Here are a few of the top games this weekend:
No. 2 Marion County (4-0, 2-0 in Region 4) vs Pacelli (4-1, 2-1). For the second week in a row, Pacelli will face a region foe it has never defeated. The Vikings lost a heartbreaker last week to No. 10 Dooly County, 28-21, turning the ball over inside the Bobcats' 20-yard line in the final seconds of the game. Friday, defending Class A private school champion Marion County will be waiting in Buena Vista, fresh off of a 34-13 win over Schley County, where the Eagles limited Class A Player of the Year candidate Trey Minter to 155 yards on 36 carries, well below his season average. Pacelli is 0-6 against Marion County, including a 28-14 loss last season.
No. 4 Calvary Day (4-0, 1-0 in Region 3, Div. A) at Jenkins County (4-0, 0-0). The Cavaliers, last year's private school runners-up, will roll into Millen undefeated and fresh off of a 47-7 beat down of Wheeler County, a game which they led 47-0 after A.J. Keen returned the second half kickoff 95-yards for a touchdown. While Calvary Day is trying to make it back to the title game, Jenkins County is looking to earn some respect. The Eagles are 4-0 for the first time in school history and hope to make the state playoffs for the first time since they advanced to the Class 2 finals in 1960.
No. 5 Charlton County (5-0, 2-0 in Region 2) at No. 9 Irwin County (3-1-1, 2-0). In the only battle between ranked teams this weekend, Charlton and Irwin County – both nicknamed the Indians – will face off once again in a south Georgia rivalry that dates back to 1966. Charlton holds an 18-17 edge in the series after the teams split two thrillers last season. Irwin won the regular season contest, 29-26, but Charlton bounced back to win the rematch, which was the public school semifinal, 34-33.
No. 6 Hawkinsville (5-0, 3-0 in Region 4) at Greenville (3-1, 2-1). In the first of a brutal three-game gauntlet for Hawkinsville, the Red Devils will try to stay unbeaten and atop Region 4 when they make the two hour drive northwest to Greenville. Hawkinsville will return home next week to face No. 10 Dooly County before going west again the following week to take on No. 2 Marion County. Greenville needs a win to keep its region championship hopes alive. The Patriots currently sit in the No. 8 spot in the GHSA/MaxPreps Class A public school power rankings, one slot ahead of Hawkinsville.
St. Francis (4-0, 2-0 in Region 6, Div. B) at Mt. Pisgah (3-1, 1-0). In what will soon become a hotly contested rivalry, the two north Fulton schools, located less than 10 miles apart, square off for the first time. St. Francis, in its first season playing a full varsity and region schedule, will look to establish itself as one of the league title contenders. Mt. Pisgah, which came within seconds of advancing to the private school state title game last season, is looking to show its 12-1 run in 2013 was no fluke.
Did we overlook any match ups? Let us know!
About the Author
