The feature game of the weekend has Cedar Grove at Westminster
Region 5 likely will be decided Friday night when No. 2 Cedar Grove (6-0-4-0) travels to Alfred E. Thompson Stadium in Atlanta to face fifth-ranked Westminster (4-2, 2-0). Cedar Grove won the region title last year, but during a state championship run in 2016, Westminster was the No. 1 seed from Region 5 before Cedar Grove, a No.2-seed, ran through the playoff bracket to beat GAC in the championship game (30-19).
The two programs have met on three occasions, and Westminster has won two of them – 24-8 in 2015 and in 42-21 in 2016. Cedar Grove’s loss to Westminster on Oct. 10, 2016 was final loss for the Saints in a streak that lasted 23 games – the longest in school history. Calhoun defeated Cedar Grove in the semifinals last year, 14-6, to end the 13-month run. Cedar Grove defeated Westminster 41-10 last season.
Since entering region play this season, Cedar Grove has controlled things on offense and defense while shutting out four of its last five opponents. Against Towers last week the Saints won 80-0. Twenty of the 23 plays Cedar Grove ran on offense went for a first down or a touchdown. The nation’s top-recruit, receiver Jadon Haselwood, who recently reopened his recruitment after being committed to UGA since his sophomore year, caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Austin Smith against Towers. Haselwood has caught 29 passes for 497 yards and five touchdowns.
Westminster’s offense is led by quarterback Parks Harber, who has passed for 10 touchdowns and 1,144 yards. Harber, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound junior, is also a star on Westminster’s baseball team and has committed to UGA for baseball. Two-way player John Izlar, a defensive back and receiver, is a 6-2, 180-pound play-maker who leads the Wildcats in receiving yards. He’s also third in tackles.
Westminster also faced Towers earlier this season and won 35-14. Based on that comparison, Westminster will need a rallying offensive effort and a stifling defense to have a shot at a victory.
Here’s a look at the top-10 weekend:
- Calhoun (6-0-4-0) – Plays at home against Murray County (0-7, 0-5) in a Region 6 game.
- Cedar Grove (6-1, 3-0) – Travels to Westminster (4-2, 2-0) in a Region 5 game. (see above)
- Monroe Area (7-0, 3-0) – Travels to Hart County (2-4, 1-1) in a Region 8 game.
- Peach County (4-2, 2-0) – Plays at home against Rutland (0-7, 0-3) in a Region 4 game.
- Westminster (4-2, 2-0) – Plays at home against Cedar Grove (6-1, 3-0) in a Region 5 game. (see above)
- Greater Atlanta Christian (5-2, 3-0) – Travels to Lumpkin County (3-3, 1-1) in a Region 7 game.
- Benedictine (5-1, 4-0) – Plays Islands (2-4, 2-2) in a Region 3 game.
- Jefferson (6-1, 3-0) – Travels to Morgan County (3-4, 2-1) in a Region 8 game.
- Dawson County (6-1, 2-1) – Travels to Fannin County (3-3, 2-0) in a Region 7 game.
- Pace Academy (4-3, 2-1) – Plays at home against Lovett (3-4, 2-1) in a Region 5 game.
