As noted in Todd Holcomb’s Week 5 highlights from around the state, the unranked South Atlanta Hornets beat the No. 5 Lovett Lions 34-33.
It was a game that Maxwell projections favored the Lions by 19 points. However, those who watched it are probably wondering if the South Atlanta’s win should even be considered an upset.
The Hornets, defending Region 6-2A champions, were bigger, faster and more physical on the lines and controlled the game most of the way until the Lions made a furious comeback that fell short, with the Hornets making a final stand as Lovett went for 2 after a touchdown in the game’s waning seconds.
Not only have the Hornets not missed a beat since Brad Stephens left after five seasons in which he turned the program around, but they’re arguably better under first-year coach Michael Woolridge, who comes to South Atlanta from 4A’s Hardaway, where he went 29-23 and reached the playoffs in each of the last three seasons.
The win puts the Hornets (2-1, 1-0) in the driver’s seat for another region title as they enter the thick of their 6-2A schedule.
The Lions fall to 3-2, 2-1 and their position in the rankings is in jeopardy.
Here’s how the rest of the top 10 fared:
- The No. 2 Rabun County Wildcats beat Saluda, ranked No. 3 in 2A in South Carolina, by a score of 63-7. The Index-Journal (Greenville, S.C.) and Blitz have details. The Wildcats are 3-1.
- The No. 3 Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane beat 4A’s unranked Cairo 29-13, improving to 4-0. The Thomasville Times-Enterprise has details.
- The No. 4 Thomasville Hurricanes lost 20-6 to 3A’s No. 2 Oconee County, falling to 4-1. The Thomasville Times-Enterprise and Athens Banner-Herald have details.
- The No. 7 Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets beat 3A’s unranked Long County 34-12 to improve to 5-0 for a third straight year. Caleb Bailey covered the game for the Coastal Courier.
- The No. 9 Northeast Raiders beat 4A’s unranked Monroe 27-6, improving to 3-1.
- The No. 10 Washington County Golden Hawks beat 6A’s unranked Evans 43-26 to improve to 2-0. AugBBall has complete highlights.
- On bye: No. 1 Callaway, No. 6 Bleckley County, No. 8 Dodge County
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