Calvary Day makes a statement
Private No. 3 Calvary Day is serving notice that it should be in the title contender conversation. The Cavaliers defeated defending champion Prince Avenue Christian to begin the season, and have now improved to 4-0 after an impressive 28-0 win over No. 10 North Cobb Christian (2-2). Sophomore QB Jake Merklinger completed 14 of 18 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns – one to Michael Smith for 34 yards and one to Antonio “A.J.” Butts for 64 yards. Butts added 71 yards rushing and had 12 tackles from his linebacker spot on defense. Merklinger also ran for 31 yards and a touchdown, while freshman RB Donovan Johnson also had a 2-yard touchdown run.
Clinch gets big win
Clinch began the season with two straight losses for the first time since 2009, but went from unranked to No. 10 in the public poll with a 40-14 win over Pelham (2-1), which dropped to No. 6. Clinch County scored 40 consecutive points to take a 40-7 lead after DL Demonte Massey blocked two punts and returned an interception for a touchdown and Tucker Robbins returned an interception for a score. Amazi Williams rushed for 102 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. In 2009, the last season Clinch started the season 0-2, the Panthers went on to win the region championship.
PAC, Irwin win in blowouts
Both of last season’s champs, Prince Avenue Christian and Irwin County, began the season with losses. Both have responded with blowout wins. PAC (3-1) moved to No. 4 in the private poll with a 49-0 drubbing of previously unbeaten Holy Innocents’ (2-1). Sophomore QB Aaron Philo was 18-of-21 passing for 263 yards and five touchdowns. Ethan Christian had 124 yards receiving, and Bailey Stockton had 113. Prince Avenue bounced back from its season opening loss to No. 3 Calvary Day with easy wins over Christian Academy of Knoxville (TN) (59-18) and Providence Christian (69-14). Irwin remained atop the public poll with a 63-0 win over Wilkinson County. QB Cody Soliday threw scoring passes to three receivers and scored on an 18-yard run. The previous week, after losing to Class 2A No. 3 Fitzgerald in its opener, Irwin blasted Class 4A Monroe, 52-26.
ELCA wins, Lincoln County loses in games against larger foes
Private No. 2 Eagle’s Landing Christian (1-2) got its first win of the season, and it was a big one, as the Chargers travelled south to Cordele and beat then-Class 3A No. 10 Crisp County, 21-18. Brandon Hood rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries. ELCA built a 21-3 lead and hung on for the win that knocked Crisp out of the 3A top 10. Meanwhile, Lincoln County (2-1) fell out of the public top 10 after a 20-14 loss to Class 2A Laney (2-1). The Red Devils gave up a touchdown with a little over four minutes left in regulation after Laney went on a 17-play, 74-yard drive. The key play of Laney’s game-winning drive was a 31-yard reception on third-and-30. The loss dropped Lincoln County out of the top 10.
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