GHSF Daily's Chip Saye ranks the most surprising and notable games of the weekend:
1. McIntosh County Academy 15, Vidalia 14: McIntosh County Academy (1-3) snapped a 14-game losing streak with a victory against a Vidalia team that reached the Class AA quarterfinals last season. Vidalia (2-2) won last year's meeting 43-0. The Buccaneers were projected as 30-point underdogs by the computer Maxwell Ratings.
2. Cass 23, Dalton 8: Cass (3-1, 1-0) perhaps became the team to beat in Region 7-AAAAA Div. A with a convincing victory over the preseason favorite. The Colonels beat Dalton (2-2, 0-1) for just the second time in 12 all-time meetings. Cass, in its second season under coach Bobby Hughes, is seeking its first winning season or playoff berth since 2006.
3. Collins Hill 52, North Gwinnett 23: Collins Hill lost its first three games by an average of 7.7 points per game, but the Eagles opened strong in Region 7-AAAAAA, beating a North Gwinnett team that was projected as a 23-point favorite. North Gwinnett (2-2) had won six of the previous seven games in the series, including 42-24 in 2014.
4. Columbus 21, Marion County 14: Columbus is 4-0 for the first time since 1974 after beating a Marion County team that was ranked No. 1 in Class A last week. The Blue Devils open play in 1-AAAAA this week against Carver of Columbus in a game that suddenly appears will have a big impact on the region title race.
5. South Effingham 35, Statesboro 21: Coffee and Glynn Academy have gotten the attention as Ware County's top challengers in Region 3-AAAAA, but it is South Effingham that is tied with the Gators for first place. The Mustangs are 4-0 for the first time since 2008 and fourth time in school history, although the toughest part of their schedule remains.
Also of note: Athens Academy has its only losing season in nine years last year, but the Spartans have bounced back and are 4-0 after a 14-7 victory over Commerce, which was in the top 10 two weeks ago. ... Lakeside of Atlanta (3-2) has a winning record at the season's midpoint for the first time since 2005 after a 44-9 victory against Dunwoody, which fell to 2-2. ... Lithonia is 3-1 for the first time since 1998 after a 16-14 victory over Grady. The Bulldogs are seeking their first back-to-back playoff berths since 1991-92. ... McNair picked up its first victory of the year, and just its 11th since the start of the 2010 season, with a 7-6 win over a Washington team that was projected as a 29-point favorite. ... Stephenson's victory over Creekside wasn't a shocker, but the 49-12 score was a surprise. It was Creekside's most-lopsided loss since Camden County beat the Seminoles 49-0 in the 2008 playoffs.
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