There are 25 undefeated teams left in all of the classifications heading into Week 10’s schedule and Class AAAA is home to four of them: Woodward Academy (7-0), Cartersville (8-0), Marist (8-0) and North Oconee (8-0).
Woodward Academy has previously completed perfect regular seasons on five separate occasions in its history (2015, 1997, 1996, 1985, 1973). The War Eagles have won two state titles in their history (1970, 1980), however, neither of those seasons saw the team close out a flawless record. There is another historical aspect to this year’s team that is worth pointing out. Woodward Academy’s defense has allowed just 34 total points through its first seven games, giving the defense a 4.86 points allowed per game average. That mark is a significant improvement from last season’s 27.92 points allowed per game.
Cartersville is much more familiar with going undefeated in the regular season than they are with losses over the last several seasons. The Canes sit two wins away from closing out their fifth-straight perfect regular season and their seventh in the past eight years. Cartersville is coming off a 52-42 win over Sandy Creek and will close out the year with a home game against Chapel Hill this Friday and a showdown with Troup following a Week 11 bye to cap the regular season slate. Cartersville is 5-0 all-time against both opponents.
Marist is closing out its regular season with top 10 region showdowns versus Flowery Branch this Friday and Blessed Trinity the following week. If the War Eagles manage to win both contests, then it would mark the 10th time in Alan Chadwick’s 35 seasons at the school, that Marist closes out a perfect 10-0 regular season.
North Oconee has only been around since 2004, but the Titans did celebrate their first undefeated regular season in 2011. That perfect record, however, came in Class AA and the program has needed a few seasons to build up to the level that this year’s team has been playing under third-year head coach Tyler Aurandt. North Oconee carries a 26.13 average margin of victory into its final two regular season games—thanks to last Friday’s 44-0 win over St. Pius. The Titans visit 1-6 Stephens County this Friday and will host rival Oconee County (7-1, 2-0) the following Friday night.
Here are the rest of the state’s undefeated teams as of Week 10:
Class AAAAAAA: Lowndes (8-0), McEachern (7-0)
Class AAAAAA: Harrison (8-0), Dacula (7-0), Lanier (7-0)
Class AAAAA: Jones County (7-0), Riverwood (7-0), Carrollton (8-0), Buford (8-0)
Class AAAA: Woodward Academy (7-0), Cartersville (8-0), Marist (8-0), North Oconee (8-0)
Class AAA: Pierce County (7-0)
Class AA: Dublin (7-0), Rockmart (7-0), Rabun County (7-0), Union County (7-0)
Class A: Pelham (7-0), Irwin County (6-0), Savannah Country Day (7-0), Holy Innocents' (7-0), Darlington (7-0), Mount de Sales (7-0), Athens Academy (7-0)
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