Here’s a quick breakdown of the top games of this weekend, followed by the updated Georgia High School Association/MaxPreps Class A Power Ratings for the week. There was a bit of a glitch earlier this week, when the polls are usually released.
No. 10 (Public) Irwin County (1-2) at No. 3 (Public) Clinch County (2-1)
(Preview courtesy of Georgia High School Football Daily) This is the 22nd regular-season rematch of a previous year's state-title game. The reigning champion is 13-8 in the rematches. The 2015 title game was actually a rematch of a regular-season game from the same season (the 23rd time that had happened). Irwin won the regular-season contest 28-12 but lost the final. Clinch County's run game is superb. QB Charles McClelland has rushed for 429 yards and six touchdowns on 50 carries. Shannon Young has 171 yards rushing after running for more than 1,500 last year. But Clinch was 2-of-13 passing against Brooks County (a 35-21 loss) and claims only five completed passes on the season. Irwin County has lost to Fitzgerald 56-19 and Macon County 57-15. Both opponents were ranked No. 1 at the time. Irwin County returned four all-region players on defense, including first-teamers DL Zyon Ross and LB Nathan Tucker, but misses LB D.J. Pollard, the region player of the year who doubled as a 1,500-yard rusher.
No. 3 (Private) Landmark Christian (3-0) at Strong Rock Christian (2-1)
Landmark is off to its third 3-0 start in the last four seasons, and is coming off of an impressive 44-6 blowout of Brookstone. QB/S Joey Blount had a masterful complete game. He rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns on just four carries, completed 10-of-12 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown, and intercepted a pass. Strong Rock is led by QB Luke Welborn, RB Demetrius Knight and WR Christian De Silva. The Patriots have not fared well against Landmark. The War Eagles have won all six meetings by an average score of 40-4.
No. 6 (Private) Darlington (2-1) at Gordon Lee (3-0)
Darlington is coming off of a big win over Class AA Heard County, 28-14. The Tigers trailed 14-0 early, but rallied with a stellar defensive effort in the second half coupled with the offensive production of Tijai Whatley (172 yards rushing, 26 carries, three touchdowns) and Elijah McKoy (96 yards rushing and a touchdown). Gordon Lee currently sits atop the public power ratings and is off to its best starts since 2013. However, that season the Trojans proceeded to lose the remaining seven games on their schedule. Darlington holds a decisive upper hand in the all-time series, winning 13 of the 14 meetings, including a 56-35 win last season. The last win for Gordon Lee came in 1993 (34-28).
Warren County (3-0) at No. 9 (Private) First Presbyterian Day (3-0)
FPD, currently No. 1 in the private power ratings, registered one of its biggest wins last week since joining the GHSA in 2010 – a 56-0 beat down of Hawkinsville, which won the public school title just two seasons ago. The Vikings led 49-0 at halftime. Warren County is 3-0 for the first time since 2011, when the Screaming Eagles finished 7-3. Just three seasons ago, Warren County finished 0-10.
Other top games include:
Class AA Lamar County (2-1) at No. 5 (Public) Marion County (3-0)
Trion (2-1) at No. 10 (Public) Bowdon (2-1)
Aquinas (1-2) at Mount de Sales (2-1)
Atkinson County (1-2) at Charlton County (0-2)
Hawkinsville (2-1) at Schley County (2-1)
Tattnall Square (2-0) at St. Anne-Pacelli (0-3)
Telfair County (1-1) at Turner County (1-2)
FPD, Gordon Lee on top of power ratings lists
First Presbyterian Day and Gordon Lee lead the second Georgia High School Association/MaxPreps Class A Power Ratings lists of this season. The top 24 teams advance to the state playoffs. The first eight teams receive a bye in the first round.
Class A Private
Class A Public
