GHSF Daily's Chip Saye ranks the most surprising and notable games of the weekend:
1. Johns Creek 42, Alpharetta 39: Alpharetta, which won championships in 6-AAAAAA each of the past two seasons, had its 23-game region winning streak snapped by a team that finished in last place in 2013 and 2014. Johns Creek, which has won just two games since 2012, was projected as a 36-point underdog by the computer Maxwell Ratings.
2. Wheeler 35, Milton 7: Milton, the defending champion in 5-AAAAAA, fell to 0-3 for the first time since 2001 with this surprisingly lopsided loss. Wheeler, which went 4-6 in 2014, is perhaps the surprise team of the region this season at 3-1 overall and 2-0 in region play, but the Wildcats face their toughest test yet when they play at No. 5 Walton on Friday.
3. Howard 42, Rutland 8: Howard, a Macon school that opened in 2008, came into the season with an all-time record of 10-59-1. Now the Huskies are 4-0 for the first time and already have set the school record for most victories in a season. Howard has this week off before beginning Region 2-AAAA play against West Laurens.
4. Parkview 48, Brookwood 9: Parkview's 48 points scored and 39-point margin of victory set records in this Gwinnett County rivalry, which dates to 1982. Brookwood, which did not have a losing record from 1987 to 2013, is 0-3 this season and 2-12 in its past 14 games. Parkview is 3-0 for the first time since 2007 and plays second-ranked Grayson on Friday.
5. Veterans 38, Washington County 21: Washington County, which finished 14-1 and reached the Class AAA final last season, is 0-3 for the first time since 2007 after losing to a Veterans team that it beat 42-3 in 2014. It was the first victory of the season for Veterans, which lost to Houston County 41-13 and Macon County 52-20 in its first two games.
Also of note: Columbus is 3-0 for the first time since 1974 after its 20-13 victory over Manchester on Thursday. The Blue Devils face Class A No. 1 Marion County before beginning play in 1-AAAAA on Sept. 25. ... Douglass is 3-0 for the first time since 2006 after its 28-8 victory over McNair. The Astros haven't won more than three games in a season since finishing 8-4 in 2007, Gary Cantrell's last year as head coach. ... Eastside, which lost to Griffin twice last season by a combined score of 101-35, turned the tables with a decisive 37-12 victory. Griffin has lost back-to-back games for the first time since 2011. ... Jefferson County picked up its first victory against a rugged 2015 schedule, beating Washington-Wilkes 29-14 and sending the Tigers to their first 0-3 start since 2010. ... Newton is 4-0 after a 27-7 victory over defending 3-AAAAAA champion Westlake. Newton is one of 14 remaining undefeated teams in the highest class.
Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily, a free e-mail newsletter. To join the mailing list, click here.
