Top-ranked Pace Academy (2-0) faces another stern test Friday when the Knights play host to Class AAAA second-ranked Thomson (3-0), led by all-purpose star Christian Tutt.
Tutt, the 14th-ranked cornerback in the nation by the recruiting website 247Sports, plays a number or roles for Thomson and already has a 95-yard kickoff return to this credit this season.
Pace coach Chris Slade is aware of the challenge.
"I was with my staff all day trying to figure out how to stop Christian Tutt and Thomson Friday night," Slade said. "He is a hand-full. (Thomson) is a dynamite football team. They are well-coached, balanced, disciplined."
Thomson is undefeated on the season after beating Laney, Effingham County and Jefferson.
This will be the first meeting between Thomson and Pace.
Here are some of the other big games in Class AAA:
Cedar Grove (1-1) at Columbia (1-2): The Saints, ranked third, will face Columbia (AAAAA) for the 16th time in the series. The two programs have not met since 2014, when Columbia won 22-0. Cedar Grove (1-1) defeated Class AAAAAA Stephenson in their opener and lost to Class AAAAA Southwest DeKalb by one point in a game that saw Cedar Grove commit 17 penalties, miss an extra point, throw an interception in the end zone, lose one of its players to an ejection for throwing a punch and miss a field-goal with 10 seconds left in regulation.
Peach County (1-1) at Perry (1-0): The fourth-ranked Trojans will head to Perry to play the Class AAAAA Panthers in a big Middle Georgia rivalry game. Peach has a commanding 31-9 lead in the series and has won every game since 2008. James Jackson and Tyler Gibson will look to add to their rushing totals. Both had more 100 yards rushing against Houston County two weeks ago. Perry opened with a 35-14 victory against Rutland.
Jenkins (2-0) at Liberty County (2-0): UGA commitment Richard LeCounte and the No. 5 Panthers will look to beat Jenkins for the first time in school history. Jenkins leads the series 2-0. The two programs have not met since 1995. Both teams are undefeated this season. Liberty has beaten Bradwell Institute 53-13 and Statesboro 21-7. Jenkins defeated New Hampstead 21-20 in its opener and South Effingham 27-2 in the second game.
Greater Atlanta Christian (2-0) at Valor Christian, Co. (0-2): GAC will make a trip to Colorado to play Valor Christian in Highland Ranch after taking last week off. The Spartans lost Davis Mills, their Super 11 quarterback, before the start of the season, but are undefeated after beating two very good football teams, No. 7 Lovett and No. 8 Westminster.
No. 6 Calhoun, No 7 Lovett and No. 8 Westminster have the week off.
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