At the midpoint of the 2016 season, six of the top 10 teams in Class AAA decided it's a good time to take a break. But there are some good games worth following:
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-- The No. 8 Crisp County Cougars (5-0) will play host to undefeated Class AA No 3. Brooks County (4-0) Friday night at the Cougar Den in Cordele. This will be the first meeting between the two programs. Crisp is 5-0 for the first time since 1997, when coach Shelton Felton was a linebacker for the Cougars. Crisp has outscored opponents 181-66 this season and have only played two teams with winning records, Turner County and Spencer (both 3-2). Crisp will rely on weak side defensive-end Markaviest "Big Cat" Bryant to anchor the Cougar defense. Bryant, who has numerous scholarship offers from Power 5 college teams, has nine tackles for losses, two sacks and an interception this season.
-- No. 1 Greater Atlanta Christian Spartans (4-1, 1-0) will face Fannin County (2-3, 0-1) in a Region 7 game at the Spartan Sport Complex in Norcross. The Spartans opened its season without Super 11 quarterback Davis Mills and beat two ranked teams, Westminster and Lovett, before losing to Valor Christian in Colorado. Mills has been steadily improving since his return against Valor and looks poised to lead his team deep into the playoffs. Last week against Union County, Mills passed for 260 yards and four touchdowns in the 35-12 victory.
-- The No. 6 ranked Calhoun Yellow Jackets (3-2) will travel to Haralson County (1-3) for their first region game in 6-AAA at Taylor Memorial Stadium in Tallapoosa. The two teams haven't met since 1979, and Calhoun leads the series 2-0 . The Yellow Jackets are looking for answers at running back after preseason all-state back Olico Dennis went down last week with a knee injury after rushing for 70 yards and a touchdown on six carries against North Murray.
-- The No. 4 Liberty County Panthers will travel to Rebel Field in Springfield to face Class AAAAAA Effingham County (3-2). Effingham leads the series 10-5 and has won the last two games, 20-14 last year and 35-7 in 2014. Liberty County will rely on Super 11 selection and UGA commitment Richard LeCounte, who this season has scored nine touchdowns on 22 touches Liberty quarterback Jaalon Frazier had five touchdown passes last week against New Hampstead, two to LeCounte and two to Kris Coleman, in a 55-12 victory.
Teams off this week:
-- No. 2. Pace Academy (faces No. 5 Westminster next week)
-- No. 3. Peach County (faces Central-Macon next week)
-- No. 5 Westminster (faces Pace Academy next week)
-- No. 7 Lovett (faces Stone Mountain next week)
-- No. 9. Cedar Grove (faces Towers next week)
-- No 10 Appling County (will face Long County next week)
