Top 10 games of Week 6

Last meeting: Cartersville won 31-0 in 2011.

Three things to know: 1. Gilmer has allowed just 17 points in three games. Garret Rigdon, Chad Watkins and Thad Bowers have been outstanding in the secondary. Gilmer has returned two interceptions for touchdowns. The leading rusher is RB Russell Cochran (440 yards), though QB Chris James (269 yards) is more of a running threat than a year ago. He is 20-of-40 passing for 394 yards. 2. Gilmer has increased its victory total each season under Wesley Tankersley, who was 0-10 in 2008 but 9-3 last season, the best Gilmer finish while playing a region schedule since 1956. But Cartersville remains an old nemesis. Gilmer is 1-18-1 against the Purple Hurricanes, winning only in 1979 in a 7-6 upset of a Cartersville team that made the AA quarterfinals with Robert Lavette. 3. Cartersville has two versatile running backs. Tiamon Pennymon has rushed for 278 yards and caught 10 passes for 171 yards. Kalin Heath, who is committed to Kansas State, often lines up at wide receiver. He has rushed for 133 yards and caught 14 passes for 183 yards. Cartersville plays two quarterbacks - senior Miller Forristall (14-of-20, 228 yards) and freshman Trevor Lawrence (27-of-51, 309 yards). Lawrence is projected as a blue-chip college prospect.

Central (Carrollton) at Landmark Christian

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Bill Thorn Stadium, Fairburn

Records, rankings: Central is 4-0 and No. 8 in Class AAA; Landmark Christian is 4-0 and No. 8 in A.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Central's average of 1.5 points per game allowed is the best in the state. The only points scored against the Lions this season came in a 28-6 victory against B.E.S.T. Academy. Central shut out Bowdon, Hardaway and Fayette County in its other games. DL Kirey Thompson had two sacks and another tackle for a loss in the 10-0 victory against Fayette County last week. 2. Landmark Christian has the No. 2 scoring offense in Class A, averaging 44.5 points per game. The War Eagles are led by junior QB Stockton McGuire, senior RB Ben Baggett and sophomore RB Lofton Tidwell. The star in Landmark's 55-20 victory against Josey last week was Tidwell, who had 82 yards rushing and 120 yards receiving. 3. Central will be the fourth of five consecutive higher-classification opponents for Landmark Christian. The War Eagles took advantage of the victories against AAAAA Lithia Springs, AA Pace Academy and AAA Josey to move to the No. 1 spot in this week's Class A private-school power ratings. Landmark Christian will play at Class AAA Rockmart next week.

Etowah at Woodstock

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Woodstock Stadium, Woodstock

Records, rankings: Etowah is 4-0 overall, 2-0 in Region 5-AAAAAA and unranked; Woodstock is 4-0, 2-0 and unranked.

Last meeting: Etowah won 35-28 in 2013.

Three things to know: 1. Etowah's Raishod Devezin is the leading rusher in Class AAAAAA and No. 5 overall, according to GHSF Daily's Leaderboard, with 854 yards in the Eagles' four games. He had 215 of Etowah's 403 rushing yards in a 35-20 victory against Pope two weeks ago for his third 200-yard game of the season. Devezin rushed for a season-high 274 yards against Marietta in the opener. 2. Woodstock also relies heavily on the running game. The Wolverines rushed for 445 yards in a 51-42 victory against Lassiter two weeks ago, led by Deante Robinson with 215 yards and Donovan Brand with 130. But it was the defense that stood out in the first three games as Woodstock allowed just 10 total points in victories against River Ridge, Johns Creek and Wheeler. 3. This is the only game this week that matches undefeated AAAAAA teams. The winner will emerge as the first-place team in Region 5, a half-game ahead of Roswell (3-1, 2-0), which is idle this week. Etowah has won five of the past seven meetings leads the series 8-6.

GAC at B.E.S.T. Academy

When, where: 5:30 p.m. Friday, Lakewood Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Greater Atlanta Christian is 4-0 overall, 1-0 in Region 6-AA and No. 1; B.E.S.T. Academy is 2-2, 0-1 and No. 9.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Preseason all-state RB Micah Abernathy returned to GAC's lineup last week after missing the previous two games with an injury suffered in the opener against Benedictine. He rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-0 victory against Hapeville. More than 20 Division I schools have offered the 6-foot-1 senior, who is projected as a cornerback in college. 2. B.E.S.T. Academy's Deshawn Waller is the leading rusher in Class AA and No. 7 overall, but he had perhaps his best all-around effort in the Eagles' 42-28 loss to Lovett last week. Waller rushed for 254 yards and three touchdowns (on runs of 1, 63 and 15 yards) on 22 carries and finished with 373 all-purpose yards. He has 803 yards rushing and 238 passing for the season. 3. GAC and B.E.S.T. Academy are two of three teams from Region 6-AA ranked in the top nine (No. 4 Lovett is the other). B.E.S.T. already lost to Lovett, so a victory by GAC on Friday likely sets up a showdown with the Lions on Oct. 31 for the region title.

Hart County at Elbert County

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Granite Bowl, Elberton

Records, rankings: Hart County is 4-0 overall, 0-0 in Region 8-AAA and No. 9; Elbert County is 3-1, 0-0 and unranked.

Last meeting: Elbert County won 23-21 in 2013.

Three things to know: 1. Hart has a balanced offense. QB Cameron Fouch is 34-of-53 passing for 671 yards and eight touchdowns. He had 300 yards passing in the opener against Clarke Central. No back has more than 10 carries in any game. The leading rushers are Trey Clark (239 yards) and Keenan Dillon (217). DB Sean Harper, who has offers from Appalachian State and Louisville, has a 90-yard TD return of a kickoff this year and ran a punt 61 yards for a score against Elbert last year. 2. Elbert County QB Mecole Hardman, a preseason all-state pick and four-star recruit, is having surgery (meniscus) today and will be out indefinitely. Sophomore Turner Banks (6-for-18 passing) will take his place. RB/LB Rantious Reed stepped up in a remarkable way last week, rushing for 125 yards and scoring five touchdowns, two on returns of turnovers. Another top Elbert player is lineman Ken Allen, who has an offer from Georgia Tech. 3. The rivalry dates to 1921, when Hartwell first played Elberton. They first played as Hart County and Elbert County in 1954 upon school consolidation, according to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Elbert County/Elberton leads 44-36-2. The 2013 game was as good as any. Hart entered 7-0, but Elbert's Cross York made a 23-yard field goal for the lead with 8:32 left. Elbert forced five three-and-out series in the second half.

Lovejoy at Mays

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Lakewood Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Lovejoy is 3-1 and No. 10 in Class AAAAAA; Mays is 3-1 and unranked in AAAAA.

Last meeting: Mays won 12-10 in 1997.

Three things to know: 1. Mays was without starting QB Joe Turner, a Banneker transfer, in the opening loss to Hughes, 27-7. Mays suffered four interceptions and six sacks and was 4-of-15 passing. Turner, ruled eligible for Mays' third game, was 11-of-18 passing for 162 yards and a touchdown in a 27-8 victory over Southwest DeKalb last week. 2. Mays has six seniors with Division I offers. DE Natrez Patrick (committed to Georgia) has five sacks and three forced fumbles. OL Dallas Warmack (Alabama) was picked this week as a U.S. Army All-American. Charlie Patrick (Georgia State) is tied for the team lead with 16 solo tackles and is the leading rusher with 233 yards and six touchdowns. OL Malik Mackey, WR Tyshawn Brown and TE Aaron Cochran (Louisville) are the others. 3. Lovejoy gets more offense passing (780 yards) than rushing (603), mainly because of all-state WR Preston Williams (20 catches, 459 yards). QB Quintarius Neely has thrown eight TD passes against no interceptions. The defense, which wasn't accountable for the 7-3 loss to McEachern last week, is led by DB Montrell Custis, who has committed to Alabama.

North Gwinnett at Mill Creek

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Mill Creek Community Stadium, Hochston

Records, rankings: North Gwinnett is 3-1 overall, 1-0 in Region 7-AAAAAA and No. 7; Mill Creek is 2-2, 1-0 and unranked.

Last meeting: North Gwinnett won 50-47 in 2013.

Three things to know: 1. North Gwinnett trailed 34-14 in the second half of last year's game and scored 29 points in the fourth quarter to win. Mill Creek QB Daniel David, who is back, rushed for 224 yards. North Gwinnett QB Hayden Sphire, who is graduated, passed for 280 yards and five touchdowns, though was intercepted three times. The loss cost Mill Creek a state-playoff berth. 2. It's likely that no Top 10 team passes more and runs less than North Gwinnett. QB John Urzua has thrown for 1,241 yards, which leads the state. WR Joshua Imatorbhebhe has 27 catches for 500 yards, which ranks third in AAAAAA, and has several major Division I offers. North Gwinnett averages 98.3 yards rushing. 3. Mill Creek's David, who is committed to Appalachian State, is a dual-threat player who is 39-of-66 passing for 502 yards and a touchdown and has 230 yards rushing. The leading rusher is Johnathan Hawkins with 398 yards and four touchdowns. Mill Creek has two D-I offensive linemen in Kaleb Kim (Auburn) and Josh Fannin (Middle Tennessee). The team has been undermined by seven lost fumbles. DE Tyler Vernon has five sacks.

Pinecrest Academy at Mt. Paran Christian

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Mount Paran Stadium, Kennesaw

Records, rankings: Pinecrest Academy is 3-0 and unranked in Class A; Mount Paran Christian is 4-0 and No. 4 in A.

Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. Pinecrest Academy QB Ryan McCarthy has rushed for 336 yards in the past two games. He ran 10 times for a school-record 212 yards, including touchdowns of 66, 19 and 67 yards, in a 42-14 victory against Walker two weeks ago. He followed that with 124 yards and a touchdown rushing and one TD pass in a 21-14 win over previously unbeaten Trion last week. 2. Mount Paran scored the most points in the program's seven-year history in a 56-13 victory over King's Ridge last week. Dorian Walker rushed for 221 yards, with touchdown runs of 36, 58 and 59 yards, and has more than 600 rushing yards for the season. Mount Paran is 4-0 for the first time since 2009. 3. Pinecrest Academy is No. 5 and Mount Paran is No. 13 among private schools in the most recent Class A power ratings. Based on this week's numbers, they would be two of seven teams from Region 6-A that would qualify for the private- or public-school playoffs. That's the most of any region in Class A. Pinecrest and Mount Paran are in opposite subregions of 6-A.

Screven County at Jefferson County

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Warrior Field, Louisville

Records, rankings: Screven County is 4-0 overall, 0-0 in Region 3-AA and unranked; Jefferson County is 2-2, 0-0 and No. 7.

Last meeting: Screven County won 31-19 in 2011.

Three things to know: 1. Screven County employs a I-based option offense that is averaging 282 yards rushing per game. QB Donta Wilburn (159 rushing, 210 passing) was all-region as a cornerback in 2012 and receiver in 2013. He had never played quarterback until spring. Leading rusher Tavarius Johnson (362 yards) is out with a broken collarbone. Big-play threat Malik Prescott (226 yards, seven touchdowns) is his replacement. On defense, all-region DL Shadon Kemp returns to the lineup this week. 2. Jefferson County QB Will Jordan missed his sophomore season with a broken leg. He tore an ACL as a junior. Then in the February before his senior season, Jordan lost his mother, a single mom. In Jefferson County's third game this season, Jordan had a breakthrough game, rushing for 102 yards and throwing a 31-yard TD pass in a 14-7 victory over Washington-Wilkes, ranked No. 2 at the time. "Just a special kid," Jefferson County coach J.B. Arnold told GHSF Daily. "Not a great player, but so calm under pressure, and I can see why he would be. He's been through so much adversity, it's unreal." 3. Screven County is 4-0 for the first time since 2003 and the only unbeaten team in 3-AA. But Jefferson County is considered the team to beat by many. The Warriors' losses have come to larger schools Thomson and Burke County.

South Paulding at Allatoona

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Buccaneer Stadium, Acworth

Records, rankings: South Paulding is 3-0 overall, 2-0 in Region 5-AAAAA and unranked; Allatoona is 4-0, 3-0 and No. 9.

Last meeting: South Paulding won 48-45 in overtime in 2013.

Three things to know: 1. South Paulding's Jake Oglesby has taken over at quarterback for Chandler Burks, who passed for 2,468 yards as a senior last season. Oglesby threw for 229 yards against Sprayberry in the opener and 254 yards against Villa Rica. He had touchdown passes of 20 and 55 yards and ran for a TD in the Spartans' 24-14 victory against East Paulding two weeks ago. 2. Allatoona's Russell Halimon is the state's leading rusher. He has 882 yards in four games (220.5 per game), including 320 in a 56-35 victory against North Paulding on Sept. 5. But the Buccaneers can throw the ball, too. QB Conner Larson is 36-of-55 passing for 709 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. Allatoona averages 460.3 total yards per game. 3. Allatoona is one of four undefeated teams in Region 5-AAAAA, and the Buccaneers will play the other three in consecutive games, beginning on Friday. After playing South Paulding, Allatoona will travel to Alexander (3-0, 2-0) next week and then host New Manchester (3-0, 2-0) on Oct. 10.

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