No. 4 (Public) Bowdon (6-0, 3-0 in Region 6-Division A) at No. 10 (Private) Christian Heritage (5-1, 2-1)This is one of two matchups between teams in one of the toughest subregions in any classification. Six of the seven teams in the league are currently in the Top 24 in either the public or private power ratings. Bowdon is 6-0 for the first time since 2013, after finishing last season just 1-9. In his second year as head coach, Richard Findley Jr. has the Red Devils playing stingy defense to go along with a physical running game. Bowdon currently sits at No. 3 in the public power ratings after shutting out Mt. Zion-Carroll last week, 24-0. Christian Heritage, No. 6 in the private power ratings, is coming off a dominating performance, a 52-6 over Trion. Last season, Christian Heritage shut out Bowdon, 21-0.
No. 4 (Private) Darlington (6-0, 3-0 in Region 6-Division A) at Trion (5-2, 2-2) This is the other big game in Region 6-Division A. Darlington is 6-0 for the first time since 2015, which is the last time the Tigers won a region title. Darlington is led by senior OT Tate Ratledge, who is committed to Georgia, and senior RB/LB Kolin Rogers, whose recruiting stock appears to be on the rise. His game winning 18-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter gave the Tigers a 29-22 win over Christian Heritage two weeks ago. Trion will try to rebound from a 52-6 beat down at the hands of Christian Heritage last week. It was the most points surrendered by the Bulldogs since they fell 56-35 to Dooly County in the first round of the 2017 state playoffs. Darlington won last year's battle, 17-14.
No. 1 (Public) Clinch County (5-1, 2-1 in Region 2) vs. No. 10 Turner County (5-1, 3-0)This is the only matchup of Top 10 public schools. Clinch County is in the same position in region play at this point in the season for the third year in a row. Once again, Clinch lost its region opener to Irwin County. But the last two years, the Panthers have bounced back to win the rest of their games, including the public school title game, both times over Irwin County. Clinch sits at No. 2 in the public school power ratings. Turner County, under first-year head coach Nick Hayes, is off to its best start since 2015, when the Rebels began the season 6-0. That win streak was snapped by Clinch County, 30-16. Turner is No. 12 in the public power ratings. Clinch has won the last six meetings between the schools, including 41-12 last season. Turner last beat Clinch in 2012, 30-20.
Other games of note:
No. 6 (Private) Aquinas (6-0, 3-0 in Region 7-Division B) at Hancock Central (3-3, 2-1)
No. 3 (Public) Pelham (6-0, 5-0 in Region 1) vs. Chattahoochee County (4-3, 4-2)
No. 6 (Public) Commerce (5-1, 1-0 in Region 8-Division B) vs. Hebron Christian (4-2, 2-0)
No. 8 (Public) Manchester (5-1, 3-0 in Region 4-Division A) vs. Brookstone (4-2, 2-1)
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