A large statement was made in the fight for the Region 5-AAA title when the No. 7 Westminster Wildcats (3-2, 2-0) routed No. 3 Cedar Grove Saints (3-2, 1-1) 42-21 Friday night in Decatur.
The victory provided a big boost for the Wildcats, who opened their season 0-2 after losing to Class AAAA Woodward Academy and top-ranked Greater Atlanta Christian. You might recall that it was Westminster, with four losses, that defeated the 11-1-1 Saints in the Class AAA semifinal game last December.
But don't engrave the trophy just yet. With Pace, Lovett, Westminster and, yes, Cedar Grove in the mix, the Region 5 race could come down to the final weekend.
And then there were other big statements made across the state:
-- No. 1 GAC (4-1, 1-0) holds the reins of Region 7 after a convincing 35-12 victory against previously unbeaten Union County (4-1, 0-1). The Spartans relied on quarterback Davis Mills, who seems to be finding form after a preseason knee injury. Mills, who has committed to Stanford, completed 17 of 24 passes for 260 yards and four touchdowns. Harrison Sloane was Mills' favorite target with five catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns. GAC faces Fannin County (2-3, 0-1) next week.
-- No. 4 Peach County (4-1, 1-0) took a big step toward control of Region 4 after comfortably beating Westside-Macon 31-13 in its region opener. Peach started fast against Westside and finished strong, a contrast to last week's game against Mary Persons, when the Trojans scored 20-fourth quarter points to win 20-19. The Trojans will have next week off before playing Central-Macon (4-0).
-- No. 5 Liberty County (4-0) defeated New Hampstead 55-12 in a game that that saw the Panthers take a 27-0 lead after the first quarter. Richard LeCounte, a UGA commitment, caught two touchdown passes and ran back a kickoff 65 yards for a score. The Panthers have not played a region game, but should battle Appling County for the title.
The remaining teams in the top 10 also acted like they belong there:
-- In other Region 5 games, No. 2 Pace Academy (4-1, 2-0) defeated Redan (1-4, 0-2) 45-22, and No. 8 Lovett (3-2, 1-1) whipped Towers (2-3, 1-1) 35-6.
-- In Region 6, No. 6 Calhoun (3-2) took care of North Murray (3-2) 31-7
-- In Region 5, No. 8 Lovett (3-2, 1-1) moved past Towers (2-3, 1-0) 35-6.
-- In Region 1, No. 9 Crisp County (5-0) defeated Spencer (3-2) 21-12.
-- In Region 2, No. 10 Appling County (3-1) beat Statesboro (0-5) 21-14.
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