Here’s a look at the top two games on the board this weekend:
No. 5 (Private) Mount Paran Christian (1-0) at No. 4 (Private) Fellowship Christian (1-0)
These two have developed a solid rivalry in a short time, competing against each other in Region 6-Division B. There series is tied at 2-2, but Fellowship has won the last two. Both games took place last season, when Fellowship rolled through the regular season undefeated on the way to a double-overtime loss to Eagle’s Landing Christian in the state finals. The Paladins edged Mount Paran, 14-7, in Week 2, then blasted the Eagles 45-13 in the second round of the playoffs. Prior to last season, Mount Paran had dominated Fellowship in the previous two meetings – 52-21 in 2013 and 49-13 in 2012. Mount Paran is led by senior linebackers Konner Henkle and Jackson Reese. Fellowship is led by senior linemen Tad Aycock and Billy McCurry, and RB/DB Merrick Haigler.
No. 1 (Public) Clinch County (1-0) at No. 8 (Public) McIntosh County Institute (1-0)
Clinch leads the overall series 7-4, and has won four of the last five meetings. But the Buccaneers' have the biggest win in the series, a 24-8 victory in last season's semi-finals. Clinch returns junior Trezman Marshall, a consensus all-state selection last season, along with seniors Charles McClelland and Duane Moore. Panther head coach Jim Dickerson is in his 13th season at Clinch, where he has won three state titles and seven region crowns, including last season. MCI lost a ton of talent as well as former head coach Robby Robinson, who was let go due to a hazing scandal. Robinson led the program to prominence from 2004-2010, and returned in 2015. Terel Toomer, the defensive coordinator last season, is now the head man.
Others to watch:
No. 1 (Private) Eagle’s Landing Christian (1-0) at (Class AAAAAA) Jonesboro (1-0)
No. 3 (Private) Wesleyan (1-0) vs. (Class AA) B.E.S.T. Academy (1-0)
No. 2 (Public) Macon County (0-0) vs. Dooly County (0-1)
No. 4 (Public) Emanuel County Institute (1-0) at (Class AA) Swainsboro (1-0)
