Aquinas still unbeaten
Lincoln County gave up a safety on the very first play of the game when the Red Devils botched the opening kickoff return in their own end zone. It came back to bite them as their valiant effort at No. 1 Aquinas (9-0, 6-0 in Region 7, Division B) fell short, 15-13. The win was the 23rd consecutive dating back to last season for the Irish, last year's Class A private school champions, and the second in as many years over Lincoln County – which had won the previous 32 meetings between the two teams until last year. Aquinas got two touchdown passes from quarterback Liam Welch, one for 51-yards to Nash Bennett, the other to Ruben Garnett for 41 yards gave the Irish a 15-6 lead in the third quarter. Garnett, a Class A player of the year candidate, rushed for 138 yards on 31 carries, according to the Augusta Chronicle. LaKeith Lockhart scored from 2-yards out with just over two minutes left in regulation for Lincoln County, which got the ball back with a chance to drive for a game-winning field goal. But Daniel "Taz" Lindsey's interception sealed the deal for Aquinas, which will face No. 7 Tattnall Square (9-0, 8-0 in Region 7, Division A) next week for the Region 7 championship.
Mt. Paran continues to roll
Going into Friday’s game at Mt. Zion-Carroll, No. 3 Mt. Paran Christian’s starters had yet to play a full game. They still haven’t. Mt. Paran (9-0, 4-0 in Region 6, Division A) started fast, as it has done all season, and built a four-touchdown lead in the first half before calling off the dogs and cruising to a 48-20 win. After scoring just 31 points in the first game of the season, a 31-14 win over Eagle’s Landing Christian, Mt. Paran has scored at least 40 points in every game since. The Eagles will face rival Mt. Pisgah (7-2, 4-1 in Region 6, Division B) on Friday for the region championship. Mt. Pisgah tuned up for the title match with a 47-6 thrashing of Whitefield Academy. Mt. Pisgah defeated Mt. Paran during the regular season last year, en route to winning the school’s first region championship in football. Mt. Paran is in search of its first region championship.
In other results
Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy 19, Our Lady of Mercy 11
-- A late interception and touchdown helped seal the win and most likely a fifth consecutive region title for ELCA (3-6, 3-0 in Region 5). After starting the season 0-6, facing the toughest schedule of any team in Georgia, the Chargers need only defeat Mt. Vernon Presbyterian (2-6, 0-3) on Friday, to claim the region crown and at least one home playoff game when the Class A post season begins in three weeks. Our Lady of Mercy led 11-6 in the third quarter but couldn’t hang on for the program’s first win over ELCA. The Bobcats will host Landmark Christian on Friday with second place in the region and valuable power rating points at stake.
Mitchell County 12, Calhoun County 8
-- The Eagles (5-4, 4-0), No.22 in the public school power ratings last week, earned a public school playoff birth with the win over Calhoun County (6-3, 3-1), as well as the school's first region title since 2010. Calhoun County took an 8-6 lead with nine minutes left in regulation after a 5-yard pick-six by Quenten Taylor, who ran in the two-point conversion. But the Eagles recovered a Cougar fumble in the end zone for the game winning touchdown with six minutes left to play and the defense made it stand up, according to the Albany Herald. Calhoun County was No. 9 in the power ratings and will hope that a win on Friday against lowly Baconton Charter (1-8, 0-4), the lowest-rated public school at No. 39, will supply enough points to keep the Cougars in the top 16.
Charlton County 23, Clinch County 19
-- Charlton County may have locked up the No. 2 seed in the public school playoffs with the win.
Savannah Christian 37, Claxton 7
-- Demetris Robertson scored four touchdowns in his second game with the Raiders against an injury plagued Tigers squad.
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