Here's a look at this week's top games in Class AA ...
No. 1 Greater Atlanta Christian (8-0, 5-0) at No. 3 Lovett (7-2, 6-0)
This one’s been circled on the calendar since the preseason, and as expected in August, the winner will clinch the Region 6-AA title.
GAC began the year ranked No. 1 and survived a couple of early-season tests to make it to 8-0 with a chance to claim the program’s first region title since 2001. In region play, the Spartans have posted three shutouts in five games while averaging 45.2 points per game.
The Spartans are led by high-caliber college prospects Micah Abernathy and Darius Slayton. Abernathy, who missed time due injury earlier this season, is committed to Tennessee and leads running game, while Slayton has proven to be one of the state’s most dangerous big-play threats at receiver, defensive back and as a return man. Sophomore quarterback Davis Mills has been solid in his first year as a starter, throwing for over 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns.
This will be the final game of the regular season for Lovett, which has won 14 straight region games, dating back to 2011. The Lions dropped a pair of nonregion games in September, but have won six straight since then. Quarterback Willie Candler leads the offense with 1,151 passing yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for 496 yards and 10 more scores.
Lovett holds a 6-4 edge in the series, including six straight wins. Only one of those wins came by more than seven points.
No. 5 Thomasville (5-3, 4-0) at Brooks County (6-3, 4-1)
This game will have a far-reaching impact across two regions. In 1-AA, Thomasville can clinch its first region title since 2007 with a win Friday night, or Brooks County could force a three-way tie atop the region. A loss will leave Brooks County with 1-AA's No. 3 seed. Thomasville, Brooks County and Fitzgerald out of 1-AA have spent most of the season in or around the top 10, and one of them will have to face Region 2-AA's No. 2 seed (likely fourth-ranked Benedictine) in the first round of the state playoffs.
Jalandin Jones has emerged as the go-to back for the Thomasville offense. After accumulating 95 yards on 31 carries through the first three games, he's had at least 21 carries and 114 yards in every game since, averaging over 160 yards per game and scoring nine rushing touchdowns. Safety Jay Bowdry, a Division-I prospect with offers from Duke, Indiana and Minnesota, leads the defense with 78 tackles and two interceptions. Defensive end Stevan Thornton has 67 tackles and leads the team with nine tackles for loss.
Brooks County has won the last two titles in 1-AA and has won its last three head-to-head against the Bulldogs.
Coosa (6-2, 4-0) at No. 8 Darlington (7-1, 4-0)
It's winner take all in this matchup for the Region 7-AA title, as Coosa and Darlington have separated themselves from the pack with two weeks remaining.
Coosa has won six straight since dropping two games against Class AAAAA teams to start the season. The Eagles are looking for their first region championship since 1975.
Darlington, which moved up from Class A this season, last won a region title in 2011, capping a run of three straight in Region 6-A. The Tigers are led by senior running back Trey Edge, who topped 1,100 rushing yards for the season in last week's 40-6 win over Armuchee. The Tigers haven't played the state's most high-profile schedule, but already own wins over Model (third place in 7-AA) as well as Bowdon and Bremen, the top two teams in 5-AA.
In comparing common opponents, these teams appear evenly matched. Both beat Model by seven points; Darlington beat Gordon Lee 25-14, while Coosa won 27-13.
Darlington holds the all-time series lead over the Eagles, 13-5.
Also playing for region titles:
Bowdon (6-2, 3-0) at Bremen (6-2, 3-0)
The Region 5-AA title is on the line in this one. Bremen is averaging 40.6 points per game during its five-game winning streak, while Bowdon is averaging 49 per game during its last four.
No. 9 Screven County (8-0, 4-0) at Dublin (5-4, 3-2)
Screven can clinch the 3-AA title with a win here. The Gamecocks are getting good at living dangerously, with three of their four region wins coming by seven points or less.
No. 2 Vidalia (8-0, 5-0) at Jeff Davis (4-4, 2-3)
Vidalia can wrap up its 23rd region title in program history with a win Friday. After posting four straight shutouts, the Seminoles defense has given up some points in the last two weeks, but Vidalia still ranks among AA's best on both sides of the ball.
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