GHSF Daily's Chip Saye ranks the most surprising and notable games of the weekend:
1. Cedar Grove 49, Pace Academy 0: The four ranked teams from 5-AAA (Westminster, Lovett, Cedar Grove and Pace) had played three games against each other, with an average victory margin of 13.7 points, so Cedar Grove's 49-point win was a shocker. Pace Academy, a reigning state champion, was a two-point favorite by the computer Maxwell Ratings.
2. Veterans 33, Thomas County Central 28: Veterans, which started the season 1-3, improved to 4-4 overall and 1-1 in 1-AAAAA after knocking off a team that appeared poised to win the region title and came in as a 19-point favorite. A victory this week against Harris County would give Veterans five wins for just the second time in its seven seasons.
3. Woodstock 34, Lassiter 23: Lassiter lost for the second consecutive week after starting the season 5-0 and climbing to No. 6 in the AAAAAAA rankings. The time, it was against a Woodstock team that came in as a 14-point underdog. Lassiter most likely needs to win two of its final three games (vs. Walton, Cherokee and Etowah) to make the playoffs.
4. Savannah 33, Southeast Bulloch 16: Savannah was a 15-point underdog but won by more than that to reach the five-victory mark for the first time since its last postseason appearance in 1995. The Blue Jackets (5-1, 3-0) are tied with Jenkins for first place in 3-AAA, and a victory against Jenkins this week could lead to their first region title since 1993.
5. Chattooga 31, Model 7: Much like Lassiter, Model has lost two consecutive games after starting the season 5-0 and reaching No. 7 in the rankings. Model was a 20-point favorite against Chattooga. The loss dropped the Blue Devils into a tie for fourth place with Coosa in 7-AA. Model's playoff fate likely comes down to its game Oct. 28 against Coosa.
Also of note: Jackson County, a 20-point underdog, beat Hart County 18-14 for its first-ever victory in the series, snapping a 13-game losing streak against the Bulldogs that dated to 1996. The win all but wrapped up a playoff berth for Jackson County. ... Islandsmatched the victory total from its first two seasons (2-18) when it improved to 2-4 with a 13-7 win over Beach. The Sharks are in fourth place in eight-team 3-AAA and in contention for their first playoff berth in program history. ...Mount Zion (Jonesboro) kept its playoff hopes alive with a 20-6 victory over 10-point favorite Mundy's Mill. To reach the postseason for the first time since 2009, Mount Zion must win at least one of its final three games and get some help. ...Ola took a giant step toward the first playoff berth in the program's 11-year history when it beat nine-point favorite Locust Grove 20-16. The Mustangs will break the school record with one more win, and two will put them in the postseason. ...Pelham created a three-way tie for first place in Region 1-A with a 50-38 victory over Randolph-Clay, which was unbeaten in region play and an 11-point favorite. Pelham and Randolph-Clay share the top spot with Mitchell County.
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