Here’s a look at some of the top games in Class AA this week …
No. 3 Lovett (6-2, 5-0) at Wesleyan (5-2, 3-1)
This is Lovett’s last game before a season-ending showdown with No. 1 Greater Atlanta Christian next week. Wesleyan has had two weeks to prepare for the Lions after shutting down B.E.S.T. Academy, 17-0, two weeks ago.
Defense has been the Wolves’ strength this season. They’re giving up just 7.3 points per game in Region 6-AA play, and have held each of their last two opponents to less than 50 rushing yards.
Lovett, which has won 13 straight region games dating back to 2011, has been stout on both sides of the ball, especially in region play, where the Lions are scoring 42.4 per game while yielding 11.2. Last week, they defeated Holy Innocents’, 42-13. Senior quarterback Willie Candler is offensive catalyst, throwing for 1,043 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 420 yards and eight scores.
Lovett leads the all-time series, 4-0, and won last year, 41-13.
Rabun County (6-2, 4-0) at Washington-Wilkes (5-2, 2-1)
Rabun County enters this game coming off its biggest win of the season, a 45-31 victory over previously unbeaten Union County that left the Wildcats in first place in Region 8-AA and clinched their third straight playoff berth. Washington-Wilkes has won two straight since falling, 16-7, to Greene County and needs a win to keep its hopes of a repeat region championship alive.
The Tigers boast the top defense in the region in terms of points allowed, giving up just 12 points per game. The offense has been inconsistent, but scored 41 points in the first half of last week’s 41-3 win over Social Circle after scoring 41 points in the previous three games combined.
Rabun County will counter with one of the region’s top offenses. Led by versatile junior Charlie Woerner, the Wildcats average 429 yards of offense per game and are scoring 41.8 per game in region play. The Wildcats defense is averaging more than three sacks per game on the season, led by Tucker Williams’ five. A win for Rabun County would clinch one of the region’s top two seeds for the playoffs.
Heard County (3-4, 2-0) at Bowdon (5-2, 2-0)
The top three spots in Region 5-AA will be decided over the final three weeks of the season, starting with Heard County at Bowdon on Friday.
Heard County opened the season ranked among the state’s top 10, but fell swiftly due to the combination of a challenging early-season schedule and a slew of injuries. The Braves are getting healthier, though, and last week welcomed the return of Duranta Dunson, one of AA’s most prolific running backs and a key starter in Heard County’s defensive backfield. After missing four games with a broken collarbone, Dunson rushed 13 times for 183 yards and the 80th touchdown of his career in last week’s 35-20 win over Manchester.
Bowdon boasts one of the region’s top offenses, led by running backs Darnell Holland and Tay Sheppard. The Red Devils are averaging 35 points per game on the season and have scored 150 in their last three games. In last week’s 40-12 win over Temple, Holland and Sheppard led the way to more than 400 rushing yards.
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This week's schedule by region
Week 10
Region 1-AA
Brooks County at Early County
Pelham at Fitzgerald
Seminole County at Berrien
Region 2-AA
Bacon County at Vidalia
Bryan County at Jeff Davis
Groves at Benedictine
McIntosh County Academy at Long County
Region 3-AA
Dublin at Swainsboro
Jefferson County at Harlem
Region 4-AA
Lamar County at Putnam County
Macon County at Northeast-Macon
Monticello at Bleckley County
Region 5-AA
Bremen at Manchester
Chattahoochee County at Temple
Heard County at Bowdon
Region 6-AA
B.E.S.T. Academy at KIPP Atlanta Collegiate
Holy Innocents' at Greater Atlanta Christian
Lovett at Wesleyan
Pace Academy at Hapeville Charter
Region 7-AA
Dade County at Coosa
Darlington at Armuchee
Model at Chattooga
Region 8-AA
Greene County at Riverside Military Academy
Rabun County at Washington-Wilkes
Social Circle at Oglethorpe County
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