With the conclusion of the regular season, the final Georgia High School Association/MaxPreps private school power ratings of the season will be released Tuesday, with the top 16 public schools and top 16 private schools competing for separate championships for the third straight season. Schools will be allowed to appeal their rating before the lists are made official on Wednesday and the playoff brackets are determined.
Meanwhile, three region championships were decided with head-to-head match ups Friday:
Region 3 Champions Calvary Day 42, Emanuel County Institute 7. The Cavaliers exploded for 28-unanswered points to begin the game, including a 73-yard touchdown pass from Sal Calderon to Jeremiah Mercer on the first play from scrimmage. Calderon finished the game 8-for-8 for 173 yards and two touchdowns, and ran 19-yards for another score, according to the Savannah Morning News. The win gave Calvary Day (10-0) its second consecutive region championship and snapped a six-game losing streak to ECI (8-2). Calvary Day was No. 2 in the Georgia High School Association/MaxPreps private school power ratings, while ECI was No. 6 on the public school side.
Region 6 Champion Mt. Paran Christian 35, Mt. Pisgah Christian 21. The Eagles (10-0) won their first region championship and completed their first undefeated regular season. The Patriots (7-3) had won the last two meetings between the schools. Mt. Paran went into the game at No. in the private school power ratings while Mt. Pisgah was No. 9.
Region 7 Champion Aquinas 49, Tattnall Square 21. The Irish (10-0) jumped out to a 28-7 halftime lead and never looked back. Leading the charge was the pitch-and-catch duo of quarterback Liam Welch and receiver Justin Gibbs, which hooked up on four completions for 104 yards and three touchdowns, according to the Augusta Chronicle. Aquinas RB Ruben Garnett ran for 170 yards and three scores. It was the 24th straight win for the Irish dating back to last season's 14-0 run to the private school championship. Additionally, Aquinas tied the longest winning streak in Richmond County/Columbia County history, matching the 24 consecutive wins picked up by Josey from Sept. 8, 1995 to Nov. 8, 1996. The loss prevented Tattnall Square (9-1) from finishing undefeated during its first regular season in the Georgia High School Association after 40 years in the Georgia Independent Schools Association. Aquinas was No. 1 in the private school power ratings and in the AJC Top10, Tattnall Square was No. 4 in the power ratings and No. 7 in the AJC poll.
Region 8 Champion Prince Avenue Christian 54, Providence Christian 10. The Wolverines claimed their third region title, all three coming since 2011, as they won the tiebreaker with Athens Christian and Commerce. All three teams finished the season 7-1 in the region and were 1-1 against each other. Quarterback Tyson Herron, son of Prince Avenue head coach Jeff Herron, led the way, rushing just six times for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
Minter leads Schley County to upset, brink of playoffs
Tra Minter, one of the state's best players, turned in one of the state's best individual games on Friday, and quite possibly catapulted his team into the public school state playoffs for the first time since 2008. Minter rushed for 424 yards on 42 carries and three touchdowns to lead Schley County (5-5) to a 48-34 win over Brookstone (5-5), according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Coming into the game, Schley County was No. 17 in the public school power ratings and will now wait to see if see if the victory was enough to move the Wildcats into the top 16. On the flip side, the loss by Brookstone may prevent the Cougars, who had been in a tie with St. Francis for the 16th and final private school slot, from advancing to the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Brookstone had won the last 11 meetings with Schley County.
