Top 10 games of Week 11

Calhoun at Cartersville

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Weinman Stadium, Cartersville

Records, rankings: Calhoun is 8-1 overall, 4-0 in Region 7-5A and No. 6; Cartersville is 8-0, 4-0 and No. 1.

Last meeting: Cartersville won 31-14 in 2020.

Things to know: The winner will be the region champion. The title would be Calhoun’s first since 2018, the last of a state-record 18 consecutive region championships. Cartersville’s streak of eight region titles ended last season. These schools have the most victories of any northwest Georgia programs this century and are among only seven statewide with winning percentages better than .800 in that time. They have been region rivals only twice previously (2000-01 and 1956-57). The teams have played similar schedules, according to the computer Maxwell Ratings, so their average scores are telling. Calhoun’s is 43-19; Cartersville’s is 39-14. Calhoun is balanced and explosive on offense. Christian Lewis has completed 72% of his passes for 1,834 yards and 20 touchdowns with only two interceptions. Cole Speer, who is committed to Georgia, has 21 receptions for 529 yards and seven touchdowns. Caden Williams (867) and Gage Leonard (687) are the leading rushers. Cartersville relies more on the run this season than in most. Amari White has rushed for more than 100 yards three times, including 156 against Blessed Trinity. Cartersville has not lost a regular-season home game since 2011, a streak of 53 games.

Cherokee Bluff at North Hall

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Brickyard, Gainesville

Records, rankings: Cherokee Bluff is 8-0 overall, 4-0 in Region 7-3A and unranked; North Hall is 6-2, 4-0 and unranked.

Last meeting: Cherokee Bluff won 41-24 in 2020.

Things to know: These are the two remaining unbeaten teams in Region 7-3A. A victory would give Cherokee Bluff, a 4-year-old program, its second consecutive region title. If North Hall wins, the Trojans likely would still need to beat third-place Dawson County on Nov. 5 to avoid a three-way tie for first. North Hall is seeking its first region title since 2012. Both teams rely on the running game. Cherokee Bluff is the highest-scoring team in Class 3A (48.1 points per game) and averages 260.8 yards per game on the ground (122.5 passing). Senior Jayquan Smith has rushed for 1,161 yards and 14 touchdowns on 107 carries. Sebastian Irons is 55-of-87 passing for 830 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Bears are allowing just 7.9 points per game and have held six of eight opponents to eight points or less. North Hall is even more run-heavy, averaging 310 yards rushing while attempting just 29 passes for the season. Kevin Rochester is the leader with 1,101 yards and 14 TDs on 130 carries. QB Bradford Puryear has run for 575 yards and is 13-of-29 passing for 231 yards.

Collins Hill at Mill Creek

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Markham Field at Mill Creek Community Stadium, Hochston

Records, rankings: Collins Hill is 9-0 overall, 3-0 in Region 8-7A and No. 1; Mill Creek is 8-0, 2-0 and No. 2.

Last meeting: Collins Hill won 28-17 in 2020.

Things to know: This will be the first regular-season game between No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the highest classification since Brookwood ended No. 1 Parkview’s 46-game winning streak in 2003. The winner will be the region champion. Collins Hill is the defending region champ. Mill Creek last won a region title in 2016. In the 2020 game between these two, Sam Horn was 25-of-36 passing for 338 yards and three touchdowns. Travis Hunter had 14 receptions for 201 yards. Both are seniors now, but Hunter is out with a leg injury. Collins Hill’s defense has been Class 7A’s best. While 31 of 45 teams in the class have allowed 40 points in a game at least once, Collins Hill has allowed 39 points total. Mill Creek has not allowed more than 17 points in any game while playing four teams ranked when the Hawks played them. Mill Creek’s top offensive threat is RB Brandon Journey (665 rushing, 217 receiving), and the best all-around player is WR/DB Caleb Downs (461 all-purpose yards), the team’s only blue-chip recruit.

Douglas County at Rome

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Barron Stadium, Rome

Records, rankings: Douglas County is 7-1 overall, 4-1 in Region 5-6A and unranked; Rome is 6-2, 4-1 and No. 6.

Last meeting: Rome won 16-15 in 2020.

Things to know: The 5-6A region-title race is perhaps the most unsettled of any region in the state, as Douglas County, Rome, Carrollton and South Paulding are tied for first place. Douglas County, seeking its first region title since 2002, has the most difficult remaining schedule (the Tigers play Carrollton next week). Rome most recently won a region title in 2018. Douglas County averages 33.9 points per game, ninth best in Class 6A. Sire Hardaway is 100-of-164 passing for 1,130 yards and nine touchdowns. RB Latrell Murrell has rushed for 826 yards, including 165 with four touchdowns in a 55-42 victory over Dalton last week. Jirah Douglas ran for 144 in that game, giving him 493 for the year. Rome won last year on a 38-yard field goal by Fernando Lopez-Romero in the final minute. The Wolves are averaging 158.6 yards rushing and 228.6 passing. Sophomore QB Reece Fountain, a two-year starter, is 113-of-165 passing for 1,600 yards.

Holy Innocents’ at Wesleyan

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Henderson Stadium, Peachtree Corners

Records, rankings: Holy Innocents’ is 7-1 overall, 2-0 in Region 5-A Public and No. 8; Wesleyan is 6-2, 2-0 and No. 6.

Last meeting: Wesleyan won 20-13 in 2020.

Things to know: These are the two unbeaten teams in 5-A Private play. A victory would give Holy Innocents’ its second region title in three years and third overall. If Wesleyan wins, it still would need to beat Mount Vernon next week to avoid a three-way tie for first. Both teams rank among the top 10 in Class A Private in points scored and points allowed. Wesleyan averages 30.5 and gives up 10.4, while Holy Innocents’ scores 42.0 and gives up 13.5. The Holy Innocents’ defense put on a show in a 56-7 victory over Mount Vernon last week, intercepting seven passes and returning four for touchdowns (Joey Holliday, Drew Bomar, Zach Jackson and Wyatt Lybrook). Holy Innocents’ has rushed for 2,598 yards this season while attempting just 26 passes. Nehemiah High (74 carries, 483 yards) and Bomar (42-456) lead four players with at least 40 carries and 320 yards. Wesleyan is the passing team, averaging 208 yards through the air and 116 rushing. The offensive leaders are Jett Miller (1,570 yards passing), Will Tucker (501 rushing) and Thomas Cook (374 receiving).

North Cobb at Marietta

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Northcutt Stadium, Marietta

Records, rankings: North Cobb is 7-1 overall, 3-0 in Region 3-7A and No. 3; Marietta is 5-3, 2-1 and unranked.

Last meeting: North Cobb won 28-26 in 2020.

Things to know: First-place North Cobb can clinch its second consecutive region title with a victory this week. Marietta, tied with Walton for second place, can win the region by winning its final two games (the Blue Devils play Walton on Nov. 5). The players to watch are the teams’ dual-threat quarterbacks, who accounted for seven of the eight touchdowns in last year’s game. North Cobb’s Malachi Singleton, a four-star junior, is 119-of-167 passing for 1,732 yards and 16 touchdowns and has rushed for a team-high 617 yards and 18 TDs. Marietta’s Tyler Hughes (committed to Southern) is 148-of-228 passing for 2,378 yards and 30 touchdowns and has run for a team-leading 431 yards and six TDs. But they aren’t the only big-name players. North Cobb has five in the consensus top 50 in Georgia – CB Marquis Groves-Killebrew (No. 11, Georgia), WR DeNylon Morrissette (No. 21, Georgia), WR Sam Mbake (No. 27), DE/LB Joshua Josephs (No. 48) and DB Andre Stewart (No. 50, Kentucky). Marietta LB Daniel Martin is the No. 19 senior in Georgia and the No. 23 prospect at his position nationally.

North Oconee at Jefferson

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, Jefferson

Records, rankings: North Oconee is 6-3 overall, 5-0 in Region 8-4A and No. 9; Jefferson is 8-0, 4-0 and No. 1.

Last meeting: Jefferson won 44-0 in 2017.

Things to know: The winner will be the region champion. Jefferson has won consecutive region titles, 15 straight region games and 16 straight home games. The 2020 game between these two was canceled because of COVID. This season, Jefferson ranks fourth in Class 4A scoring (39.4 ppg) and second in points allowed (8.0). North Oconee’s average score is 31-18 against a slightly tougher schedule, according to the Maxwell Ratings. Jefferson is averaging 337 yards rushing per game at 7.9 yards per carry while completing only nine passes. Jefferson preseason all-state players RB/LB Sammy Brown (753 yards rushing, 13.0 ypc) and QB/DB Malaki Starks missed last week’s game. Starks, a Georgia commit, will return, but Brown remains out. North Oconee started 1-3 with losses to three ranked teams. Max Wilson has been hot during the five-game winning streak, going 18-of-18 passing vs. Chestatee and 13-of-14 vs. Cedar Shoals. Khalil Barnes has two 100-yard receiving games. Dominic Elder has rushed for 885 yards. North Oconee last won a region title in 2012.

Thomas Co. Central at Bainbridge

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Centennial Field, Bainbridge

Records, rankings: Thomas County Central is 5-3 overall, 2-1 in Region 1-4A and unranked; Bainbridge is 5-3, 3-0 and unranked.

Last meeting: Bainbridge won 37-14 in 2020.

Things to know: Bainbridge can clinch the region title with a victory. A Thomas County Central victory would force a three-way knot of one-loss teams that would include tonight’s Cairo-Dougherty winner. Thomas Central hasn’t been competitive with Bainbridge in the past four meetings, but this is probably the best Yellow Jacket team since the 2016 region champions. One victory would clinch the Jackets’ first winning season since ‘16. Thomas Central is led by Persean Taylor (four 100-yard rushing games) and WR/DB Adam Hopkins (526 all-purpose yards, four-star junior recruit). Bainbridge, the defending region champion, has won four straight games after a 1-3 start with losses to top-10 teams Coffee, Thomasville and Ware County. Bainbridge is led by LB Dontavious Broadnax (seven tackles for losses, three forced fumbles) and cousins Deyon Bouie, a receiver, and Zion Bouie, a running back. The Bouies are two-way players, each with a touchdown returning a kick. Deyon is committed to Texas A&M.

Villa Rica at New Manchester

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, New Manchester High, Douglasville

Records, rankings: Villa Rica is 5-2 overall, 3-0 in Region 6-5A and unranked; New Manchester is 4-3, 3-0 and unranked.

Last meeting: New Manchester won 28-21 in 2015.

Things to know: This game will decide the region championship. Villa Rica, under new coach Tim Barron, can clinch its first winning season since 2011 and first region title since 1998. Barron came to Villa Rica after 19 seasons at Heard County, where he won seven region titles and the 2018 Class 2A title. The computer Maxwell Ratings view Villa Rica as the fourth-most improved Class 5A program with a winning record. Villa Rica averages 260 yards rushing and 81 passing per game. Leading rushers Ty McKey (713 yards) and T.J. Harvison (531) each have multiple 100-yard rushing games. The 2020 game between these two was canceled because of COVID and cost Villa Rica a shot at a playoff berth. New Manchester won its first region title in history last season (school opened in 2011) and avenged its only region loss with a victory over Lithia Springs this year. New Manchester has a balanced offense led by Christopher Morgan (471 yards rushing, 115 against Carrollton) and Yasin Muhammad (13 catches for 189 yards last week against North Springs). QB Rico Jones threw for a career-high 249 yards last week.

Warner Robins at Coffee

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jardine Stadium, Douglas