Here’s a look at some of the top games this weekend:
No. 1 (Private) Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (1-0) at Class AA Pace Academy (1-0): Both teams are coming off of blowout shutouts in their season openers. ELCA got a huge performance from junior Keaton Mitchell – 150 yards rushing on 19 carries, 4 touchdowns – en route to a 41-0 win over Class AAAAAA Morrow. Meanwhile Pace dominated Class AAAAAA New Manchester 31-0. ELCA is going after an unprecedented fourth consecutive state title and is currently riding a 37-game winning streak. Pace won a Class AA state title in 2015. Both squads are led by senior quarterbacks – Brayden Rush for ELCA and Jared Rayman for Pace.
No. 7 (Private) Stratford Academy (0-0) at No. 8 (Private) Savannah Country Day (0-0): This is the only match up of ranked opponents in Class A this weekend and the season opener for both teams. Stratford is coming off of a 10-2 season in which the Eagles won their sub-region but were defeated in the Region 7 title game by Aquinas. After starting the season 9-0, Stratford lost two of its last three games, including a second round playoff game to Mount Paran Christian (14-7). The Eagles are led by senior QB Christian Palmer and junior RB Deondre Duehart. Savannah Country Day had its best season since 2005, winning 10 games for just the second time in school history. The Hornets are led by junior defensive end Andre Miller. Stratford won the last meeting between the two squads, 33-14, last year in the season opener for both teams.
No. 1 (Public) Irwin County (1-0) at No. 9 Class AA Fitzgerald (1-0): Irwin will try to snap a miserable streak against the Purple Hurricanes. Irwin is 0-19-1 in its last 20 games against Fitzgerald, in a series that dates back to 1954. Last year Irwin fell 31-6 to Fitzgerald, but went on to win 11 in a row before losing the Class A public championship game to Clinch County (21-12). Irwin is led by junior RB/LB DJ Lundy. Fitzgerald made the state playoffs last season in spite of having a losing record (4-7) for the first time since 1999.
No. 8 (Public) Commerce (1-0) at Athens Christian (1-0): Commerce holds a commanding lead in the all-time series with the Eagles, 10-2. But Athens Christian's last win against the Tigers was a big one. Two seasons ago, when Commerce was ranked No. 1 in the AJC Top 10, Athens Christian upset the Tigers 21-14. This is the first time the teams have met when both are undefeated. In their season openers last week, Commerce rolled up 301 yards rushing in a 35-14 win over West Hall, while the Eagles downed Class AA Monticello, 28-13.
Other games of note:
No. 2 (Private) Prince Avenue Christian (1-0) at Whitefield Academy (1-0)
No. 9 (Private) Aquinas at Class AA Harlem (0-0)
No. 10 (Private) Fellowship Christian (1-0) at Pinecrest Academy (0-0)
No. 9 (Public) Emanuel County Institute (0-1) at Class AA Vidalia (0-0)
No. 10 (Public) Pelham (1-0) at Randolph-Clay (0-0)
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