Last week’s light top-10 schedule has led to all 10 programs playing Friday, with region games taking center-stage.
Regions 2, 3 and 5 kick off interleague play in Week 5, joining Region 6 which began last week.
Two top-10 programs will play ranked teams from other classifications this week, leaving No. 5 Sandy Creek (3-0) traveling to No. 7 Westminster (2-1) for a Region 5-3A game and the only meeting between 3A ranked programs on the schedule.
Westminster is 2-1 with victories over Class 2A programs Lovett (17-7) and Pace Academy (31-21) and a loss to 4A St. Pius X (21-14). Sandy Creek has beaten 5A Northgate (24-3), 7A Newnan (35-24) and 5A Starr’s Mill (37-16) last week.
It will be the first game between the teams since 1995. Sandy Creek and Westminster have split the four-game series. Westminster won in 1992 (25-24) and 1993 (21-12); Sandy Creek won in 1994 (21-0) and 1995 (14-6).
In other games:
-- Oconee County arguably will face its most difficult test of the season when it plays host to Class 2A No. 4 Thomasville Friday in Watkinsville. The then-No. 3-ranked Warriors beat Thomasville 44-14 last season when the Bulldogs were ranked No. 5 in 2A.
-- Pierce County travels to Class 2A No. 5 Clinch County and is looking to cut into Clinch’s dominant 12-3 lead in the series. The teams have not met since 2011. Pierce has not beaten Clinch County since the 30-23 victory at home on Sept. 17, 1993. Pierce’s other two victories in the series -- 1981 (22-14) and 1982 (27-0).
-- Two ranked programs – No. 8 Thomson and No. 10 Hart County – will face South Carolina programs this week. Thomson will host May River, and Hart County travels to Westside.
-- In Region 2-3A, Peach County will travel to Mary Persons in search of its first victory of the season. The Trojans won last year’s game 42-7 and lead the series record at 10-7. Peach has been idle for two weeks due to COVID issues. the Trojans last played on August 27, losing to Northside-Warner Robins 28-14.
Here are the Maxwell Projections for this week.
Follow the link to the PREP SCOREBOARD to keep updated with this week’s games across all classifications.
Week 5 top-10 schedule
1. (1) Cedar Grove (1-1) – Friday vs. Greater Atlanta Christian, 7:30 p.m. (5-3A game)
2. (2) Oconee County (3-0) – Friday vs. Class 2A No. 4 Thomasville, 7:30 p.m.
3. (3) Pierce County (2-1) – Friday at Class 2A No. 5 Clinch County, 7:30 p.m.
4. (4) Peach County (0-2) – Friday at Mary Persons, 7:30 p.m. (2-3A game)
5. (5) Sandy Creek (3-0) – Friday at No. 7 Westminster (5-3A game)
6. (7) Appling County (4-0) – Friday vs. Class 6A Bradwell Institute, 7:30 p.m.
7. (6) Westminster (2-1) – Friday vs. No. 5 Sandy Creek (5-3A game)
8. (8) Thomson (2-0) – Friday vs. May River SC, 7:30 p.m.
9. (9) Monroe Area (3-0) – Friday vs. Clarkston -- CANCELED via Clarkston
10. (NR) Hart County (4-0) – Friday at Westside-SC, 7:30 p.m.
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