HS football: Top 10 games of the week

Last meeting: Calhoun won 46-35 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. Carrollton runs a Wing-T offense without a feature back. The leading rushers are Malik Sheppard (14 carries, 158 yards, three TDs), Jarvis Terrell (16-161-2) and Trey Chivers (10-152-3). 2. Calhoun's defense has been the story in winning its first two games 37-0 (Ridgeland) and 17-2 (Dalton). Calhoun allowed 76 points to those two schools in 2012, still beating both. On offense, watch for WR Tydus Curtis. He has 13 catches for 269 yards and three touchdowns in two games. 3. The 2012 game between Calhoun and Carrollton featured 1,050 yards in total offense, with each team going over 500. Carrollton's Shivers rushed for 264 yards and three touchdowns but lost a fumble on a fourth-quarter kickoff that led to Calhoun's winning touchdown. Carrollton WR Josh Barnes caught 18 passes for 204 yards, and QB Taylor Lamb passed for 465 yards.

Carver (Columbus) at Colquitt County

When, where: 8 p.m. Friday, Tom White Field at Mack Tharpe Memorial Stadium, Moultrie

Records, rankings: Carver is 2-0 and No. 4 in Class AAA; Colquitt County is 2-1 and No. 3 in AAAAAA.

Last meeting: Colquitt County won 33-0 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. Carver's 2012 quarterback, Torrance McGee, transferred to North Cobb, where he moved to wide receiver. That opened the door for sophomore Jawon Pass, who some believe could become the best quarterback Carver has ever had. He was 16-of-21 passing for 280 yards and two touchdowns and scored two touchdowns in a 48-24 victory over Shaw. Pass (6-4, 180) already has offers from Clemson, Mississippi State and North Carolina. 2. Players to watch on a balanced Colquitt County offense are junior RB Sihiem King (324 yards rushing, three TDs), QB Daniel Mobley (40-of-77 passing, 565 yards, two TDs) and WR Todd Boyd (14 catches, 204 yards). On defense, preseason all-state DE Jamiyus Pittman and junior ILB Tomarcio Reese each have five tackles for losses. 3. In the 2012 game between the two, neither team had success running the ball, but Colquitt was 18-of-29 passing for 296 yards. Carver had only 106 yards in total offense.

Coffee at Burke County

When, where: 8 p.m. Friday, Bear Den, Waynesboro

Records, rankings: Coffee is 2-0 and unranked in Class AAAAAA; Burke County is 1-0 and No. 3 in AAAA.

Last meeting: Burke County won 33-21 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. Coffee's Robby Pruitt picked up his 300th career coaching victory when the Trojans beat Ware County 38-13 two weeks ago. Of those 300, Pruitt has won 133 games in Georgia and 167 in Florida. Coffee QB Tyree Paulk passed for 206 yards and four touchdowns against Ware and has 427 yards and seven TDs this season. 2. Burke County QB Donquell Green rushed for 187 yards and scored five touchdowns and passed for 69 yards and a score in a 55-0 victory over Hephzibah last week. The Bears had a 421-44 advantage in total offense, according to the Augusta Chronicle. 3. Burke County picked up more than 400 yards of total offense in the victory against Coffee last season. Green rushed for 246 yards, passed for 113 and had a hand in all five touchdowns. Coffee was held to three first downs until its final possession of the game, but the Trojans led 21-20 in the third quarter before Burke pulled away.

Hart County at Stephens County

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Reservation, Toccoa

Records, rankings: Hart County is 2-0 and No. 9 in Class AAA; Stephens County is 2-0 and unranked in AAAA.

Last meeting: Stephens County won 49-39 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. William DeVane is making an impact in his second stint as Hart County's coach. Last year, he got the Bulldogs to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2006, and they are now 2-0 for the first time since 2004. DeVane was 38-3 at Hart County from 1998-2000 before leaving for one season at Greene County and four at Clarke Central. He returned as Hart's head coach last season. 2. Stephens County returned just two starters on each side of the ball this year. One of the biggest losses to graduation was honorable mention all-state RB Chaz Thornton, who signed with Georgia Southern. In his place, the Indians have turned to Sapario Reese, who has rushed for about 340 yards and scored three touchdowns in two games. 3. Stephens County leads this northeast Georgia rivalry 34-17-1 and has won nine of the past 10 meetings. Hart's most-recent victory was a 32-20 win in 2009.

Lovett at Marist

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Hughes Spalding Stadium, Atlanta

Records, rankings: Lovett is 2-0 and No. 5 in Class AA; Marist is 1-1 and No. 5 in AAAA.

Last meeting: Marist won 24-16 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. Defense is Lovett's calling card as the Lions have allowed 17 points total in beating Woodward Academy (21-14) and Blessed Trinity (14-3), teams that were ranked in Class AAA until Lovett beat them. The Lions' top defenders are LB Charlie Ingram, LB Nathan Offutt, DL Patrick Keough and DB Grant Haley. 2. RB Marcus Miller, RB Griffin King and QB Chase Martenson each rushed for more than 100 yard in Marist's opening victory over Clarke Central, when Marist was 0-for-3 passing, but each was held to less than 60 in the loss to Thomas County Central. Mortensen was 5-of-8 passing for 116 yards and a touchdown against Central. 3. Lovett and Marist played each other in football for the first time last season. The quarterbacks had big games as Marist's Myles Willis (graduated) rushed for 138 yards and passed for 132, and Lovett's Willie Candler (returning) threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns on 18-of-26 passing. Marist won 24-16.

Marietta at Hillgrove

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

Records, rankings: Marietta is 2-0 overall, 0-0 in Region 4-AAAAAA and No. 10; Hillgrove is 2-0, 0-0 and unranked.

Last meeting: Marietta won 27-13 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. Marietta is averaging 57.5 points per game, the most of any team in Class AAAAAA. The Blue Devils haven't scored more points in a two-game stretch since putting up 117 against Crestwood (62) and Wheeler (55) in 1990. First-year starting QB Brenton Martin has thrown for 328 yards and six touchdowns, and KirVonte' Benson has rushed for 267 yards and three TDs. The Blue Devils also returned three interceptions and a kickoff for touchdowns against Pope last week. 2. Hillgrove QB Elijah Ironside has passed for 492 yards and eight touchdowns in the Hawks' first two games. His primary target has been Justin Denton, who has 15 receptions for 211 yards and five TDs. Richardre Bagley has rushed for 239 yards and a touchdown and caught 10 passes for 109 yards and a TD. 3. This is the opener of region play for these teams, which both made the playoffs last season and are expected to again this year (along with second-ranked McEachern and No. 5 North Cobb). Hillgrove holds a 2-1 lead in the series.

North Gwinnett at Norcross

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

Records, rankings: North Gwinnett is 2-0 overall, 0-0 in Region 7-AAAAAA and No. 1; Norcross is 1-1, 0-0 and No. 6.

Last meeting: Norcross won 31-21 in 2012.

Three things to know:1. Norcross or North Gwinnett has won Region 7 each season except one (2008 Peachtree Ridge) since 2006, when Bob Sphire became head coach of North Gwinnett. Norcross won in 2006, 2007 and 2012. North Gwinnett won in 2009, 2010 and 2011. North Gwinnett had beaten Norcross four consecutive times until the 2012 game, when Norcross won 31-21. Kevin Mouhon's 86-yard interception return gave Norcross a 24-7 lead. 2. The biggest graduation losses from Norcross' state championship team were probably QB Joseph Wilber and RB Alvin Kamara. Their replacements are transfers who made giant steps last week in a 21-7 victory over Parkview after they struggled to get in gear against Booker T. Washington (Fla.) in the opening-game loss. RB Josh Boyd (formerly of South Gwinnett) rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, and QB A.J. Bush (formerly of Milton) was 11-of-18 passing for 152 yards and a touchdown. 3. North Gwinnett QB Hayden Sphire is 28-of-52 passing for 342 yards and four touchdowns, and RB C.J.  Leggett has rushed for 156 yards on 26 carries, but defense is probably the main reason the Bulldogs are 2-0 and ranked No. 1. Against Camden County in a 34-14 victory, North Gwinnett didn't allow a completed pass. Against Grayson in a 35-0 win, North Gwinnett scored on two safeties and returns of an interception and a fumble.

North Hall at Jefferson

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, Jefferson

Records, rankings: North Hall is 2-0 and No. 5 in Class AAA; Jefferson is 2-0 and No. 3 in AA.

Last meeting: Jefferson won 27-21 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. North Hall has been taking control of games early with its powerful running attack and dominant defense. The Trojans, led by Zac Little, Isaac Seid and Brannon Dyer, have rushed for 695 yards in two games. They have allowed 371 total yards against Chestatee and Johnson of Gainesville but only 63 in the first half. 2. Jefferson promoted offensive coordinator Ben Hall in the offseason to replace retiring 300-game winner T. McFerrin, who led the Dragons to their first state championship in 2012. Hall's offense averaged 40.6 points in the playoffs last year, and the Dragons have outscored their opponents 89-0 this season. 3. In last year's meeting, Jefferson senior QB Bryant Shirreffs rushed for 127 yards, passed for 144 and helped the Dragons rally from a 21-12 fourth-quarter deficit. Jefferson's quarterback this season, junior Evan Shirreffs, is Bryant's younger brother.

Peach County at Warner Robins

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

Records, rankings: Peach County is 1-1 and unranked in Class AAA; Warner Robins is 1-0 and No. 9 in AAAAA.

Last meeting: Peach County won 29-24 in 2012.

Three things to know:1. Warner Robins' best-known players are OL Jermaine Abron and RB Danny Hite Jr.  Abron is a 300-pound preseason all-state pick. Hite was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2012. He rushed for 108 yards in Warner Robins' 21-10 victory over Veterans, although defense was the story in that game as the Demons allowed only 139 yards in total offense. 2. Peach County QB Greg Williams is 27-of-40 passing for 449 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions. What is troubling is Peach's rushing offense and defense. RB Keyshawn Lowe, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2012, has been held to 74 yards total in two games. Peach has allowed 457 yards rushing total, at 6.3 yards per carry. 3. Warner Robins has won four state titles (1976, 1981, 1988, 2004) while Peach County has won three (2005, 2006, 2009), making them the most successful Middle Georgia football programs in that regard. They have played in different classifications so didn't face each other for more than 30 years until 2010. Peach County is trying to beat the Demons for the fourth consecutive time.

Westside (Macon) at Northside (W. Robins)

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

Records, rankings: Westside is 2-0 and No. 10 in Class AAAA; Northside is 2-0 and No. 3 in AAAAA.

Last meeting: Northside won 42-18 in 2012.

Three things to know: 1. Westside starting QB De'qavius Walker threw four touchdown passes in the first half of a 41-7 blowout Saturday against Dougherty, which had four new players in the secondary because of injuries and suspensions, according to the Albany Herald. Backup QB Eric Thomas added two TD passes. 2. RBs Willie Jordan and Glenn Smith have been the leading rushers for a Northside offense that picks up about two-thirds of its yards with the running game. Jordan has rushed for 221 yards and four touchdowns on 27 carries, and Smith has rushed for 167 yards and three TDs on 21 carries. QB Marcus Ivory is 16-of-20 passing for 201 yards. 3. Northside has won six consecutive games against Westside and holds an 8-1 lead in a series that dates to 2000. None of the games, including Westside's 30-14 victory in 2002, has been decided by fewer than 10 points.