) and Jordan Sanders (6.5 sacks).
The winner of Friday’s game at Dacula likely will be the Region 8 champion. Dacula beat Grayson 14-7 least season.
Other games to watch this week in Class AAAAAA:
-Westlake was 0-10 just two seasons ago. On Saturday, the Lions (5-1, 4-0) can take control of Region 3 with a victory over fourth-ranked Hughes (6-1, 4-0), Westlake’s south Fulton County neighbor.
Westlake is allowing 5.5 points per game, fewest in AAAAAA. Nigel Warrior, a junior safety with 12 scholarship offers, including one from Georgia, has intercepted a pass, forced a fumble and blocked two punts.
-Fifth-ranked Norcross (6-1, 4-0) is the only Region 7 team without a region loss but must watch its step on the road against Peachtree Ridge (5-2, 3-1), one of four teams with one region loss. Collins Hill (5-2, 3-1) plays at Mill Creek (4-3, 3-1) in another critical Region 7 game. North Gwinnett (5-2, 3-1), which faces Duluth (1-6, 0-4), is the other one-loss team.
-Unranked Roswell (5-2, 4-1) is the only Region 5 team that controls its destiny, but it won’t be easy holding off sixth-ranked Milton (6-1, 4-1). Roswell is at home this week against Cherokee (6-2, 4-2). Both have all-state quality wide receivers – Cherokee’s Andrew Harris (state-leading 1,085 receiving yards) and Roswell’s Mechane Slade (743).
-Region 6 likely will be settled when South Forsyth (5-2, 5-1) plays at Alpharetta (6-1, 6-0). South Forsyth, which hasn’t won a region title since 1997, features AAAAAA’s leading rusher, Tyler LaFlamme, who has 1,189 yards. Alpharetta, the Region 6 champion two of the past three seasons, is led by has won Region 6 two of the past three seasons. Alpharetta defensive end Andrew Butcher has six sacks. He is committed to Tennessee. Alpharetta quarterback Austin King has committed to N.C. State.
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