Here’s a look at a few of the best games of Week 3:
No. 3 Private Fellowship Christian (1-0) at No. 1 Private Trinity Christian (2-0)
(Preview courtesy of Georgia High School Football Daily.) Trinity Christian led 21-0 in the first quarter and 41-13 in the third and held on to win last year’s playoff matchup, 41-27, the first-ever meeting between the programs. David Dallas threw three touchdown passes, and Tyson Wall ran for three scores for the Lions. Both are back. Dallas was a preseason all-state selection in 2021 along with his brother, Josh, a wide receiver. David Dallas is 30-of-35 passing for 478 yards and nine touchdowns in two lopsided victories this season. LB Christian Hanson and DB Aaron Gates also made the preseason all-state team. Tim McFarlin, who led Blessed Trinity to three state titles over the past four seasons, takes over as Fellowship’s coach. His first order of business has been finding a replacement for all-state RB Murphy Reeves, who rushed for 1,860 yards last year and 5,213 in his four-year career. Senior Josh Cole stepped up in the Paladins’ 31-21 season-opening victory over Christian Heritage, running for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. Junior QB Caleb McMickle was 10-of-15 passing for 125 yards and a touchdown.
No. 6 Private Whitefield Academy (2-0) at No. 8 Private North Cobb Christian (2-0)
Whitefield is coming off of a 14-13 win over Darlington. Caleb Lavalle scored on a 42-yard run with 3:59 left to finish off a 96-yard drive. Lavalle scored Whitefield’s other touchdown on a 5-yard run just before halftime. Wolfpack head coach Coleman Joiner calls the junior RB/LB the best player in Class A private. North Cobb Christian beat Hebron Christian, 24-14, last week. Jadin Coates rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, and NCC overcame Hebron’s Jack Luttrell, who returned the opening kickoff 99 yards and scored again on a 76-yard run. The series between NCC and Whitefield is tied, 1-1, with the Eagles winning the last meeting between, 30-19, last season.
No. 1 Public Irwin County (0-1) vs. Class 4A Monroe (1-1)
The defending state champions lost their opener to Class 2A No. 3 Fitzgerald 18-15. Irwin County outgained Fitzgerald 324-124 but surrendered a 91-yard drive in the fourth quarter that forced overtime. QB Cody Soliday was 9-of-14 passing for 137 yards. Freshman RB Shane Marshall ran for 76 yards on 11 carries. Monroe has been involved to two blowouts this season: a 42-6 loss to Appling County in Week 1 and a 36-0 win over Shaw last week. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
No. 7 Private Manchester (1-0) at Class 2A Heard County (2-0)
Manchester defeated Class 2A Haralson County, 18-15, in its season opener. Tyquavious Hamp returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown in the first half, and Tre Dunlop scored the game-winning TD in the third quarter. Manchester held Haralson County to minus-74 total yards in the second half and finished the game with sacks by Kejuanee Terry and Grant Brown. Heard County, the 2018 Class 2A state champions, is 2-0 under new head coach Shane Lasseter. The Braves lead the series 11-7 and have won the last seven in a row and 11 of the last 12. Heard County won last season, 35-20.
Other key matchups:
No. 10 Private Athens Academy (1-1) vs. (South Carolina Independent Schools Association) Augusta Christian (1-0)
No. 4 Private Calvary Day (2-0) vs. (Georgia Independent Schools Association) Frederica Academy (1-0)
No. 9 Public Wilcox County (0-1) vs. Schley County (1-0)
No. 10 Public Lincoln County (1-0) vs. Class 2A Westside-Augusta (1-0)
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