Here’s what to look for during Week 6 of the high school football season.
Class AAAAAA
A decade ago, Brookwood vs. Parkview was metro Atlanta’s best football rivalry. Parkview was a reigning state champion. Brookwood was the runner-up. Brookwood ended Parkview’s state-record 46-game winning streak.
On Friday, the old enemies meet again, only this time as winless teams hoping to get back in the Region 8 race. Both have played tough schedules and can’t be counted out. But it sure looks odd: Parkview is 0-4 for the first time since 1986. Brookwood is 0-3 for the first time 1986. These are unusual positions for two heralded coaches — Parkview’s Cecil Flowe and Brookwood’s Mark Crews.
Here are other things to watch in Class AAAAAA and the other classifications this week:
- Region 1 starts league play with three blockbusters — Valdosta vs. Camden County, Colquitt County vs. Lowndes and Coffee vs. Tift County. In last year's Lowdnes-Colquitt game, Lowndes won 17-14, and Colquitt County coach Rush Propst accused Lowndes of using a former Colquitt coach to steal Colquitt's signals.
- Region 8 will have one leader after the Dacula-Archer game. Both are 2-0 in region play. Archer (4-0) is ranked for the first time in its history. Dacula last won a region title in 2005. Archer has never won one.
- Alpharetta probably is the team to beat in Region 8 now that the Raiders avenged their 2012 loss to West Forsyth. Now, Alpharetta faces South Forsyth, which is 4-0 for the first time in 10 years.
- Defending state champion Norcoss is out of the Top 10 after losing to nationally ranked B.T. Washington of Miami and North Gwinnett. That will change if the Blue Devils can beat Mill Creek, a quarterfinal team from last season. Mill Creek is coming off a one-point loss to fifth-ranked Peachtree Ridge.
Class AAAAA
- If top-ranked Tucker and No. 2 Stephenson take care of business this week, they will set up the biggest game of the regular season in AAAAA when the teams meet Oct. 11 (the region is off next week). Tucker will be going for its 13th consecutive victory against Lakeside-DeKalb, while Stephenson takes on a Southwest DeKalb team that is struggling in the first season after the retirement of Buck Godfrey.
- The winner of the Allatoona-South Paulding game will have sole possession of first place in Region 5. Allatoona is seeking its fourth playoff berth in six seasons of football, while the eighth-year South Paulding program is trying to reach the postseason for the first time. Other games involving playoff contenders from the region include Rome at New Manchester, East Paulding at Villa Rica and Woodland-Cartersville at North Paulding.
- Region play begins this weekend in 2-AAAAA, and the biggest game might be Saturday, when Lakeside-Evans (2-1), a playoff team last season, travels to Northside-Warner Robins (3-0). Keep an eye on Lakeside's Jonathan Edwards. He scored three touchdowns (two receptions, kickoff return) in a victory against Westside-Augusta last week.
Class AAAA
- No. 5 Griffin features an explosive no-huddle, up-tempo offense that has scored 41 points per game. The Bears are led by senior quarterback Jaquez Parks, a three-year starter with a 3.8 GPA who is being recruited by Harvard, Yale and Air Force. No. 3 Stockbridge has a defense loaded with big-time talent that has allowed 5.5 points per game. The Tigers are led by senior defensive back Kendarius Webster, who will decide between Georgia, Florida State, Ole Miss and others Oct. 4. Stockbridge beat Griffin for the first time last season 17-14 on a last-second field goal. The Bears had won the previous six meetings by an average score of 38-11.
- No. 1 Sandy Creek and No. 2 Carrollton return to action Friday night after last week's bye. The defending champion Patriots open Region 5 play at winless Fayette County. Carrollton hosts an improved Columbus team that ended a 19-game losing streak last week with a victory against Northside-Columbus. "I hope Carrollton will notice us, notice the athleticism that we have," Columbus coach Phil Marino said. "Our SEC schedule starts on Friday. We want to be competitive."
- Southeast Whitfield gets its chance to slow Cedartown running back Nick Chubb when the Raiders host the Bulldogs. Southeast Whitfield has allowed an average of 12 points in its first three games. Chubb, who committed to Georgia, has 987 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.
Class AAA
Cedar Grove at Decatur: Decatur is 4-0 with signature victories against Grady and Greenville. If the Bulldogs want to be a player in Region 6, they're going to have to beat Cedar Grove, a playoff team a year ago. Chances are the loser of this game will miss the playoffs. Cedar Grove is too easily overlooked in this deep region. The Saints are led by quarterback James Hartsfield, who has passed for 560 yards and six touchdowns, and running back Deion Sellers, who has 628 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.
St. Pius vs. Towers (Avondale): Towers is 4-0 thanks to a stellar defense that has allowed only seven points; three of the team's victories have been by shutout. No. 5 St. Pius is trying to rebound from last week's loss to Lovett. The Towers run defense, which allows 101 yards per game, will be tested by the St. Pius attack that averages close to 300 yards.
B.E.S.T. Academy at Central-Carroll: The B.E.S.T. fans are ready to give Central a taste of Eagle Power, but they've yet to play a quality opponent. Central is bubbling on the edge of the state rankings. Central will be a difficult assignment for B.E.S.T. The Lions have two top running backs who surpassed 100 yards each last week — Damarious Owensby and Curtis Davenport.
Class AA
- Quarterback Willie Candler and the No. 2-ranked Lovett Lions look to build off an impressive 4-0 start as they cross state lines for a two-hour commute to play the Fort Payne (Ala.) Wildcats. The Wildcats are 2-2 and defeated Lovett last year 28-14. Yet, this is a different Lions team this season. They defeated St. Pius 28-7 last week.
- The Lamar County Trojans (3-0) are fresh off a bye and looking to defend their No. 1 ranking as they host Taylor County (2-1) in the Region 4 opener for both teams. The Trojans have dominated, outscoring the competition 114-35. No opponent has come within three scores. Lamar County won last year's matchup 15-0 in the first contest between the two in 17 years. The Trojans own a 6-3 edge in the all-time series.
- The No. 5-ranked Washington-Wilkes Tigers (4-0) open their Region 8 schedule when they host Union County (2-1). The Tigers also have been merciless against their competition, posting 177 points while giving up 42 points. They're coming off a 50-14 victory against Riverside Military; Union County defeated Andrews (N.C.) 34-6 on Sept. 13. Although Union County has the benefit of a bye week, it didn't do them much good last year, as the Tigers won in a 36-0 shutout. Last year was the first time the teams played since 1966, and the Tigers have won both matchups.
Class A
Holy Innocents' (2-2) at No. 1 Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (3-0): After taking a week off, the top-ranked team in Class A, ELCA, will begin Region 5 competition at home in McDonough against the Bears. ELCA rolled to a 68-6 victory against AA Hapeville Charter on Sept. 13, and the Bears are trying to reverse a two-game skid, having lost to AAAAA Riverwood (35-21) and George Walton Academy (35-14) the past two weeks.
No. 9 Johnson County (4-0) at No. 4 Savannah Christian (2-0-1): In what many believe is the best game of the weekend, the Trojans will visit Savannah for a Region 6 crossover game of undefeated teams. Johnson County hopes history does not repeat itself, as the Trojans were undefeated last season when the Raiders went to Wrightsville and won 42-14.
Telfair County (3-1) at Clinch County (1-3): In the Region 2 opener for both teams, Telfair County looks to rebound from last week's 35-26 loss to AAA Southeast Bulloch, while Clinch County took the week off after falling just short against No. 7 Seminole County (21-14) on Sept. 13.
About the Author
