Before we get into the top games of the final week of the regular season, an exodus of private schools could be starting. Georgia High School Football Daily is reporting that six Class A Private schools announced they are leaving the GHSA to rejoin the Georgia Independent School Association while suggesting others could follow.
The six schools are First Presbyterian, Mount de Sales, Stratford Academy and Tattnall Square of Macon, Deerfield-Windsor of Albany and Strong Rock Christian of Locust Grove. All are members of GHSA’s Region 1-A Private. The move will be effective in 2022-23. While the first five schools spent several years in the GISA before making the jump to the GHSA, Strong Rock spent just two seasons in the GISA before joining the GHSA in 2010.
“The Region 1-A private schools made this decision due to the changing landscape of the GHSA and in hopes of providing new opportunities for like-minded private schools across the state,” the six schools stated in a joint release.
We will check with more coaches next week to get their thoughts on the issue.
Top games of Week 12
(Preview courtesy of Georgia High School Football Daily)
Public No. 8 Emanuel County Institute at Public No. 4 Metter ECI is 8-1, 6-0 in Region 3-A. Metter is 9-0, 6-0. Metter is chasing its third consecutive region title, which would be a school record. ECI is trying to win its first since 2017. Metter and ECI are run-the-ball/stop-the-run teams. Metter averages 370 yards rushing per game. Josh Kelly has run for 1,077 yards, and Danny Cheley (646 yards) and Antwan Coney (576) each average more than 10 yards per carry and have eight touchdowns apiece behind an offensive line with three three-year starters. Trey Hall is 24-of-45 passing for 556 yards and no interceptions. ECI is a wing-T team with sold backs in P.J. Farnum (915 yards rushing, nine touchdowns) and D.J. Jones (621 yards, 12 touchdowns), but QB Bryce Kearson is more dynamic and essential than suggested by his numbers (570 passing, 250 rushing). Metter won the last meeting 44-6 in 2020. The teams first played in 1923. ECI leads the series, 41-40-1.
Public No. 3 Macon County at Public No. 7 Chattahoochee County
Macon County is 8-0, 6-0 in Region 5. Chattahoochee County is 8-1, 5-1. Macon County is going after its first undefeated regular season since 1996 when the Bulldogs went 15-0 and won their first of two state titles in the program’s 61-year history. A win would give Macon County its second consecutive region title. The Bulldogs have dominated their opponents this season, outscoring them 341-85 with no team coming within three touchdowns of them. Junior RB Marlon Mitchell has rushed for 1,140 yards and 14 touchdowns. Senior QB Landon Austin has thrown for 1,146 yards and 17 touchdowns with only 3 interceptions. Senior WR Marcus Sanders has 21 catches for 556 yards and 11 touchdowns. ChattCo has been nearly as dominant as the Bulldogs. The Panthers have outscored their opponents 331-46 with only two teams scoring in double digits – Manchester in a 20-10 win and No. 5 Schley County in ChattCo’s only loss of the season, 20-19. A win by the Panthers would force a three-way tie for the top spot in the region as Schley will most likely finish 6-1 as well in the league. The teams have split four meetings with Macon County winning the game between the two, 19-12 last season.
Private No. 1 Trinity Christian vs. Private No. 8 Pacelli
Trinity is 9-0, 2-0 in Region 4. St. Anne-Pacelli is 7-1, 2-0. Trinity is attempting to win the region title and advance to the state finals for the second consecutive season. Last year the Lions lost in the title game to Prince Avenue Christian. Trinity has been as dominant as any team in any classification outscoring opponents 472-75. The closest game thus far was a 34-3 win over perennial title contender Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy. The Lions are led by senior twins David and Joshua Dallas. QB David, a Western Michigan commit, has completed 77 percent of his passes this season throwing for 2,268 yards and 29 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions. His top target is Joshua, a Liberty commit, who has caught 33 passes for 608 yards and 8 touchdowns. Senior RB Dominick Cosper, a transfer who played at McIntosh last season, has rushed for 967 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also has 17 catches for 324 yards and 4 touchdowns. Senior LB Christian Hanson leads the team with 68 tackles on defense, followed by sophomore DL Cameron Matthews (51) and junior LB Ryan Earl (45). Pacelli has won its most regular season games since the Vikings finished 9-1 in 2007. A win over Trinity would give Pacelli its first region crown since 2004. Senior QB Caleb Perry leads the Vikings in passing (822 yards, 6 touchdowns, 3 interceptions) and rushing (75 carries, 461 yards, 9 touchdowns). Defensively, the Vikings have smothered all of their opponents except for one, ELCA, which handed them their only loss of the season, 41-0, on October 15. Other than that Pacelli has given up just 4 touchdowns. Seven defenders have at least 30 tackles, led by junior LB John Thornton II (59) and senior DB Quay Menefee (53). Others include Perry, who has 44 stops as a DB, senior LB Johnny Davis (44), junior DE Jaquez Johnson (42), sophomore LB Walker Hilton (37) and senior DE Solomon Smith (36).
Other games of note:
Private No. 3 Prince Avenue Christian at Athens Christian
Private No. 4 Fellowship Christian at Whitefield Academy
Private No. 7 Wesleyan at Mount Vernon Presbyterian
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