Here’s a quick look at what happened Friday night and a peek at a couple of key games next week.
Turner is for real
In what may be the shocker of the weekend, Turner County (4-0, 2-0) destroyed No. 7 Charlton County (3-1, 1-1), 44-0, in Ashburn. Head coach Ben Simmons, in his first year at the helm after spending last season as defensive coordinator, said he wants the football program to rival the success of the school’s basketball programs, which are perennial state title contenders. He has the Rebels off to their best start since they began the 2000 season 6-0. They finished that season 9-2, losing in the first round of the state playoffs.
Remember Lincoln County?
After two 7-4 seasons, disappointing to the folks in Lincolnton, the Red Devils are quietly 5-0, after a 14-0 win at First Presbyterian Day (2-2) in Macon. Head coach Kevin Banks, two seasons into replacing the state’s winningest high school coach, Larry Campbell (477-85-3), has brought championship talk back to Lincolnton. The Red Devils will most likely be 8-0 when they travel to Augusta to face Aquinas (4-1) Oct. 30, in a game that will probably be for the Region 7, Division B title.
Mt. Paran, Prince Avenue roll
The two highest ranked teams in the AJC Top 10 won decisively Friday. No. 1 Mt. Paran (5-0), spotted Pinecrest Academy (3-1) of Cumming a 7-0 lead before scoring 28-unanswered points en route to a 35-19 win. Senior RB/DB Taylor Trammell added to his huge statistical season for the Eagles with 331 yards on 25 carries and three touchdowns, including a 94-yarder, according to the Forsyth County News. Prince Avenue Christian (5-0, 3-0 in Region 8), No. 2 in the AJC poll, rode the unbelievable performance of senior RB/DB Kevon Hudson to a 45-0 win over Hebron Christian (3-2, 1-2) of Dacula. Hudson, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, racked up 242 yards rushing on 11 carries and three touchdowns, all in the first half when the Wolverines scored all of their points, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post.
ELCA, Landmark come up short
No. 3 Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy and No. 6 Landmark Christian both failed in their respective bids to knock off top 10 teams from higher classifications. ELCA (3-3) led Woodward Academy, No. 3 in Class AAAA, 10-0 at halftime but gave up two long touchdowns in the second half – an 89-yard pass and a 69-yard run – of 20-10 loss. Landmark (3-2) led early as well but dropped a 20-13 decision at No. 8 in Class AAA Central-Carroll (5-0).
Next week …
Prince Avenue Christian at Commerce. This is the first of a two-game, mid-season, mini-gauntlet for Prince Avenue (5-0, 3-0 in Region 8). In his third season in Bogart, former Camden County head coach Jeff Herron has his wing-T offense and 3-3-5 defense clicking on all cylinders, as the Wolverines have won all of their games this season by an average score of 44-7. A win at Commerce (3-2, 2-1) Friday, and another next week over resurgent Athens Academy (5-0, 3-0) would most likely mean an undefeated regular season for PAC.
Marion County at St. Anne-Pacelli. Both teams bounced back from tough losses with big wins on Friday. Marion (3-1, 2-0 in Region 4), hammered Schley County 46-0, while St. Anne-Pacelli (4-1, 2-1) kept Dooly County reeling, 30-8. A win for Marion will keep the Eagles on track for winning their fifth region title in six years. A win for Pacelli will put the Vikings back in the hunt for their first region title since 2004
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