Here is a look at a handful of the top games this weekend:
No. 5 (Class A Public) Irwin County (1-0) at No. 1 (Class AA) Fitzgerald (0-0).
(Preview courtesy of Georgia High School Football Daily) These programs were state runners-up last season, Fitzgerald in Class AA to Pace Academy and Irwin in Class A public to Clinch County. Fitzgerald, playing in a higher classification than Irwin for the past 10 seasons, is 15-0-1 in the series since 2000. Irwin County RB/WR/LB Jeremiah Ashley had 75 yards rushing and 84 receiving in a 42-7 victory over Berrien last week. QB Will Stephens was 8-of-16 passing for 153 yards. RB Ziaire Andrews, the Class A 100-meter champion, is another player to watch. Fitzgerald RB J.D. King rushed for 2,432 yards last season and had another 238 yards receiving. QB James Graham rushed for 1,536 yards and was 36-of-85 passing for 836 yards. The two had a hand in 58 touchdowns. Fitzgerald won last season's game, 35-14.
No. 1 (Class A Private) Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (1-0) vs.Jonesboro (0-1). The Chargers rolled over a Class AAAAA opponent last week, Henry County rival Eagle's Landing, 39-13. ELCA pulled its starters after the third quarter and held the Golden Eagles to 68 yards of total offense. This week ELCA hosts a Class AAAAAA team, Jonesboro, for their home opener at Commitment Field. Jonesboro could use a win after being upset by community rival Mt. Zion-Jonesboro last week, 9-7. This is the first meeting between the two squads.
No. 2 (Private) Wesleyan (1-0) at B.E.S.T. Academy (0-1). Wesleyan will take on an Atlanta Public School for the second consecutive week to begin the season. Last week the Wolves throttled Class AA Therrell, 41-6. This week they will face B.E.S.T. (Business Engineering Science & Technology) for the third consecutive season. Wesleyan shut out the Eagles 17-0 in 2014 and escaped with a 10-8 win last season.
No. 2 (Public) Macon County (0-0) at Dooly County (0-1). It's the season opener for the Bulldogs, a team many believe will contend for the state title in its first season in Class A since 2011. Macon County finished 10-3 last season, losing in the Class AA quarterfinals to eventual champion Pace Academy (33-26). Dooly was smacked by Crisp County last week, 38-6, in the Bobcats' season opener on the road.
Other games of note:
Savannah Country Day (0-0) at No. 5 (Private) Stratford Academy (0-0); Fellowship Christian (1-0) at No. 6 (Private) Mt. Paran Christian (1-0); No. 1 (Public) Clinch at McIntosh County Academy (1-0); Class AA Banks County (0-1) at No. 3 (Public) Commerce (0-0); Aquinas (0-1) at Class AA Laney (0-1)
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