On the surface, Week 3 offered little surprises as Class 4A's most consistent programs either avoided their potential upsets or scored convincing victories. In the case of No. 3 Thomson's narrow 20-14 win over No. 6 Jefferson, the Bulldogs and Dragons competed equally until Thomson's go-ahead score with thirty seconds remaining underlined a tremendous defensive effort . Thomson held Jefferson scoreless in the first half before Colby Wood found the endzone twice in the third quarter to put Jefferson up 14-13. Thomson's game-winning drive started on its own 36-yard-line with 5:56 left and was capped off by Bubba Murray's 1-yard score. After averaging 343.5 rushing yards per game through the first two weeks, Jefferson was held to just 70 rushing yards in the loss. Thomson's offense was able to play ball control and racked up 238 rushing yards on 51 total carries.
Sandy Creek and Allatoona battled until the final minute for the second straight year and the defense of the Fighting Patriots’ once again came up big in a victory. Sandy Creek held the Class 6A Bucs to just 159 total yards of offense as running back Jordan Clark nearly outgained the entire team with his 153-yard, two-touchdown performance.
No. 1 Cartersville led 51-0 at the half of its 58-6 win over Class 3A No. 4 Calhoun. Trevor Lawrence added four touchdown passes and nearly 300 more yards to his Player of the Year resume.
Class 4A Results
Friday, Sept. 1
The four games below were the only Class 4A vs. Class 4A matchups this week, the rest of the classification played outside of it.
R5 Cedartown 63, R6 Gilmer 0
R5 Central-Carroll 18, R4 North Clayton 13
R3 Thomson 20, R8 Jefferson 14
R2 Upson-Lee 43, R1 Columbus 19
Region 1
Americus-Sumter 33, Dooly County 14
Cairo 24, Thomas County Central 0
Douglas County 37, Carver-Columbus 32
Lee County 47, Hardaway 6
Northside-Columbus 21, Spencer (K) 14
Shaw 21, Kendrick 12
Westover (BYE)
Region 2
Howard 40, Central-Macon 37
Mary Persons 34, Washington 8
Jonesboro 24, Spalding 7
Dodge County 26, West Laurens 20
Perry (BYE)
Region 3
Burke County 42, Washington County 17
Glenn Hills 22, Cross Creek 0
Hephzibah 39, Westside-Augusta 7
Richmond Academy 33, Aiken, SC 25
Baldwin (BYE)
Region 4
Eastside 16, Alcovy 6
McIntosh 21, Henry County 6
Lithonia 21, Luella 13
Salem 26, Therrell 7
Woodward Academy 31, Westminster 21
Druid Hills (BYE)
Region 5
Cartersville 58, Calhoun 6
Chapel Hill 32, Lithia Springs 14
Griffin 31, LaGrange
Sandy Creek 23, Allatoona 17
Troup 35, Bowdon 6
Region 6
Heritage-Catoosa 55, Coahulla Creek 12
Gordon Lee 28, LaFayette 7
Dalton 21, Northwest Whitfield 17
Pepperell 39, Pickens 28
Ridgeland 38, Darlington 0
Southeast Whitfield 42, Murray County 21
Region 7
Marietta 14, Blessed Trinity 6
Flowery Branch 43, Chestatee 7
Marist 31, Baylor, TN 6
West Hall 20, Washington Wilkes 0
White County 24, Habersham Central 21
Region 8
Elbert County 42, Madison County 20
Morgan County 28, North Oconee 13
Oconee County 31, Walnut Grove 6
Benedictine 41, St. Pius 13
Rabun County 28, Stephens County 6
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