Two cross-classification games highlight weekend play, when No. 3 Pierce County (4-1) welcomes Class 2A No. 1 Rabun County (4-1) Friday and No. 10 Burke County plays host to Class 4A No. 4 Benedictine (3-2) Thursday.
Both games were previewed by GHSFDaily in this week’s top-10 games.
Pierce County enters the game against Rabun County after defeating Class 2A No. 3 Fitzgerald 17-0 last week, but the challenge of silencing Rabun’s Gunner Stockton will be a difficult one.
Stockton, rated as a four-star recruit, has committed to Georgia. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound quarterback is 72-of-103 passing for 1,628 yards and 22 touchdowns to lead an offense that averages nearly 340 passing yards and 125 rushing yards per game.
Pierce welcomed D.J. Bell back to the lineup last week, and he was 2-of-4 passing for 57 yards and two touchdowns – one to Knox Bennett and one to Ty Everson. Jonah Allen added a field goal.
The other out-of-class game provides Burke County an opportunity to make a statement and avenge last year’s 58-26 loss against Class 4A No. 4 Benedictine. The Bears are coming off a 41-8 victory against Cross Creek in Region 4-3A, and that momentum could carry into Friday’s game.
Burke County quarterback Marshall Flowers is 25-of-46 passing for 294 yards and a touchdown. Eldrick “Tiger” Williams has 30 carries for 336 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Burke County running game. Benedictine lost the first two games of the season to out-of-state opponents, but has beaten North Oconee (48-17), Wayne County (51-7) and Class 5A No. 2 Ware County (49-42) last week.
Here are the Maxwell Projections and here are the Maxwell Playoff Projections entering Week 7. Follow the link to the PREP SCOREBOARD to follow along on Friday night.
Class 3A top-10 schedule
1. (1) Cedar Grove (3-1) Friday vs. Redan, 7:30 p.m. (5-3A game)
2. (2) Oconee County (5-0) Friday vs. East Jackson, 7:30 p.m. (8-3A game)
3. (3) Pierce County (4-1) Friday vs. 2A No. 1 Rabun County, 7:30 p.m.
4. (4) Sandy Creek (5-0) Friday vs. Salem, 7:30 p.m. (5-3A game)
5. (5) Peach County (2-2) Friday vs. Pike County, 8 p.m. (2-3A game)
6. (6) Appling County (6-0) Off.
7. (7) Thomson (4-1) Friday vs. Richmond Academy, 7:30 p.m. (4-3A game)
8. (8) Monroe Area (5-0) Friday at Stephens County, 7:30 p.m. (8-3A game)
9. (9) Hart County (5-0) Friday at Franklin County, 7:30 p.m. (8-3A game)
10. (10) Burke County (3-0) Thursday vs. Class 4A No. 4 Benedictine, 6:30 p.m.
Class 3A regions vs. outside opponents
Region Record PCT
Region 1-3A 18-8 0.692
Region 2-3A 5-16 0.238
Region 3-3A 8-13 0.381
Region 4-3A 12-13 0.480
Region 5-3A 11-11 0.500
Region 6-3A 12-4 0.750
Region 7-3A 12-13 0.480
Region 8-3A 25-4 0.862
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