Here are the top games of Week 8:
No. 2 (Private) Athens Academy (5-0, 1-0 in Region 8-South) at No. 7 (Private) George Walton Academy (6-0, 1-0). (Preview courtesy of Georgia High School Football Daily.) With a win, Athens Academy almost certainly will win the subregion and advance to the region title game Nov. 2. George Walton Academy still must reckon with third-ranked Prince Avenue Christian, which lost to Athens Academy 31-27 last week. A year ago, Athens Academy's Len'Neth Whitehead and Payton Bowles each rushed for more than 100 yards against GWA, in a 36-3 win for the Spartans, and both are back. But this GWA defense has been stouter, allowing just 7.2 points per game, second-best among Class A private schools. On offense, GWA attempts to control the ball with a wing-T, run-based offense. Omar Daniels (413 yards passing) has not thrown more than 10 times in a game this year. The leading rushers are Will Wolf (49 carries, 334 yards, 1 touchdown), Andre Payne (35-416-7) and Darius Barnum (31-321-5). Athens Academy is also more of a running team. Whitehead ran for 243 yards against Prince Avenue. But QB Palmer Bush, who threw the game-winning TD late in last week's game, is dangerous, completing 33 of 47 passes for 650 yards and eight TDs. Athens Academy's strength of schedule is fifth-best so far among Class A private schools. GWA's is 33rd.
No. 9 (Private) Savannah Christian (4-1, 1-0 in Region 3-Division A) at No. 4 (Private) Calvary Day (5-0, 1-0). (Preview courtesy of Georgia High School Football Daily.) Calvary Day shares a subregion with Claxton, Savannah Christian and Savannah Country Day, all of which are 4-1 overall. Calvary Day won region titles three of the past five years and lost to ECI in the region championship game last year. Savannah Christian last won a region title during its 2011 state championship season. Savannah Christian averages 252.4 yards rushing and spreads the workload primarily among Nate Moon (49 carries, 421 yards, 7 touchdowns), Jordan Grant (45-376-7) and Marquell Brown (36-253-4). QB Spencer Robicheaux is 46-of-79 passing for 632 yards and had a season-high 208 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-0 victory over Portal last week. Calvary Day is averaging 253.4 yards rushing after running for a season-high 383 in a 52-0 victory over St. John's (S.C.) last week. William Griffin ran for 195 of those on 16 carries and has a team-leading 583 for the season. QB Thomas Carver is 37-of-62 passing for 666 yards and seven touchdowns. Calvary Day won last season, 35-10.
No. 5 (Public) Marion County (6-0, 3-0 in Region 4-Division A) vs. Brookstone (4-1, 2-0). Both teams are coming off of blowout wins last week. Marion County got 172 yards rushing on just 5 carries from Travon Mathews and two blocked punts from Andrew Craig en route to a 65-14 beat down of Greenville. Brookstone picked up its fourth consecutive win over fellow Columbus-area private school Pacelli, 51-14. However, against Marion County the Cougars are on the wrong side of a five-game losing streak and are just 3-7 all-time against the Eagles. Marion County won last year's meeting, 55-28.
Other games to watch:
No. 3 (Private) Prince Avenue Christian (5-1, 1-1 in Region 8-Division A) at Athens Christian (2-3, 0-0)
No. 8 (Private) Mount Paran Christian (3-2, 2-1 in Region 6-Division B) at Whitefield Academy (5-1, 4-0)
No. 10 (Public) Dooly County (2-3, 1-1 in Region 4-Division B) at Hawkinsville (2-3, 1-1)
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