Crisp County hosts Class A Private No. 2 Eagle’s Landing Christian at the Cougar Den in Cordele in the second edition of the newly minted rivalry. The game is juxtaposed against a week where seven of the top 10 programs in the class will take the week off in preparation for region play next week.
The No. 10-ranked Cougars (0-2) beat ELCA 34-14 on the road last season under former head coach Brad Harber. But Crisp is still searching for the program’s first victory under new head coach Miguel Patrick, after losing to 6A Houston County (27-24) and 4A No. 4 Perry (21-0) last week.
Offensively, Crisp has struggled, and the main reason is similar to what other programs across the state – including ELCA – have faced: COVID-19.
“We had our first game canceled, and they had their last game canceled,” Patrick said. “The difference is, we had to cancel, and they got canceled on. So they have been able to practice through that. We played two games with five practices. This is the first week that we have had a full week of preparation for a team.”
It has taken its toll.
The Cougars have scored 24 points this season – a pass from junior quarterback Ahmad Brown to junior Trae Walker and rushing touchdowns from Brown and senior Marquise Palmer.
“We are just young,” he said. “If you look at our roster, you only have a handful of guys who had varsity experience last year. No one else took a snap in a varsity game that meant anything. Out of our eight seniors, only four played. Our best football is in front of us, not behind us. We are going to continue to work, to improve each and every day, each and every practice and each and every game.”
Similarly, ELCA has struggled with losses to an unranked 5A Woodward team (17-14) and Class 5A No. 3 Ware County 52-28. ELCA was scheduled to play 2A No. 3 Rabun County on Sept. 3, but the game was cancelled because of COVID-19.
“ELCA picked up the Ware County game mid-week,” Patrick said, understanding the struggle of not being able to prepare properly for a talented opponent. “They didn’t know who they were preparing for. They didn’t have an opportunity to prepare for one of the top teams in 5A. So that’s tough.”
The Chargers’ junior quarterback Charlie Gilliam is 29-of-58 passing for 442 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions, while rushing for one touchdown on 13 carries. Junior R.J. Johnson is a favorite target, with six receptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Brandon Hood leads the rushing game with 36 carries for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
“We have the same attitude that ELCA does,*” Patrick said. “We just want to play. Because at the end of the day we know that the more games you play, the more reps you get, and it will help you in the long run.”
Other top 10 teams active this week: No. 5 Sandy Creek (2-0) hosts 5A Starr’s Mill, and No. 7 Appling County (3-0) travels to 7A Tift County.
Follow the link to this week’s PREP SCOREBOARD powered by Score Atlanta.
Class 3A top-10 schedule
1. OFF (1) Cedar Grove (1-1) – Sept. 17 vs. Greater Atlanta Christian, 7:30 p.m. (Region 5-3A); Sept. 24 vs. Carver-Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. (Region 5-3A); Oct. 1 vs. Redan, 7:30 p.m. (Region 5-3A)
2. OFF (2) Oconee County (3-0) – Sept. 17 vs. 2A No. 4 Thomasville, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 24 vs. 5A Veterans, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 1 vs. East Jackson, 7:30 p.m. (Region 8-3A)
3. OFF (3) Pierce County (2-1) – Sept. 17 at A Public Clinch County, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 24 vs. 2A No. 3 Fitzgerald, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 1 vs. 2A No. 2 Rabun County, 7:30 p.m.
4. OFF (4) Peach County (0-2) – Sept. 17 at Mary Persons, 7:30 p.m. (Region 2-3A); Sept. 24 at Sumter County, 7:30 p.m. (Region 2-3A); Oct. 1 vs. Pike County, 8 p.m. (Region 2-3A)
5. (8) Sandy Creek (2-0) – Friday vs. 5A Starr’s Mill, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 15 at No. 6 Westminster, 7:30 p.m. (Region 5-3A); Sept. 24 vs. Douglass, 7:30 p.m. (Region 5-3A)
6. OFF (5) Westminster (2-1) – Sept. 17 vs. No. 5 Sandy Creek, 7:30 p.m. (Region 5-3A); Sept. 25 at Greater Atlanta Christian, 7:30 p.m. (Region 5-3A); Oct. 1 vs. Carver-Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. (Region 5-3A)
7. (7) Appling County (3-0) – Friday at 7A Tift County, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 17 vs. 6A Bradwell Institute, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 24 vs. 5A Wayne County, 7:30 p.m.
8. OFF (9) Thomson (2-0) – Friday vs. 5A No. 3 Ware County, CANCELED; Sept. 24 at Morgan County, 7:30 p.m. (Region 4-3A); Oct. 1 vs. Richmond Academy, 7:30 p.m. (Region 4-3A)
9. OFF (10) Monroe Area (3-0) – Sept. 17 vs. 5A Clarkston, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 25 vs. 6A Lakeside-Evans, 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 1 at Stephens County, 7:30 p.m. (Region 8-3A)
10. (6) Crisp County (0-2) – Friday vs. A Private No. 2 Eagle’s Landing Christian, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 17 vs. Jackson, 7:30 p.m. (Region 2-3A); Sept. 24 vs. Upson-Lee, 7:30 p.m. (Region 2-3A)
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