Top 10 games of Week 3

Last meeting: Cairo won 6-0 in 2013.

Three things to know: 1. Cairo won its opener (14-0 over Thomasville) with little offensive production but a stifling defense. The Syrupmakers scored their touchdowns after recovering a fumble and a muffed punt deep in Thomasville territory. 2. Bainbridge beat Early County 12-6 last week in game of only 255 yards in total offense for both teams. Bainbridge's Victor Bodison returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown for a 6-6 tie in the second quarter, and Elijah Tyler scored on a 13-yard run with 2:42 left for the game-winner. Bainbridge sacked Early County eight times. 3. These south Georgia schools are 24 miles apart. They first played in 1922. Cairo leads the series 33-28-7, according to Georgia High School Football Historians Association records. Bainbridge won a state title in 1982 and Cairo in 1990 with the same coach – Ralph Jones. Cairo won the 2013 game when Bainbridge was stopped on a fourth-and-goal from the 3 in the final seconds.

Carrollton at Calhoun

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Phil Reeve Stadium, Calhoun

Records, rankings: Carrollton is 0-2 and No. 8 in Class AAAA; Calhoun is 1-0 and No. 2 in AAA.

Last meeting: Carrollton won 42-7 in 2013.

Three things to know: 1. Carrollton lost to Newnan 28-22 last week to fall to 0-2 for the first time since 1977. The Trojans are rushing for almost 100 yards per game less than they did last season, when they went 13-2 and reached the Class AAAA championship game. The Trojans have run for 372 yards, with more than half of it coming from Jarvis Terrell, who has 193 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries. QB DeMarcus Mitchell is 12-of-23 passing for 160 yards and has 72 yards rushing. 2. Calhoun trailed Dalton 14-0 at halftime last week but scored three second-half rushing touchdowns (two by Cole Jackson and one by Olico Dennis) to beat the Class AAAAA Catamounts 21-14. It was Calhoun's sixth consecutive victory against Dalton, which leads the series 34-9-1. 3. Calhoun's loss to the Trojans last season snapped a 49-game regular-season winning streak that began in 2008 following a 17-7 loss to Cartersville. Carrollton's 42 points in last year's game were the most allowed by Calhoun since a 45-21 loss to Buford in the 2008 Class AA final.

Creekside at Carver (Columbus)

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium, Columbus

Records, rankings: Creekside is 1-1 and No. 4 in Class AAAAA; Carver is 2-0 and No. 7 in AAAAA.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Creekside's Bricen Terry (204) and Julian Gibbs (203) each rushed for more than 200 yards in a season-opening 55-41 victory against South Cobb, but the offense struggled against a tough Hughes defense last week, especially without WR Jayson Stanley, who tore his ACL against South Cobb and is out for the year. The Seminoles rallied from a 21-0 third-quarter deficit against Hughes but lost 21-20 when they missed the third extra-point attempt from 35 yards after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. 2. Carver's Jawon Pass, the nation's No. 2 junior dual-threat quarterback in the 247Sports Composite rankings, threw touchdown passes of 30 and 81 yards to Tyler Jones last week as the Tigers beat Spencer for the 16th consecutive time. Carver led 26-13 at halftime but got a safety and two fumble-return touchdowns (25 yards by Lyndon Johnson and 1 yard by Tyrik Baskin) to put the game away. 3. One matchup to watch will come on the line of scrimmage when Creekside has the ball. The Seminoles have perhaps the best pair of tackles in the state – Venzell Boulware (committed to Tennessee) and Marquel Harrell (Auburn) – while Carver counters with Mekhi Brown (Alabama), the nation's No. 4 weakside defensive end in the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Glynn Academy at Camden County

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Chris Gilman Stadium, Kingsland

Records, rankings: Glynn Academy is 2-0 and No. 10 in Class AAAAA; Camden County is 2-0 and No. 2 in AAAAAA.

Last meeting: Camden County won 45-0 in 2005.

Three things to know: 1. Under first-year coach Rocky Hidalgo, the former longtime Walton defensive coordinator, Glynn Academy is ranked this week for the first time since 1998 and has beaten Brunswick and Wayne County in the same season for the first time since 2000. In the 28-21 victory over Brunswick, QB Zach Lamper was 10-of-16 passing for 182 yards, and his 67-yard screen pass to Troy Rogers gave Glynn a 21-8 lead shortly after Brunswick suffered a devastating fumble into the end zone for a touchback. 2. Camden County has been pretty dominant in victories over Lincoln of Tallahassee, Fla. (49-27) and Dutchtown (42-6). That's evidenced by the 19 different ball carries. Sophomore RB Brandon McMaster has 171 yards rushing on 16 carries. Antonio Wimbush (5-7, 163) had a game against Lincoln that bears repeating – 27 yards rushing, 47 yards receiving, a 40-yard punt return, a 76-yard kick return, one tackle for a loss, a blocked kick, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. 3. Glynn has lost 10 straight to Camden County, not counting a 1988 game that was reversed by forfeit. Glynn's last victory over Camden came in 1985. Camden hasn't lost to another coastal Georgia team since 2000 (Benedictine). The winning steak stands at 94.

Grayson at Hughes

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Langston Hughes Stadium, Fairburn

Records, rankings: Grayson is 1-0 and No. 8 in Class AAAAAA; Hughes is 2-0 and No. 4 in AAAAAA.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Hughes has eight sacks and seven interceptions in its first two games, both against ranked teams (Mays, Creekside). DE D'Andre Walker, a returning all-state player, has five sacks. The linebacker pair of junior Jeffrey Allison (team-leading 16 solo tackles) and Montavious Atkinson (14 solos, committed to Auburn) is one of the state's best. Kenyan Houston has three interceptions. 2. Grayson has four seniors on defense who will play for Division I schools. DE Justin Young (Georgia), LB Mohamed Barry (Wisconsin) and DB Jordan Hayes (Duke) are committed. LB Daniel Fennell, the team leader in tackles last year, has more than 20 offers, including one from Georgia Tech. 3. Grayson is more proven on offense. Cameryn Brent (5-8, 190) ran for 1,128 yards last season and opened with a 161-yard rushing game in the 39-0 victory over Gainesville last week. Hughes misses Keion Davis, a graduated 1,500-yard rusher. The team is averaging only 3.2 yards per rush and doesn't have a run from scrimmage of more than 15 yards.

Griffin at Burke County

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Bear Den, Waynesboro

Records, rankings: Griffin is 1-0 and No. 3 in Class AAAA; Burke County is 2-0 and No. 5 in AAAA.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Griffin RB Malik Miller scored a school-record six touchdowns in the Bears' 47-7 victory against Henry County last week. He had touchdown runs of 1, 2, 2, 7 and 23 yards and an 18-yard TD reception, according to the Griffin Daily News. Miller, who rushed for more than 800 yards last season, finished with 251 yards on 24 carries. 2. Junior QB Caleeb Roberson has rushed for 202 yards and passed for 148 yards in leading Burke County to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2011. But it's on defense where the Burke County has made its mark. The Bears have allowed just seven points, 203 total yards (149 rushing, 54 passing) and 13 first downs in victories against Statesboro (104 yards) and Jefferson County (99 yards). 3. Griffin has won 16 consecutive regular-season games and a school-record 16 straight games overall. The Bears' last loss came against Monroe in the first round of the 2012 Class AAAA playoffs, and their last regular-season loss was against Stockbridge earlier that season. Burke County has won 10 consecutive regular-season games since a 21-7 loss to Statesboro last season.

Irwin County at Fitzgerald

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jaycee Stadium, Fitzgerald

Records, rankings: Irwin County is 1-0-1 and No. 7 in Class A; Fitzgerald is 2-0 and No. 5 in AA.

Last meeting: The teams tied 20-20 in 2013.

Three things to know: 1. Irwin County rushed for 343 yards and six touchdowns in a 49-20 victory over Berrien last week. Robert Moore, who didn't play in the opening 7-7 tie with Early County, ran for 133 and scored on a 64-yard run. Jakyron Young, who is committed to Georgia Southern, rushed for 87 and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Irwin County has an all-state offensive lineman in center Cam Morgan. 2. Fitzgerald QB Gerald Morgan has rushed for 198 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. He's not a natural quarterback – only 4-of-13 passing for 42 yards. Fitzgerald's top defenders are Buck Lundy and Michael Jackson. 3. Irwin County hasn't beaten Fitzgerald since 1999 (0-13-1 since), but the 2013 tie was a promising start for the Indians, who would reach the Class A public-school semifinals.

Lovett at Marist

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Hughes Spalding Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Lovett is 1-1 and No. 4 in Class AA; Marist is 1-0 and No. 4 in AAAA.

Last meeting: Lovett won 41-38 in two overtimes in 2013.

Three things to know: 1. Lovett considers its 2013 victory over Marist to be the turning point of the season, the moment the Lions began believing their state-championship year would be special. Marist led 28-13 in the fourth quarter of the game that Lovett won in two overtimes. QB Willie Candler, who returns this season, passed for 182 yards and had a TD throw and TD run in overtime. 2. Lovett's defense has 16 tackles for losses in two games. Ian Herbert, Sam Perry and Jack White have three each. The offense is not quite up to 2013 speed, as the team misses 1,000-yard rusher Grant Haley, now at Penn State. Jay Harris has 140 yards rushing, and Candler is 17-of-30 passing for 227 yards. 3. Marist was the only one of four DeKalb County teams to win in the four-game Battle of the Borders with Florida last week at Hallford Stadium. Joey Goegel made a 19-yard field goal with eight seconds left. Marist converted a third-and-11 on the winning drive with a 31-yard reverse by Chris Martel. Marist had 296 yards rushing – led by Ian Gipson's 86 – but made it hard on itself by losing fumbles on three consecutive possessions in the third quarter.

McEachern at Buford

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Tom Riden Stadium, Buford

Records, rankings: McEachern is 0-1 and unranked in Class AAAAAA; Buford is 2-0 and No. 1 in AAAA.

Last meeting: Buford won 56-0 in 1963.

Three things to know: 1. McEachern RB Taj Griffin, rated the No. 1 all-purpose running back in the country, is out for the season after tearing his ACL while covering a punt in a season-opening loss to North Gwinnett. He had 138 of the Indians' 168 rushing yards in the 52-49 loss. That will place more of the offensive load on sophomore QB Bailey Hockman, who was 11-of-27 passing for 302 yards and four touchdowns against North Gwinnett. 2. Buford set a state record for points scored in a season last year with 707, but the Wolves remain better known for their defense. After allowing just 7.4 points per game in 2013, they have been even more dominant in two shutout victories this season. Buford held Trinity Christian (Fla.) to 56 yards in the opener and limited Berkmar to 18 yards and four first downs last week, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post. 3. Two weeks ago, this looked like one of the season's marquee matchups as both teams were ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll. But McEachern's loss to North Gwinnett in the Corky Kell Classic knocked the Indians out of the top 10. Still, it will be Buford's first game against a Cobb County public school since beating Lassiter 20-16 in 1983.

North Gwinnett at Hillgrove

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Cobb Energy Hillgrove Stadium, Powder Springs

Records, rankings: North Gwinnett is 1-1 and No. 10 in Class AAAAAA; Hillgrove is 2-0 and unranked in AAAAAA.

Last meeting: North Gwinnett won 35-31 in the 2013 Class AAAAAA quarterfinals.

Three things to know: 1. This is a rematch of last year's state quarterfinal game, which North Gwinnett won at Hillgrove. The Bulldogs scored the winning touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Hayden Sphire to Daniel Imatorbhebhe with 1:13 remaining, capping an eight-play drive after Hillgrove fumbled at its 33-yard line. Caleb Scott then intercepted a pass in the end zone on the game's final play to preserve the victory. 2. North Gwinnett is getting about 78 percent of its offense from the passing game. QB John Urzua has completed 58 of 77 passes (75.3 percent) for 732 yards and seven touchdowns, with all of the TDs coming in a 52-49 victory against McEachern in the opener. His top target has been Josh Imatorbhebhe, who has 13 catches for 223 yards and three TDs. 3. Hillgrove lost two big offensive weapons with the graduation of QB Elijah Ironside and RB Richardre Bagley. Ironside set school single-season passing records last year with 41 touchdowns, 2,515 yards and 187 completions, and Bagley rushed for 1,682 yards as a senior. RB Sonny Harris has emerged as the top threat this year, rushing for 180 yards in a season-opening victory against Lassiter and scoring both TDs in a 14-6 win over Shiloh last week.

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