Perhaps the tables are starting to become more balanced in Class AAAAA. Nine of the top-10 teams were victories on Friday – the exception against another ranked team – but other teams appear ready to join the challengers for postseason.
There were some close games on Friday, most of them non-region contests and some of them that required teams to work around weather delays.
No. 7 Rome survives a scare: The Wolves were able to sidestep a last-minute Kell surge to hang on for a 21-20 win over No. 10 Kell. The Longhorns scored with 27 seconds left when Corbin LaFrance completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jaylon Brown. But Kell opened to go for a two-point conversion and the win and it failed. The drama continued when Kell recovered the onside kick, but came up wide on a 39-yard field as the horn sounded.
Defending champion Bainbridge hangs on: The No. 1-ranked Bearcats got a pair of touchdown passes from Quayde Hawkins and beat Brooks County 27-26 when the Trojans missed an extra point in the final minute. Hawkins threw touchdown passes to Michael Ryan and Deyon Buice and Rashad Broadnax ran for a touchdown. Kicker Garrett Sigman kicked two field goals for Bainbridge, which has won 11 straight games.
Buford prevails over Life: The No. 2 Wolves improved to 3-0 by beating Life Christian of Virginia 33-22 in a game shortened by weather. Quarterback Jarvis Evans completed 10 of 16 for 159 yards and two touchdowns and Elijah Turner rushed for a score.
Well-rounded win for Carrollton: The No. 3-ranked Trojans scored on a run from Mecose Todd (who rushed nine times for 54 yards), a run by Myles Morris and a 31-yard punt return from Terrell Carmichael in beating Villa Rica 23-2. The Carrollton defense had one of its better efforts, limiting the Wildcats to only 52 yards.
Big night for Stockbridge QB: Jalen Woodford competed 15 of 30 for 190 yards and three touchdowns and No. 8 Stockbridge rolled to a 21-6 win over Locust Grove.
Four TDs for Warner Robins QB: No. 4 Warner Robins got four touchdown passes from quarterback Jalen Addie and bounced Baldwin 37-14. Cary Payne made three field goals, one of them from 42 yards.
Dutchtown hangs on: The No. 6 Bulldogs sealed the 13-7 over previously unbeaten Ola on Dillon Stokes' late interception. The Bulldogs scored on an 8-yard run by Jamal Bing and took the lead when quarterback Arendez Fedd ran it in from the 8.
No. 5 Jones County keeps winning: The Greyhounds outslugged Union County 28-21 and improved to 4-0. Jones County got two touchdown passes from Hunter Costlow and Jontavis Robertson. Costlow threw for 208 yards and Robertson caught six passes for 66 yards.
There were some notable wins by non-ranked teams.
South Effingham, which won only two games last year, improved to 3-0 with a 41-27 victory over Effingham County. The Mustangs are seeking their first winning season since 2015, when they went 7-4.
Statesboro (2-0) continued in its quest to return to relevance with a 29-19 win over previously unbeaten Veterans. The Blue Devils haven't made the playoffs since 2013, when they posted their last winning season.
Southwest DeKalb continued its dominance over neighborhood rival Redan, beating the Raiders 46-6. Southwest now leads the series 41-0.
Clarke Central rebounded from its thumping against Flowery Branch to hold off Thomson 48-41. O'Brien Barnett scored three touchdowns, including the game-winner, and Isaac Ward accounted for four scores as the Gladiators won on the road.
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