HS football: Top 10 games of the week

Last meeting: Lincoln County won 20-13 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. Aquinas junior RB Ruben Garnett has rushed for 666 yards and nine touchdowns on 81 carries to lead an offense that runs for 188 yards per game. Garnett had a season-high 201 yards and four TDs on 11 carries in a 52-21 victory against Twiggs County two weeks ago. Sophomore QB Liam Welch is 45-of-74 passing for 757 yards and 10 touchdowns. 2. RB Mike McIntire is the leader of a Lincoln County offense that gets about 75 percent of its yards from the running game. McIntire has 758 yards and 11 touchdowns on 91 carries. QB Lakeith Lockhart has rushed for 224 yards and passed for 289. 3. Lincoln County has won 32 consecutive games against Aquinas, and last year's seven-point game was the only one during that streak that was closer than 11 points. Aquinas hasn't beaten Lincoln County since 1972, when the Irish won 45-0. Lincoln County leads the series 34-2-1 (including two games between predecessor schools Lincolnton and Boys Catholic).

Brooks County at Fitzgerald

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

Records, rankings: Brooks County is 5-1 overall, 2-0 in Region 1-AA and No. 8; Fitzgerald is 4-1-1, 2-0 and No. 9.

Last meeting: Brooks County won 27-24 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. These are the remaining unbeaten teams in region play from 1-AA. In the 2012 game, Brooks County's Deric Herring, now a senior, returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown with 18 seconds left for the win. Herring also scored on an 88-yard kickoff return. 2. Brooks County QB Malkom Parrish, a preseason AJC Super 11 pick who has committed to Georgia as a cornerback, has been erratic this season after throwing for 3,000 yards and rushing for about 1,000 in 2012. He had his best game this season last week in a 30-23 victory over Thomasville. He was 13-of-17 passing for 278 yards and rushed for 92 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. 3. Fitzgerald runs about 90 percent of the time, relying on five players who have between 200 and 335 yards rushing. Gerald Morgan rushed for 125 yards last week in a 28-13 victory over Cook, but it is unusual for one runner to stand out. The five are RB Deonvis Bonner (335 yards), Morgan (309), QB Taeylon Gaulden (299), RB Romarius Gulden (271) and RB Antonio Wilcox (202).

Camden County at Tift County

When, where: 8 p.m. Friday, Brodie Field, Tifton

Records, rankings: Camden County is 5-1 overall, 2-0 in Region 1-AAAAAA and No. 5; Tift County is 4-2, 1-1 and unranked.

Last meeting: Camden County won 47-0 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. Camden County is ranked No. 5, but the team has been much less dominant than in 2012. Camden has won its Region 1 games 14-10 (Valdosta) and 28-21 (Coffee) after winning those games 43-6 and 39-12 last season. Meanwhile, Tift County has gone from losing 24-7 (Coffee) and 49-7 (Colquitt County) to winning 32-29 (Coffee) and losing 17-14 (Colquitt). 2. Tift County's leading rushers are RB Ladarius Stewart (496 yards) and QB Ryan Wedgeworth (414). Both were held to less than 50 yards rushing last week in the loss to Colquitt, and Wedgeworth threw for only 68 yards. Tift got back in the game on Javarius Overstreet's 82-yard return of a Colquitt fumble. 3. Camden County's best-known players are Kalvarez Bessent, who rushed for 112 yards in Camden's 47-0 victory over Tift County last season, and Chris Williams. Both are running backs and defensive backs who are committed to Alabama. But nobody is playing better than junior LB/RB Antonio Wimbush. He has rushed for 231 yards on 41 carries, most of that against Camden's better opponents, and he's the leading tackler. He has four tackles for losses and an interception.

Central (Carrollton) at Callaway

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Callaway Stadium, LaGrange

Records, rankings: Central is 5-1 overall, 3-0 in Region 4-AAA and unranked; Callaway is 4-1, 2-0 and unranked.

Last meeting: Callaway won 14-10 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. Central has been winning with a defense that is allowing 6.5 points per game, the third-best average in Class AAA. The Lions' 14-0 victory against B.E.S.T. Academy two weeks ago was their third shutout, their most in a season since the 1987 state championship team had four. Central allowed just 96 yards of total offense against B.E.S.T., according to the Times-Georgian. 2. Callaway is primarily a running team that is led by QB Tez Parks and RB Devon Rosser. Parks, in his second season as the starter at quarterback but projected as a safety or athlete by the recruiting services, has had a hand in at least two TDs in each of Callaway's victories. Rosser had a 170-yard rushing night against Heard County in the opener. 3. The winner of this game will be the only remaining undefeated team in 4-AAA play and be the favorite to win the region title. Callaway finished two games ahead of Chapel Hill to win the region last season. Central has two region titles in its history, in 1986 and 1987 when it went 29-1 and won back-to-back Class AA championships.

Collins Hill at Norcross

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

Records, rankings: Collins Hill is 5-0 overall, 3-0 in Region 7-AAAAAA and No. 9; Norcross is 4-2, 3-1 and No. 8.

Last meeting: Norcross won 35-23 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. QB Tyler Herman was 20-of-36 passing for 426 yards and four TDs and helped Collins Hill rally from a 28-20 fourth-quarter deficit to beat Peachtree Ridge 35-28 last week. His 65-yard touchdown pass to Grant McDonald with 4:01 remaining was the game-winner. Herman's yardage total was a school record. 2. Norcross RB Josh Boyd has rushed for 635 yards and eight touchdowns on 83 carries. A typical night for him this season has been between 10 and 15 carries and about 125 yards. Last week he had 124 yards and two TDs on 10 carries in a 49-3 victory against Habersham Central. 3. Collins Hill is tied with top-ranked North Gwinnett for first place in Region 7-AAAAAA, and a victory against Norcross would set the Eagles up for a showdown with North on Oct. 25 that likely would decide the region title. Collins Hill won its only region championship in 2004. Defending state champion Norcross is tied for the third place, one game behind the leaders, but lost to North Gwinnett 36-17.

Jefferson County at Washington County

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, House of Pain, Sandersville

Records, rankings: Jefferson County is 6-0 overall, 1-0 in Region 3-AAA and No. 6; Washington County is 5-0, 0-0 and No. 3.

Last meeting: Washington County won 57-14 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. Washington County is averaging 46.6 points per game and 9.2 yards per offensive play. The leading rushers are RB Melvin Hill (68 carries, 608 yards, nine touchdowns), Danyale Wicker (53-485-6) and QB A.J. Gray (56-453-5). Gray is 33-of-49 passing for six touchdowns. 2. Jefferson County has an all-state candidate in RB Cartabious Quarterman (714 yards rushing), but it is the team's defense that has led the turnaround from the 4-7 finish in 2012. Jefferson County has not allowed more than 14 points in any game and ranks fourth in AAA in scoring defense (7.5 ppg). DB T.J. Clark has a team-leading seven tackles for losses, an interception and a fumble recovery. DL Jabrioen King has seven tackles for losses, and DB T.J. Clark has two interceptions and two caused fumbles. 3. Washington County is 9-1-1 all-time against Jefferson County, losing only in 1998. Washington County led 57-0 in the third quarter of last year's game and inflicted Jefferson County's worst loss since 2001, when Washington County also was the opponent (70-20).

North Cobb at Hillgrove

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Cobb Energy Hillgrove Stadium, Powder Springs

Records, rankings: North Cobb is 4-1 overall, 3-0 in Region 4-AAAAAA and unranked; Hillgrove is 5-0, 3-0 and No. 6.

Last meeting: North Cobb won 41-14 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. North Cobb QB Tyler Queen, son of coach Shane Queen, has passed for 820 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushed for 155 yards and four scores. The Warriors' leading rusher is J'Vonte Herrod, who has 524 yards and nine touchdowns on 44 carries (11.9 yards per carry). Herrod also has eight catches and one touchdown receiving. 2. Hillgrove QB Elijah Ironside, son of coach Phil Ironside, is 77-of-139 passing for 1,021 yards and 18 touchdowns. He needs four TD passes to break the school single-season record of 21 he set two years ago. Ironside's top targets have been Justin Denton (23 receptions, 331 yards, six touchdowns), Omar Black (17-322-8) and Richardre Bagley (16-128-1). 3. North Cobb, Hillgrove and McEachern have not lost a game in region play, and the championship is likely to be decided when McEachern plays the winner of this game. McEachern, which is the defending region champion and ranked No. 2 this season, plays North Cobb on Oct. 18 and Hillgrove on Nov. 1.

Statesboro at Liberty County

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

Records, rankings: Statesboro is 6-0 overall, 0-0 in Region 3-AAAA Div. A and No. 5; Liberty County is 6-0, 0-0 and unranked.

Last meeting: Statesboro won 19-0 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. It's doubtful that any Georgia player is more impactful on both sides of the ball than Liberty County LB/RB Raekwon McMillan. The five-star recruit has 383 yards rushing and averages 15.3 tackles per game. He has 15 tackles for losses and 10 touchdowns, at least one of each in every game. Liberty County has a similar player in waiting, freshman DB Richard LeCounte. He has 783 all-purpose yards, 55 tackles, five interceptions and scholarship offers from Ohio State and Florida. 2. QB Colin Chance has thrown for more than 700 yards this season, giving Statesboro a real passing threat for the first time in years. He had five TD passes against Butler. But the Blue Devils are still primarily a running team. RB Zach Grant rushed for 124 yards last week against Swainsboro and 134 against Burke County last month. 3. Statesboro is considered the team to beat in the region after beating defending 3-AAAA champion Burke County three weeks ago. Liberty County is 6-0 for the first time in school history but has more to prove. The Panthers were 6-4 last season but failed to make the playoffs after going 0-3 in subregion play. The subregion has only four teams, and all have winning records. (Wayne County is 5-1, and South Effingham is 4-2.) The fourth-place finisher cannot make the playoffs. In the 2012 game between these two, Statesboro managed only 176 yards in total offense but forced four turnovers and held Liberty County to 90 total yards.

Stephenson at Tucker

When, where: 8 p.m. Friday, Hallford Stadium, Clarkston

Records, rankings: Stephenson is 5-0 overall, 4-0 in Region 6-AAAAA and No. 2; Tucker is 5-0, 4-0 and No. 1.

Last meeting: Stephenson won 13-6 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. The winner of this second-ever meeting between the DeKalb County rivals will be ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAA next week and becomes the overwhelming favorite to win 6-AAAAA, although both have games remaining against Mays and M.L. King, the other two likely playoff teams from the region. Mays is tied for first place, and M.L. King is one game back. 2. Stephenson and Tucker have the top two teams in Class AAAAA in scoring defense. Stephenson ranks No. 1, allowing 6.2 points per game, while the Tigers are second at 8.0. Stephenson is giving up just 154 yards per game in total offense, including 36.8 rushing, and Tucker allows 161.4 total yards. 3. Stephenson's offense is a bit more balanced, but both are primarily running teams. Stephenson is led by Dallas Rivers, a transfer from Tucker who has rushed for 404 yards on 71 carries. He had 1,110 yards for the Tigers last season. Tucker's leading rusher is Elijah Sullivan (34 carries, 342 yards, seven TDs), but Dominick Sanders (253), Myles Donaldson (226) and Devin Towns (217) share the workload.

Valdosta at Lowndes

When, where: 8 p.m. Friday, Martin Stadium, Valdosta

Records, rankings: Valdosta is 4-1 overall, 0-1 in Region 1-AAAAAA and No. 10; Lowndes is 4-2, 1-1 and unranked.

Last meeting: Lowndes won 17-14 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. Lowndes has won eight of the past nine games in the series and won in 2012 on a 40-yard field goal by Gustavo Gonzales on the final play of the game. Lowndes had trailed 14-6 in the fourth quarter and drove 90 yards on 14 plays to tie it. This year's game will be the first since 2002 - coach Randy McPherson's first at Lowndes - in which Valdosta has been the higher-ranked team. That year, Valdosta was No. 4, and Lowndes No. 7. Valdosta won 21-13 under coach Mike O'Brien. 2. Lowndes' run-based offense is often criticized in bad times, but the defense - an area expected to be a strength - has allowed 30 or more points in consecutive games for the first time since 1994. Lowndes rushed for 314 yards in the 38-30 victory over Brunswick last week despite playing without its leading rusher. 3. Valdosta's main weapons remain running backs Nelson Herring (531 yards rushing) and Malcolm Joseph (443). Together they've scored 14 touchdowns. But Valdosta is still looking for more consistency at quarterback after the original starter was lost to season-ending injury. Seth Shuman (23-of-38, 174 yards, one TD) and Mac Lowdermilk (12-of-18, 103, 1) have shared the position.