Brace yourselves. Region play is here, and it will not disappoint.
The highlight this week is a Region 5 game between two top-ranked programs. The No. 7 Westminster Wildcats (2-2, 1-1) will play host to No. 3 Cedar Grove Saints (3-1, 1-0) at Alfred E. Thompson Stadium in Decatur.
The two programs have only met once, in the semifinal of the Class AAA playoffs last season where coach Gerry Romberg led Westminster to a 24-8 upset of Cedar Grove. The Wildcats entered the game 9-4 and unranked. Cedar Grove was ranked No. 3 with a 11-1-1 record.
Last week, the Saints moved past No. 8 Lovett (2-2, 0-1) 28-21 in come-from-behind fashion, although it wasn't pretty. Cedar Grove was penalized 23 times for 211 yards. The Saints trailed 21-20 with 5 minutes remaining before its game-winning drive. Quarterback Jelani Woods, an Oklahoma State commitment, passed to Dennis Bell for a 42-yard touchdown, then added a 2-point conversion. Woods is 34-of-56 passing for 438 yards and five touchdowns this season. Grant Walker, a Decatur transfer, rushed for 227 yards on 29 carries against Lovett and has 497 yards on 70 carries this season.
Westminster defeated Redan (1-3, 0-1) 45-13 last week. Running back Zay Malcome rushed for 203 yards on 15 carries and four touchdowns. Malcolm has rushed for 569 yards and seven touchdowns this season and leads his team in receptions, 12 for 102 yards. Quarterback J.D. Falconer was injured in the first quarter but hopes to return. Backup quarterback Ward Croft went 7-12 passing for 113 yards and one touchdown.
Here are other big games in Class AAA:
-- Union County (4-0, 0-0) at No. 1 Greater Atlanta Christian (3-1, 0-0): This will be the Region 7 opener for both programs and their first meeting since 2005 in Class AA. Union County is 0-8 against the top-ranked Spartans. Stanford commit Davis Mills, back from a knee injury, returned to form against St. Pius X last week, going 12-for-19 passing for 211 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Kyler McMichael has rushed for 563 yards and six touchdowns on 84 carries this season and accounts for two-thirds of the Spartan rushing yardage. Union County quarterback Cole Wright has passed for 449 yards on the season and leads his team in rushing yards with 505. Wright has has a hand in 12 touchdowns.
-- Westside-Macon (2-2, 0-0) at No. 4 Peach County (3-1, 0-0): Peach County is coming off of an emotional 20-19 victory against Mary Persons last week. The Trojans were behind 19-0 at the start of the fourth quarter but scored three touchdowns to stun the Bulldogs. Antonio Gilbert was 16-of-34 passing for 227 yards. Kearis Jackson had 43 yards rushing on nine carries and had six catches for 89 yards. Peach County leads the series 4-2 against Westside.
-- Central-Macon (4-0, 0-0) at Kendrick (0-4, 0-0): In a match from Region 4, Central can reach 5-0 for the first time since 1981, when it plays host to winless Kendrick on Friday in Macon. Central is one of a handful of teams across the state that is undefeated, yet unranked. Running back Antonio Sanders Jr. has rushed for 425 yards and has five catches for 69 yards, roughly half of Central's total offense. Sanders Jr. and Kanuri Williams lead the team in tackles, each with 15. Central leads the series against Kendrick, 4-1.
-- Redan (1-3, 0-1) at No. 2 Pace Academy (3-1, 1-0): In another region 5 matchup, Pace Academy will play host to the Redan Raiders. The Knights beat Stone Mountain 44-20 last week in their first region test.
-- No. 9 Crisp County (4-0, 0-0) at Spencer (3-1): Crisp looks to move to 5-0 in its first-ever matchup against Spencer. So far, Crisp has defeated Dooly County, Americus-Sumter, Turner County and Rutland. The Cougars defeated Rutland 49-14 last week after leading 35-0 at halftime. Freshman Dakevian Thomas rushed for 102 yards on two carries and D.J. Smith ran for 88 yards on two carries against Rutland
