There are a number of big games this week:
No. 9 Dooly County (4-1, 2-1 in Region 4) at No. 5 Hawkinsville (6-0, 4-0). The top game on the Class A slate will take place in Hawkinsville, where the Red Devils are 6-0 for the first time since 2004, when they went undefeated and tied Clinch County in the Class A title game. Hawkinsville went 15-0 and won the title outright the previous season. Dooly County's only loss thus far was to defending Class A public school state champion No. 2 Marion County (5-0, 3-0), the top team in the GHSA Class A public school power ratings. The Bobcats will look to knock Hawkinsville out of the ranks of the unbeaten, and then hope the Red Devils can go to Buena Vista next week and upset Marion County, to force a three-way tie in Region 4, perhaps the strongest region in Class A this season. All three teams are currently in the top five of the public school power ratings.
Stratford Academy (3-2, 2-1 in Region 7, Division A) at Tattnall Square Academy (5-0, 4-0). The two Georgia Independent Schools Association rivals will meet for the first time as members of the GHSA with a lot on the line. Tattnall currently sits atop the sub region standings and has a solid Class A private school power rating slot at No. 7. Stratford currently is positioned in the No. 16 slot, the final spot to make the state playoff field. But the Eagles are the only team thus far to push the No. 1 team in the state, Aquinas. Stratford gave up a 3-yard touchdown run by the Irish' Ruben Garnett with just 10 seconds remaining in regulation, and the conversion kick gave Aquinas a 28-27 win.
Mt. Pisgah Christian (4-1, 2-0 in Region 6, Division B) at Fellowship Christian (3-2, 2-0). Fellowship Christian needs a big win to boost its Class A private school power rating and climb into the top 16 if the Paladins hope to return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2007. But the prospects do not look good this week, as Mt. Pisgah has won the last five meetings between the two schools by an average score of 35-7. After dropping their first game of the season, the Patriots have won four straight and have risen to No. 4 in the private school power ratings.
No. 7 Savannah Christian (5-0, 2-0 in Region 3, Division A) at No. 4 Calvary Day (5-0, 2-0). Calvary Day, last season's private school state runner-up, will look to overtake defending champion Aquinas for the top spot in the power ratings next week with a win over the undefeated Raiders. The Cavaliers are paced by DB/WR/RB A.J. Keene who has scored touchdowns four different ways this season – rushing, receiving, kick return and interception return. Savannah Christian, the 2011 state champs, currently sits at No. 9 in the power ratings. The winner will most likely win the subregion and face the winner from Division B for the overall region title and a seed in the top four of the private school state playoffs.
Johnson County (3-3, 2-0 in Region 3, Division B) at Emanuel County Institute (4-1, 1-1). After finishing 10-2 last season with a trip to the state quarterfinals, Johnson County is struggling to crack the top 16 in the Class A public school power ratings. With four games left on the schedule, including Friday's contest at ECI, the Trojans sit at No. 21. A loss to the Bulldogs, who are No. 9 in the ratings, could be fatal. ECI, the 2012 public school state champions, will be looking for revenge after losing twice to JoCo last year –in the regular season (65-29) and in the first round of the state playoffs (29-20).
Other games of note:
No. 2 Marion County (5-0, 2-0 in Region 4) at Brookstone (3-2, 1-2)
No. 10 Charlton County (5-1, 2-1 in Region 2) at Wilcox County (3-3, 2-1)
Claxton (4-1, 2-0 in Region 3, Division A) at Jenkins County (4-1, 0-1)
Pacelli (4-2, 2-2 in Region 4) at Schley County (3-2, 2-2)
Prince Avenue Christian (4-2, 3-1 in Region 8) at Athens Academy (2-2, 1-2)
St. Francis (4-1, 0-1 in Region 6, Division B) at Pinecrest Academy (4-1, 3-1)
Our Lady of Mercy (4-2, 0-0 in Region 5) at Mt. Vernon Academy (2-3, 0-0) Saturday
Strong Rock (3-2, 0-0 in Region 5) at Eagles Landing Christian (0-6, 0-0)
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