Class AA blog: What to watch in Week 8

Last meeting: Hapeville Charter won 37-0 in 2018.

Watch the game: Online at NFHS Network.

Maxwell's projection: Hapeville Charter by 32

Notes: Though this battle of the Hornets has never been close — Hapeville is 3-0 all-time dating back to 2016, outscoring South Atlanta 114-20 — it's possible this year's game is closer than Maxwell projects. South Atlanta is off to its best start — and enjoying its longest win streak (5) — in a program history that dates back to 1994. South Atlanta is one win away from tying its record for most wins in a season, as it has reached six three times, most recently last year. The other two years were '94 and '95 — its first two seasons. South Atlanta's lone loss was 33-8 to AAAA's Central-Carrollton in its season opener. South Atlanta's wins have come against Druid Hills, Clarkston, B.E.S.T. Academy and Therrell, all of which have losing records. Central-Carrollton is 3-3, which makes Hapeville Charter the first winning team it has faced. For Hapeville, a win here essentially clinches the program's fourth consecutive 6-AA title, as moving forward its final three league games are against bottom feeders KIPP Atlanta Collegiate, Washington and B.E.S.T. Last week, Hapeville made easy work of then-No. 10 Douglass, winning 43-6 to all but eliminate the Astros from winning the region. Hapeville's lone loss was in its opener to AAA's defending state champions and No. 2-ranked Cedar Grove, 26-16. Since then it's beaten two once-ranked teams, the other being Heard County, 61-7. Hapeville has outscored region opponents 157-12 in three games this season.

Lamar County Trojans at Callaway Cavaliers

When, where: 7 p.m. Thursday, Callaway Stadium, Hogansville

Records, rankings: Lamar County is 6-0, 2-0 in Region 5 and unranked; Callaway is 5-1, 2-0 and ranked No. 3.

Last meeting: Callaway won 45-6 in 2018.

Watch the game: Online at NFHS Network.

Maxwell's projection: Callaway by 30

Notes: Trojans first-year coach Jeff Sloan has completely turned the program around, as the Trojans passed last year's win total (4) weeks ago, and they're 6-0 for the first time since 2013, when they finished as AA runners up in coach Franklin Stephens' final season with the team. In their season opener, they beat A-Private's then-No. 7 Mount Zion (Carroll) 27-6. They've eked out single-digit wins in their first two 5-AA games, beating Jordan (21-16) and Spencer (14-7), so their game against Callaway will serve as the true barometer for how far this team has come. Trojans senior receiver Keilyn Tyus (6-foot-3, 211 pounds) holds a Power 5 offer from Kentucky. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, have played the more challenging schedule, with its lone hiccup coming in Alabama to Opelika, currently ranked No. 8 in the state's highest classification (AAAAAA), by the score of 10-7. The Cavs also outlasted AAAA's No. 4 Troup 56-45. With AJC Super 11 selection and Auburn commit Tank Bigsby in his senior season, they are gunning for their first state championship in a program that dates back to 1996. In addition to Bigsby, the Cavs have six three-stars in '20 lineman and Auburn commit Tate Johnson, '21 athlete Demetrius Coleman (offers include Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State), '21 athlete Charlie Dixon (Mississippi State, Nebraska), '21 athlete Jalin Shephard (Auburn, Colorado, Nebraska), '20 athlete Sharman Holmes (Memphis) and '20 athlete Jacob Freeman (Baylor, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, Oregon, Vanderbilt, West Virginia). Keshawn Suggs, a '21 defensive end, holds a Power 5 offer from Mississippi State.

Washington County Golden Hawks at Bleckley County Royals

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Royal Stadium at Shelly Hayes Field, Cochran

Records, rankings: Washington County is 4-1, 1-0 in Region 3 and ranked No. 9; Bleckley County is 4-2, 1-1 and unranked.

Last meeting: Washington County won 54-20 in 2018.

Maxwell's projection: Washington County by 7

Notes: The Golden Hawks need a win to stay in the rankings, but more importantly they want to remain in position to win 3-AA for their season finale against No. 4 Dublin. They were ranked as high as No. 6 before losing three weeks ago to then-No. 8 Swainsboro, 27-7. Following a bye, they rebounded from the loss with a 68-14 win over East Laurens in their region opener. They're led by workhorse running back and senior Shamarcus Poole (5-foot-7, 175 pounds), who is receiving interest from Army. The Golden Hawks and Royals only began playing in 2016, when they both joined 3-AA. In their first meeting in 2016, Washington County won 39-7. In 2017, the Royals won 42-28, but Washington County beat them 10-9 in a region mini-game that determined the final two playoff spots, leaving the Royals outside of the postseason. In last season's meeting, the Golden Hawks scored 21 points in the first quarter including an interception returned for a touchdown and never looked back. The Royals appear much-improved form a year ago in Von Lassiter's third season as coach, and they've already tied last year's win total. They're coming off a game in which they narrowly lost to No. 4 Dublin, 41-32, which was their second loss — the other came 28-10 at the hands of AAAAA's Veterans, which is 5-1. Two weeks ago, the Royals beat A-Public's No. 4 Marion County, 43-28. The Royals are led by class of '21 five-star tackle Amarius Mims (6-foot-7, 300 pounds), who is ranked the No. 2 offensive tackle in the country, the No. 6 overall player in the country and the No. 2 player in the state.

Vidalia Indians at Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Yellow Jackets Stadium at The Pinelands, Hazlehurst

Records, rankings: Vidalia is 4-1, 1-0 in Region 2 and unranked; Jeff Davis is 6-0, 2-0 and unranked

Last meeting: Vidalia won 43-15 in 2018.

Maxwell's projection: Vidalia by 1

Notes: The Yellow Jackets are 6-0 for the first time since 1997, and if they beat Vidalia, they'll be 7-0 for the first time since 1990, when they finished 12-1 and reached the semifinals. Third-year coach Lance Helton has the Jackets on track to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2000-01. However, Vidalia will be just the second team the Jackets have played which has a winning record, with the other being AAA's Brantley (3-2), which they beat 7-0. Aside from that, they've had a light schedule, beating Glenn Hills (1-4), Windsor Forest (2-3), East Laurens (1-5), Bacon County (0-6) and Bryan County (0-5), which explains their absence from the rankings despite their start. The Indians will easily be the best opponent they've faced thus far and this game will be critical in determining playoff seedings — and potentially the region title, with Swainsboro also undefeated in league play. The Indians were shut out 24-0 by AAA's No. 6 Appling County in their season opener and haven't lost since. They're coming off a bye week, and before that they beat Bryan County 41-12 to extend their win streak to four. The Indians have dominated the series for two decades, with the Jackets last winning in 1999. Vidalia is 11-0 against Jeff Davis in that span.

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