Friday night preview: Sneaky good games highlight Class AAAA slate
After two seasons in AAAAA, Whitewater has gotten off to a 2-0 start in AAAA this season. The Wildcats host 2-0 East Coweta tonight.
Senior quarter Jay Ashley, a third-year starter, leads a Whitewater attack that’s averaged 38.5 points in openings wins over Starr’s Mill and Banneker. A track athlete, Ashley is in his third season orchestrating the Wildcats’ fast-paced, "Auburn-style" attack. Ashley led the Whitewater to two straight trips to the AAAAA playoffs in 2012 and 2013.
“Jay’s a pretty good punter as well as a quarterback,” coach Amos McCreary said. “He led us to a win over Creekside and into the semifinals as a sophomore. He’s excelled pretty much ever since.”
The Wildcats’ 4-3 defense has playmakers at every level. Defensive tackle Caleb Martinez and defensive end Daiquan Williams bolster the front. Middle linebacker Russell Welch, a four-year starter, anchors the linebacking corps, and free safety Christian Wafford is a standout in the secondary.
They’ll all be tested tonight against East Coweta’s Wing-T attack.
“It’s tricky, because you just don’t see it very often anymore,” McCreary said.
East Coweta has opened with easy wins over Arabia Mountain and Harrison.
--No. 5 Woodward Academy has lost four straight and six of seven to Lovett. The two rivals face off tonight at Lovett. Woodward Academy (2-0) is led by star running back Elijah Holyfield. Holyfield and the War Eagles’ offense have averaged 43.5 points in opening wins over Decatur and St. Pius X. Lovett (1-2) has scored a total of 17 points in consecutive losses to Westminster and Marist the past two weeks.
--No. 2 Sandy Creek hasn’t lost a game in the regular season since the opener of the 2009 season, a streak that spans 52 games. The Patriots did tie Florida-power Plant High School to begin last year. Sandy Creek (3-0) travels to Newnan of Class AAAAAA tonight.
–Region 6-AAAA play gets going tonight. Unbeaten Marist hosts winless Arabia Mountain; St. Pius is at Lithonia; Stone Mountain and Columbia meet at Avondale Stadium, and Redan is at Grady.
