Top 10 games of Week 9

Last meeting: Vidalia won 35-28 in 2014.

Three things to know: 1. Benedictine is in first place in 2-AA, one game ahead of Vidalia, McIntosh County Academy and Bryan County. Benedictine was the state champion in 2014, but Vidalia is the defending region champ. Vidalia essentially won the title when it beat the Cadets on a 7-yard touchdown pass with 3:53 to play. 2. Benedictine's offense, which was balanced last season, has been more run-oriented in 2015. The Cadets average 311 yards per game rushing, led by junior Tyleek Collins (595 yards in five games). Collins rushed for 201 yards and scored four touchdowns in a 48-0 victory against Jeff Davis last week. QB Nick Iannone averages 133 yards per game passing. 3. Vidalia has rushed for 1,533 yards on 272 carries while attempting just 36 passes for the season. Jadarius McLendon is the leading rusher with 414 yards on 64 carries, but seven other players have rushed for at least 40 yards in a game. LB Nate McBride, one of the state's top junior prospects, is out for the season with a broken wrist he suffered in an auto accident in August.

Blessed Trinity at Westminster

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Alfred E. Thompson Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Blessed Trinity is 6-0 overall, 2-0 in Region 4-AAA Div. B and No. 2; Westminster is 3-3, 1-1 and unranked.

Last meeting: Blessed Trinity won 23-11 in 2014.

Three things to know: 1. Blessed Trinity is the only 4-AAA team that is unbeaten overall and leads Division B with a 2-0 record in subregion play. Westminster is one of four teams with 1-1 records in the subregion. Of the other three, the Wildcats have beaten Decatur, lost to Therrell and play Douglass next week in a playoff race that could come down to a coin toss. 2. Blessed Trinity averages 233.2 yards rushing and 147.3 passing. QB Conor Davis is 44-of-78 passing for 814 yards and 10 touchdowns, and RB Milton Shelton has rushed for 722 yards and 14 TDs on 80 carries. One player to watch is senior RB/LB Garrett Dupuis, who is second in rushing with 280 yards on 25 carries and leads the team in total tackles with 48. 3. Two of Westminster's top three rushers are RB Zay Malcome (59 carries, 391 yards, six touchdowns) and QB Rankin Woley (33-243-1), although neither has played in all six games. All three of the Wildcats' losses (10-3 vs. Laney, 44-38 vs. Elbert County and 25-23 vs. Therrell) came on touchdowns in the final two minutes of the game.

Brooks County at Fitzgerald 

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

Records, rankings: Brooks County is 5-2 overall, 3-0 in Region 1-AA and No. 10; Fitzgerald is 6-0, 2-0 and No. 2.

Last meeting: Fitzgerald won 57-29 in 2014.

Three things to know: 1. Fitzgerald and Brooks County have won Region 1-AA eight of the past 10 seasons, each capturing four. Fitzgerald won in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2014. Brooks won in 2005, 2008, 2012 and 2013. Fitzgerald is 6-3 against Brooks County in that time. 2. Fitzgerald RB J.D. King (1,066 yards rushing) and QB James Graham (896) are about 95 percent of Fitzgerald's offense when the game is on the line. Fitzgerald is only 14-of-34 passing for 277 yards, but opponents have had little luck getting the Hurricanes in passing situations. Fitzgerald has had no game closer than 21 points. 3. Brooks County QB Demontay Jones is 71-for-114 passing for 1,066 yards and 12 touchdowns, four last week in a 34-0 victory over Seminole County and at least one in each game. He typically doesn't look to run but broke loose for 162 yards (doubling his season total) against Seminole. That included a 72-yard TD run.

Grayson at Central Gwinnett

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Tally Johnson Field, Lawrenceville

Records, rankings: Grayson is 7-0 overall, 5-0 in Region 8-AAAAAA and No. 2; Central Gwinnett is 4-2, 3-1 and unranked.

Last meeting: Grayson won 28-0 in 2014.

Three things to know: 1. This game would've been between the only unbeaten teams in region play, but Central failed to hold a 21-0 lead last week against Brookwood and lost 33-28. That put Central in knot of four teams with one region loss that includes Brookwood, Archer and Dacula. Central has lost eight straight to Grayson. 2. Central QB Micah Maxey was 27-of-39 passing for 462 yards and a touchdown in the Brookwood loss. He has thrown for 1,477 yards on the season. WR Major Bellamy had 14 catches for 253 yards in the game and has 48 for 850 yards on the season. LB Nigel Adams (committed to Miami, Ohio) is Central's leading tackler and has intercepted three passes. 3. Grayson has played five of seven games with a running clock, which might depress the statistics of QB Chase Brice (83-for-128 passing, 1,276 yards, 13 TDs), RB Cameron Brent (735 yards rushing, 17 TDs overall), WR Evan Sturgil (23-360-3) and WR Austin Nash (22-330-2). RB/WR Ernest Tiller (387 rushing, 258 receiving) is another threat. LB Bryce Smith and DL Ellison Hubbard have five sacks each. CB Adesola Abisoye has returned a fumble and an interception for touchdowns.

Houston County at Jones County

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Greyhound Field, Gray

Records, rankings: Houston County is 6-0 overall, 5-0 in Region 2-AAAAA and No. 2; Jones County is 5-1, 4-1 and No. 7.

Last meeting: Houston County won 45-15 in 2014.

Three things to know: 1. This is one of two games this week matching the top teams in 2-AAAAA (Northside vs. Warner Robins, below, is the other). Houston County is tied with Northside for first place, while Jones County is tied with Warner Robins, one game behind the leaders. Houston County is 6-0 for the first time in the history of the program, which began in 1991, and a victory this week could set up a showdown with Northside on the final weekend of the season for the region title. 2. Both teams have outstanding junior quarterbacks. Houston County's Jake Fromm (committed to Alabama) is 87-for-146 passing for 1,521 yards and 15 touchdowns. Jones County's Bradley Hunnicutt is 68-for-103 for 1,108 yards and 12 TDs. Neither team runs much, but Houston County has a slight advantage in yardage, 966-738. 3. Jones County has held every opponent to two touchdowns or less except Northside, which won 36-22. The Greyhounds' defense is anchored by senior DL Torrez Finney, who leads the team in total tackles (44), tackles for loss (16) and sacks (five).

Northside (Warner Robins) at Warner Robins

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, McConnell-Talbert Stadium, Warner Robins

Records, rankings: Northside is 6-0 overall, 5-0 in Region 2-AAAAA and No. 1; Warner Robins is 5-1, 4-1 and unranked.

Last meeting: Northside won 24-21 in 2014.

Three things to know: 1. Northside's victory in 2014 was its 14th in 19 years in a series that Warner Robins leads 34-23. Northside's Willie Jordan (since graduated) rushed for 249 yards and one touchdown on 34 carries, but the Eagles didn't secure the victory until an interception by Tae Daley in the final minute. 2. Northside QB Tobias Oliver, who ran for two touchdowns against the Demons last season, is the Eagles' second-leading rusher with 442 yards and five touchdowns on 78 carries. He also is 43-of-71 passing for 563 yards and five TDs. Desean Dinkins leads the team in rushing with 523 yards and 11 TDs on 87 carries. The Eagles average 250.2 yards rushing and 143.4 passing. 3. Warner Robins also relies heavily on the running game, averaging 243.7 yards rushing and 92.3 passing. Javian Bradford-Jackson has 125 carries, almost half the team's total, for 831 yards with nine touchdowns. He ran for 165 yards on 31 carries in a 21-19 victory over Evans two weeks ago. Marquez Callaway leads the Demons in receiving (22-340) and interceptions (three).

Riverdale at Jonesboro 

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Tara Stadium, Jonesboro

Records, rankings: Riverdale is 4-2 overall, 2-0 in Region 4-AAAA Div. B and unranked; Jonesboro is 6-1, 3-0 and No. 7.

Last meeting: Jonesboro won 15-13 in 2014.

Three things to know: 1. Riverdale and Jonesboro are the two 4-AAAA Div. B teams that are unbeaten in subregion play. Jonesboro can clinch the subregion title and a berth in the 4-AAAA championship game with a win this week. Riverdale will win the subregion if it beats Jonesboro on Friday and Spalding next weekend. 2. Riverdale QB Joseph Cambridge has passed for 1,188 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 311 yards and two scores. His best game was a 400-yard, four-TD effort in a 39-6 victory over Hampton on Sept. 11. The defense is led by DE Chidi Okonya (committed to Tennessee) with 37 tackles and 5.5 sacks and LB Myrick Walker (47 tackles, two interceptions). 3. Jonesboro has talented offensive weapons in QB Zerrick Cooper (committed to Clemson), RB Montralius Mosley (206 yards rushing against Spalding last week) and WR Jordan Griffin (averaging 86 yards per game receiving). But the Cardinals also have one of the top defenses in AAAA, giving up 10.7 points per game and not allowing any opponent more than 17 points.

Thomson at Liberty County

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Donell Woods Stadium, Hinesville

Records, rankings: Thomson is 5-1 overall, 0-0 in Region 3-AAAA and unranked; Liberty County is 5-2, 2-0 and unranked.

Last meeting: Thomson won 16-14 in 2014.

Three things to know: 1. Liberty County became the region favorite with last week's 26-20 victory over Burke County, which had beaten Thomson the week before in a game that didn't count in the region standings. Opened in 1993, Liberty has never won a region title. 2. Jacquez Williams rushed for a career-high 205 yards in the Burke County win. He has rushed for 611 yards on the season. WB/DB Richard LeCounte is Liberty's best player. A five-star recruit, the junior has passed for 210 yards, rushed for 413, caught 17 passes for 400 yards, made 45 tackles (five for losses), intercepted two passes, forced three fumbles and scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and returning a fumble, punt and kick. 3. Thomson averages 344 yards rushing per game. RB Billy Mance has rushed for 882 yards and 14 touchdowns. Thomson also averages 92 yards passing and 477 total yards. But Thomson has been vulnerable to the run, twice giving up more than 350 yards rushing (Washington County, Burke County).

Union County at Rabun County

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Frank Snyder Stadium, Tiger

Records, rankings: Union County is 7-0 overall, 3-0 in Region 8-AA and No. 9; Rabun County is 6-1, 3-0 and No. 5.

Last meeting: Rabun County won 45-31 in 2014.

Three things to know: 1. The winner of this game will be the presumptive region champion, although Washington-Wilkes (2-4, 2-0) also looms for both teams. Union County has not won a region title since 1973. Rabun County hadn't won a region title since 1998 until last season, when the race also essentially came down to the Union-Rabun game. 2. Union County QB Joseph Mancuso is 93-of-163 passing for 1,598 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has rushed for 825 yards and 11 touchdowns. He rushed for 100 yards or more in six consecutive games. Sam Gilbert has 31 catches for 729 yards and seven touchdowns. MLB Christopher Thompson is the leading tackler. 3. Rabun County gets about two-thirds of its offense from passing. Sophomore QB Bailey Fisher is 95-of-137 passing for 1,415 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also has rushed for 464 yards. WR/DB Charlie Woerner, an AJC Super 11 pick who is committed to Georgia, has 23 catches for 335 yards and five TDs. He is less prominent in the run game than previous seasons. Rhodes Jones (nine TFLs) is the leading tackler.

Valdosta at Colquitt County

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Mack Tharpe Memorial Stadium, Moultrie

Records, rankings: Valdosta is 5-2 overall, 1-1 in Region 1-AAAAAA and unranked; Colquitt County is 7-0, 2-0 and No. 1.

Last meeting: Colquitt County won 48-20 in 2014.

Three things to know: 1. Valdosta beat Tift County 26-23 last week after trailing 23-7 in the third quarter. It might've saved Valdosta's season as it prevented an 0-2 start in region play. Colquitt County and Valdosta have the longest streaks of making the playoffs in Region 1, each missing most recently in 2008. 2. Valdosta QB Seth Shuman leads Region 1 in passing with 1,856 yards. He has completed 124 of 201 attempts for 18 touchdowns and no interceptions. Valdosta runs less often. Tim Griffin is the leading rusher with 368 yards. 3. Unlike last season, when Sihiem King rushed for 312 yards in the victory over Valdosta, Colquitt does not have an especially experienced offensive line or feature running back. Nate Powell is the leading rusher with 369 yards. But the passing game has been exceptional. QB Chase Parrish is 97-of-135 passing for 1,437 yards and 18 touchdowns with two interceptions. WR Kiel Pollard leads the region in receptions with 37 for 555 yards and nine touchdowns.

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