On tap this weekend
Here are some of the top games of the weekend in Class A, along with a few others worth mentioning.
No. 1 Marion County (1-0) vs. Dooly County (1-1). Marion jumped out to a big start to the season two weeks ago when the Eagles throttled Miller County, 40-6, as Class A Player of the Year candidate Lorenzo Smothers scored three touchdowns on just six touches. Other top players for the Eagles include , LB/RB Mykelle Kelley and LB Kabron Mykelle Kelly, both juniors, and senior LB Maurice Carter. Dooly is attempting to shake off one of the worse losses in the program's history, 50-6, to Turner County last week. It was the Bobcats' worse loss to the Rebels since a 59-0 bashing in 1994, their worse loss period since falling 47-7 to Emanuel County Institute in the 2012 public school title game. It was the first time Dooly had surrendered 50 points since a 55-13 loss to Hawkinsville in 2004.
No. 4 Eagle's Landing Christian (1-2) at Mt. Pisgah Christian (1-1). ELCA will take a break from facing teams from larger classifications but will have to deal with a Patriot team that beat them 28-21 last season and is 21-6 since head coach Mike Forrester took over three years ago at the school in Johns Creek. Both squads will be looking to rebound from blowout losses to ranked Class AA schools. ELCA fell to Greater Atlanta Christian, 33-3, while Mt. Pisgah was beaten by Rabun County, 35-10. ELCA is led by sophomore RB Josh Holt, junior RB Trevor Gear, and OL Chandler Reeves and LB Chase Burdette, both seniors. Mt. Pisgah is paced by RB/LB J.R. Cendoya, RB/LB Max Miller and OL/DL Garrett Brasher, all seniors, along with sophomore QB Jacob Cendoya (J.R.'s brother).
No. 10 Commerce (2-0) vs. Class AAA No. 3 Jefferson (3-0). Commerce will look to end its two-game losing streak in one of the oldest rivalries in Georgia high school football. Commerce and Jefferson have faced each other every year, with the exception of 1950, since 1947. Commerce holds a commanding 42-22-5 lead in the series but the Tigers have lost seven of the last eight to the Dragons, who won last year's game 28-3. Both teams are coming off of 35-0 shutout wins – Commerce over Hebron Christian of Dalton and Jefferson over North Hall. Jefferson is led by RB Colby Wood and QB Bryce Moore, both sophomores, and junior LB Zach Boobas. Commerce is paced by RB/LB Will Thomas and RB/DB Cole Chancey, both juniors, and QB/DB Caleb Brooks and RB/DB J'varius Wood.
No. 2 Prince Avenue Christian (2-0) at George Walton Academy (0-2)
No. 7 Charlton County (1-0) vs. Class AA Bacon County (2-0)
No. 9 Aquinas (1-1) at Our Lady of Mercy (1-1)
