Athens Academy rolls but Whitehead out again
No. 1 (Private) Athens Academy shut out community rival and No. 7 (Private) Prince Avenue Christian, 24-0. However, Player of the Year candidate RB/LB Len’Neth Whitehead went down with another injury. The senior hadn’t played since suffering an injury in Week 1. After piling up 86 yards on 12 carries and touchdown through one-and-a-half quarters, Whitehead went out of the game and did not return. After the game, Athens Academy (5-0, 1-0 in Region 8) head coach Josh Alexander told the Athens Banner Herald, “It was bad luck and he will handle it and we will handle it. We will love on him and he will be the best teammate like he always is.” In Whitehead’s absence, the Spartan defense and RB/DB Kurt Knisely stepped up. The senior ran for 81 yards and a touchdown, while the defense held the Wolverines (4-2, 1-1) to just five first downs. Prince Avenue forced three turnovers in the game, as the defense kept the game close in the continued absence of junior QB Brock Vandagriff, who has been out with an injury since Week 1.
Darlington survives to remain unbeaten
No. 4 (Private) Darlington moved to 6-0 for the first time since 2015 with a hard-fought 29-22 win over No. 10 (Private) Christian Heritage. Senior RB Kolin Rogers scored on a 15-yard touchdown run with less than two minutes remaining to provide the margin of victory for the Tigers. Christian Heritage (4-1, 1-1 in Region 6-Division A) led 10-0 early and 22-21 in the fourth quarter but couldn’t hold on for the upset.
Lincoln County sends message with blowout win over rival Washington-Wilkes
No. 9 (Public) Lincoln County snapped a two-game losing streak in one of the state’s most storied rivalries, with a 31-6 win over Washington-Wilkes (3-3, 2-1 in Region 7-Division B). The 25-point margin of victory was the largest for the Red Devils against Washington-Wilkes since 2010. Lincoln County (4-2, 2-1) led 14-0 three minutes into the contest and never looked back. Senior LB/RB Kolbi Ferguson led the offense with 188 yards rushing on 24 carries with two touchdowns. Junior RB/LB Colton Willis carried 17 times for 85 yards and two scores. Junior QB/LB Keenon Lampkin ran five times for 60 yards, and completed one of three pass attempts for 66 yards. That pass went to senior RB/DB Darrien "Tank" Elder, and setup the game’s first touchdown, a 1-yard run by Ferguson. Lincoln County totaled 353 yards from scrimmage.
ELCA blows out Wesleyan
No. 3 (Private) Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (5-1, 2-1 in Region 5) dominated No. 7 (Private) Wesleyan, 54-17. Player of the Year candidate senior RB Keaton Mitchell ran for 135 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries. Junior WR Philip Massengale had 107 yards rushing and two touchdowns on just seven carries, and also hauled in a 52-yard touchdown reception. Senior QB Gabe Wright completed 8-of-15 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns, two to senior WR Justin Robinson. It was the second blowout loss in a row for Wesleyan (4-2, 1-2). Sophomore QB J.C. French was 20-of-30 passing for 195 yards and a touchdown, but the Wolves were held to -17 yards rushing. More than half of French's completions (11) went to sophomore WR/DB Cooper Blauser for 120 yards.
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