Here are a few of the top games on the slate for Week 5:
Stratford Academy (1-1) at No. 1 Aquinas (3-0). The Irish, the defending Class A private school champions, are trying to go wire to wire at the top spot, and look like strong contenders to do so, having won their first three games by an average score of 40-14. Stratford, which advanced to the Georgia Independent Schools Association finals last season, is coming off of a bye week after suffering its first loss since joining the Georgia High School Association, 27-14 to Class AA Wesleyan. Stratford is coached by Mark Farriba, who led Prince Avenue Christian to the 2012 GHSA private school finals. This is the first meeting between the two schools.
Columbus (2-1) at No. 2 Marion County (2-0). Marion County has put up 40 points in each of its first two games and is a strong favorite to repeat as Class A public school champions. The Eagles are led by junior Lorenzo Smothers, one of the state's most dynamic players, who had 164 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in last week's 40-19 win over Dooly County. Columbus competes in Class AAAAA, but the school is more known for its baseball prowess. The Blue Jackets have gone a combined 7-43 over the past five seasons.
Atkinson County (3-0) at No. 5 Charlton County (3-0). This is a battle between an established power, trying to assert itself as a title contender, and a program trying to gain respect. After an uncharacteristic 5-6 season in 2012, Charlton County went 9-5 last year and advanced to the Class A public school finals. Atkinson County has won three games in a row for the first time since 2003, which is the last time the Rebels won at least six games.
No. 8 Hawkinsville (3-0) at No. 6 Brookstone (2-0). Both teams could make deep runs in the Class A public and private school playoffs. Hawkinsville has yielded just seven points all season while Brookstone has beaten a private school semi-finalist from last season (Mount Pisgah Christian, 42-34) and a team from Class AAAAA (Columbus, 23-14). Hawkinsville has won the last three meetings between the Region 4 foes, including 19-14 last season. The all-time series is tied, 3-3.
Here are other games worth watching:
No. 9 Landmark Christian (3-0) at Josey (1-2)
No. 10 Emanuel County Institute (3-0) at Claxton (1-2)
Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy (0-4) at Whitewater (1-1)
About the Author
