Here’s a look at a few games of note this weekend:
No. 1 (Private) Athens Academy (5-0, 1-0 Region 8-Division A) vs. George Walton Academy (5-1, 1-0). Athens Academy notched an impressive win last week, 24-0, over community rival Athens Academy. However, the Spartans lost Player of the Year candidate senior RB/LB Len'Neth Whitehead, who went down with an injury in the first half. Athens Academy will lean more heavily on its defense and senior RB/DB Kurt Knisely while Whitehead is out. The defense will need to be stout against the Bulldogs, who are averaging more than 36 points per game, second highest in the region next to the Spartans. Athens Academy won last year's contest, 35-28.
No. 10 (Private) Christian Heritage (4-1, 1-1 in Region 6-Division A) vs. Trion (5-1, 2-1). The Lions will look to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss to No. 4 Darlington, 29-22, where Christian Heritage surrendered the go-ahead touchdown in the game's final two minutes. It was the Lions' first defeat of the season. Sophomore RB/LB Gage Leonard leads the team on offense, while junior DE Riley Reece sets the tone on defense. Trion is 5-1 for the second time in the last three seasons. The Bulldogs earned a hard-fought 12-6 win over Mt. Zion-Carroll last week. They won last season's match up with Christian Heritage, 26-7.
No. 8 (Public) Manchester (4-1, 2-0 in Region 4-Division A) at Pacelli (4-2, 1-2). Manchester is coming off of a 44-0 blowout of Central-Talbotton (1-4, 0-2) last week. Junior RB/DB Anthony Ferguson led the way with 201 yards rushing and four touchdowns on just nine carries, while the Hollis brothers – senior LB/FB Tylan and junior DE/OL Trey – led the defense with 7.5 tackles for loss between them. After beginning the season 3-0, Pacelli is 1-3, including last week's 36-7 drubbing at the hands of Brookstone, which is tied with Manchester for first place in the sub region. The Vikings are a young team, as sophomore ATH Radonda Beauchamp Jr. is the team's leader in total offense with more than 400 yards and four touchdowns, while freshman RB/LB John Thornton leads the team in tackles. Manchester won last year, 70-14.
Other games of note:
No. 6 (Private) Aquinas (5-0, 2-0 in Region 7-Division B) vs. Washington-Wilkes (3-3, 2-1)
No. 7 (Private) Wesleyan (4-2, 1-2 in Region 5) at Mt. Vernon Presbyterian (3-3, 1-2)
No. 4 (Public) Bowdon (5-0, 2-0 in Region 6-Division A) vs. Mt. Zion-Carroll (1-5, 0-3)
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