Here’s what happened Friday night, along with two huge games coming up Friday.
Mount Paran survives
No. 1 Mount Paran Christian caught a couple of huge breaks in its 7-6 win over Trion (5-3, 1-2), giving the Eagles the longest winning streak – 22 games – in Cobb County history. First, Trion could have tied the score at 7-7 late in the first half, after a short touchdown run by Malik Martin. But the Bulldogs missed the point after kick. Then in the fourth quarter, Trion missed a 29-yard field goal and had an 80-yard touchdown pass called back because of an illegal shift.
ELCA too much for Landmark
Tied at 14 at halftime, No. 3 Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (5-3, 2-0) wore down No. 10 Landmark Christian Academy (5-2, 1-1) in the second half en route to a 48-28 win. It is the eighth win in the last nine meetings between the two Region 5 rivals and the fourth in a row, dating back to 2012. ELCA is now in the driver’s seat to claim its sixth straight region title.
Region 2 is up for grabs
There is a four-way tie for first place in Region 2 as No. 5 Clinch County, No. 7 Turner County, Charlton County and Irwin County all have 4-1 league records. All four won handily – Charlton 35-7 over Telfair County, Irwin 43-12 over Wilcox County, Clinch 67-28 over Lanier County, and Turner 23-0 over Atkinson County. The picture will come into focus a bit more after next week. Clinch will host Charlton while Irwin will take on Turner.
ECI dominating quietly
Emanuel County Institute has vaulted itself into the conversation surrounding the favorites to win the state championship. The Bulldogs (7-1, 3-0) destroyed Wheeler County, 69-13 on Friday. The win all but gave ECI the Region 3-Division B championship and a date with Stratford Academy, the top seed from other side of the region. The Bulldogs are outscoring opponents by an average score of 45-15 this season.
Next week ...
Mount Zion-Carroll at Mount Paran Christian. The Region 6-Division A title will be on the line next week in Kennesaw, with the winner moving on to face Pinecrest Academy (7-1, 4-0), the top team in Division B, for the region championship on Nov. 6. Mt. Paran (8-0, 3-0) set a Cobb County record for most consecutive wins on Friday but it wasn't easy. Mt. Paran got past Trion, 7-6, on the road for its 22nd win in a row, eclipsing the record set by Marietta in 1965 and 1966. Trion (5-3, 1-2) had its chances to knock off Friday but was most likely encouraged by the Mt.Paran-Trion result. Mt. Zion defeated Trion, 30-20, last week.
Lincoln County at Aquinas. This one is for the Region 7-Division B championship. Both teams tuned up with blowout wins Friday as Aquinas drilled Warren County, 49-14, while Lincoln County (8-0, 3-0) dispatched Georgia Military, 42-7. Prior to 2013, Aquinas (7-1, 3-0) had lost 32 straight games to Lincoln County, one of the longest losing streaks to one team in Georgia high school football history. But the Irish have won the last two contests, including 15-13 last year. After two consecutive 7-4 seasons, subpar by Lincoln County standards, the Red Devils are 8-0 for the first time since 2011 when they finished 12-1.
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