The Region 1 championship may be at stake this week when No. 4 Warner Robins travels to Thomas County Central in a match between two of the state’s winningest programs.
Warner Robins (6-1) has lost only to Class AAAAAAA No. 1 Colquitt County. In their six wins the Demons have scored no fewer than 39 points. They warmed up with a 41-0 win over Harris County in the region opener, a game in which quarterback Dylan Fromm threw three touchdown passes in the first half. Fromm has thrown for a state-best 2,272 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Thomas County Central (5-1) has won four straight since its lone loss to rival Thomasville, then the No. 4-ranked team in Class AA. Quarterback Adam Tedder has thrown for 655 yards and Quay Edwards has rushed for 463 yards for the Yellow Jackets, who are playing under first-year coach Ashley Henderson, who won three state championships in six seasons at GISA Valwood.
The two teams have split their previous four meetings. Warner Robins won 30-28 in 2017, the closest call the Demons had during the regular season.
Here are other interesting games in Class AAAAA this week:
Kell at Carrollton: The No. 5 Trojans can virtually sew up second place in Region 7 with a victory. If Kell wins, it creates a likely three-way tie between Carrollton, Kell and East Paulding.
Kell (4-2) is a good offensive team; the Longhorns have been held to fewer than 29 points just once; they scored six against No. 1 Rome. They’ve totaled 101 in the last two games. Quarterback Evan Conley is the guy who makes the Kell offense roll.
Carrollton (6-1) has an excellent running game – five players have more than 200 yards, led by Brandon Marenco with 412 yards and seven touchdowns. Quarterback Kashif Taylor has rushed for 282 yards and thrown for 1,086 yards and 11 touchdowns, with Isaiah Lancaster (34 catches, six touchdowns) establishing himself as a go-to gamebreaker.
The series is tied 2-2, but Carrollton has won the last two years. The Trojans survived a 45-42 shootout in 2017.
Riverwood vs. Carver (Lakewood): Those who tried to bury Carver after an 0-3 start did so prematurely. The Panthers (3-3) have bounced back to win three straight and could strike another blow toward defending their Region 6 title with a win this week.
Carver’s offense has started to click behind quarterback Deante Maxwell, who has thrown for 944 yards and eight touchdowns, and running back Jo’Quavious Marks (589 yards) and Tony Jones (659 yards). Deanthony Ball has 26 receptions for a 19.5-yard average an five touchdowns.
Riverwood (4-2) has a strong ground game behind Reese White (935 yards, nine touchdowns), Aaron Graham (369 yards, four touchdowns), Daba Fofana and Tre Young. Graham has thrown for 929 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Raiders have scored 103 points over the last two weeks.
Riverwood has never beaten Carver. The Panthers lead the series 4-0 and won 16-6 in 2017.
McIntosh at Starr's Mill: The is 17th meeting between the two Fayette County rivals, a series that has been quite one-sided. Starr's Mill has won every game except one, that coming in 2012. Starr's Mill (4-3) has won three straight games. McIntosh (2-4) knocked off its other big rival last week, beating Fayette County 9-3. A win by Starr's Mill would set up a likely showdown with Riverdale for the Region 3 championship.
