Camden County at Marietta
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Northcutt Stadium, Marietta
Records, rankings: Camden County is 3-0 and unranked in Class 7A; Marietta is 1-1 and No. 9 in 7A.
Last meeting: Camden County won 24-21 in 2020.
Things to know: Jeff Herron, who turned Camden County into a statewide power during his first tenure at the school, has brought back the running game and the winning ways in the first season of his return to Kingsland. The Wildcats averaged 11 wins per season and won three state titles under Herron from 2000 to 2012. They’ve won 6.3 per season since he left. Now they’re 3-0 behind a running game that’s putting up 312.7 yards per game (Camden has attempted just 11 passes). Jamie Felix, an uncommitted four-star prospect, leads with 304 rushing yards, but Jacob Lindsey, Deonte Cole and J’Caidyn Albertie all have more than 100. Marietta returns 20 starters from a team that slumped to 3-8 after suffering heavy graduation losses from its 2019 state championship team. Most notable among the returnees are QB Tyler Hughes and LB Daniel Martin. Hughes (committed to Southern) is 43-of-70 passing for 652 yards and eight touchdowns and is the team’s leading rusher with 91 yards. Martin, a four-star linebacker prospect, is uncommitted but reportedly leaning toward Vanderbilt. Cameron Overton, Christian Mathis and Kamryn Perry lead a talented group of receivers.
Collins Hill at Rome
When, where: 8 p.m. Friday, Barron Stadium, Rome
Records, rankings: Collins Hill is 3-0 and No. 1 in Class 7A; Rome is 2-0 and No. 4 in 6A.
Last meeting: Collins Hill won 28-14 in 2020.
Things to know: Collins Hill was forced to prove it could run the ball last week against Greenville Christian of Mississippi and responded with a 246-yard effort led by Spenser Anderson’s 116 yards on 12 carries. Sam Horn was just 9-of-21 passing for 54 yards and two interceptions. Travis Hunter had four receptions for 28 yards. Collins Hill still won 37-22. Horn had 402 yards passing and Hunter 232 receiving the game prior against Brookwood. Rome won state titles in 2016 and 2017, but the past two seasons have ended in the second round. This season, Rome has beaten then-No. 10 Rockmart of 3A and then-No. 10 Cherokee of 7A in two starts. Rome allowed 132 total yards to Cherokee and 130 to Rockmart. Stephiylan Green had two tackles for losses in each game. Sophomore QB Reece Fountain is 27-of-42 passing for 339 yards, and junior Martel Hight has 257 yards from scrimmage on 12 touches, one a 72-yard TD reception.
Colquitt County at Valdosta
When, where: 8 p.m. Friday, Cleveland Field at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, Valdosta
Records, rankings: Colquitt County is 2-1 and No. 6 in Class 7A; Valdosta is 1-2 and No. 10 in 6A.
Last meeting: Colquitt County won 24-10 in 2020.
Things to know: The 2020 game was spiced by the return of Valdosta coach Rush Propst to Colquitt County. Propst is gone, and Valdosta is ineligible for the playoffs because of recruiting violations. Valdosta QB Amari Jones and WR Tajh Sanders, ruled ineligible in the scandal, now play for Florida teams. But the cupboard isn’t bare, just needing experience under new coach Shelton Felton. New QB Joseph Garnder has been erratic so far (three touchdowns, three interceptions). Chris Wolfe has four receptions for 193 yards. LB Jacquez McGowan has eight tackles for losses. He made preseason all-state. Colquitt County is breaking in youngsters on offense as QB Neko Fann and leading receiver Ny Carr are sophomores. RB Charlie Pace, a junior, has 490 yards from scrimmage. The Packers have put up decent points in beating Marietta 28-25, losing to Westlake 31-24 and beating Cedar Grove 28-19. Valdosta will be Colquitt’s fourth straight top-10 opponent.
Creekside at Cartersville
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Weinman Stadium, Cartersville
Records, rankings: Creekside is 2-0 and No. 5 in Class 5A; Cartersville is 2-0 and No. 2 in 5A.
Last meeting: Cartersville won 21-18 in 2020.
Things to know: In the 2020 game between these two, Creekside had the ball on Cartersville’s 13-yard line for the last play but was sacked. Creekside’s stock has risen more sharply than any good team in the state this season after beating defending Class 7A champion Grayson in the opener and then-No. 3 Westlake of Class 6A last week. The Seminoles’ No. 2 ranking is their highest since their 2013 state championship. Creekside is averaging barely 220 yards per game against stout defenses. The quarterback, Nyqua Lett, is a sophomore. Creekside is more ferocious on defense. DE/OLB Javeon White has five sacks and five other tackles for losses. Dainsus Miller and Ricky McCrary are Division I recruits in the secondary. Cartersville had nine first-team all-region players last season. All graduated. But the Purple Hurricanes have a streak of nine 11-win seasons, and they showed their mettle in their last game, a 38-31 victory over West Forsyth, a 2020 Class 7A quarterfinalist. New starting QB Jake Parker passed for 246 yards and three touchdowns. Brynen Wilkins had 102 receiving yards.
Fitzgerald at Dodge County
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, Eastman
Records, rankings: Fitzgerald is 2-0 and No. 3 in Class 2A; Dodge County is 3-0 and No. 8 in 2A.
Last meeting: Fitzgerald won 30-27 in 2019.
Things to know: The 2020 game between these two was canceled, but the 2019 meeting was among the best in series history as Fitzgerald’s Alex Martinez kicked a 49-yard field goal as time expired to break a 27-27 tie. This is the first game between the two when both were ranked since 2007. The Maxwell Ratings project both teams to win their regions. Fitzgerald has victories over Irwin County in overtime and Turner County. Fitzgerald’s total yards for and against are about even, but the defense has forced three turnovers in each game. DeNorris Goodwin rushed for 107 yards against Turner last week. Christian Solomon rushed for 80. Fitzgerald has completed only four of 15 passes. Dodge County’s offense is averaging 32 points with a freshman quarterback. Duke Johnson is 27-of-44 passing for 364 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Demron Gordon has rushed for 256 yards.
Lowndes at Lee County
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Trojan Stadium, Leesburg
Records, rankings: Lowndes is 2-1 and No. 7 in Class 7A; Lee County is 3-0 and No. 2 in 6A.
Last meeting: Lowndes won 38-13 in 2020.
Things to know: These teams, along with Colquitt County, have been the top south Georgia’s programs in the higher classifications over the past five years. From 2016 to 2020, Lowndes went 55-11 with a state runner-up finish and two semifinal appearances. Lee County was 60-8 with two state titles and a runner-up finish. Lowndes QB Jacurri Brown, a four-star prospect committed to Miami, is a fourth-year starter who was a 1,000-yard rusher and passer each of the past two seasons. He has thrown for 523 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for a team-high 277 yards and three TDs this year. Jacarre Fleming has 204 yards rushing, and Khris Thomas has 281 yards receiving. Lee County has five players among the top 70 in the 247Sports Composite ranking of Georgia seniors. They include LB Jaron Willis (No. 16, committed to Georgia Tech), OT Qae’shon Sapp (No. 31, Florida State), TE Tyrus Washington (No. 57, Arkansas), S Quavian Carter (No. 61, Michigan State), and S Malcolm Jones (No. 70, Virginia Tech). The Trojans have posted two consecutive shutouts since surviving Carver of Columbus 25-22 in the opener.
Milton at St. Joseph’s Prep (Pa.)
When, where: Noon Saturday, Cardinal O’Hara High School, Springfield, Pa.
Records, rankings: Milton is 2-1 and No. 5 in Class 7A: St. Joseph’s is 1-0 and No. 1 overall in Pennsylvania (MaxPreps).
Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.
Things to know: St. Joseph’s, Pennsylvania’s three-time Class 6A champion, is ranked No. 12 in USA Today and No. 15 by MaxPreps. The team is on an 18-game winning streak. St. Joseph’s played in Georgia in 2019 and lost to eventual Class 7A champion Marietta 21-17. St. Joseph’s has two top-300 national junior recruits, Josiah Trotter and James Heard, who are linebackers. Keenan Nelson, a safety, is committed to South Carolina. But Milton has more major Division I recruits. Devin Farrell (committed to Virginia Tech) is coming off his best game, a 17-of-23 passing effort for 244 yards and four touchdowns. Also committed to D-I programs are linemen Brandon Best (Georgia Tech) and Mo Clipper (Tennessee) and tight end Jack Nickel (Michigan State). Milton’s top player, DL Lebbeus Overton, has not played this season because of injury. He’ll probably suit up but remains questionable. His absence was conspicuous in Milton’s loss to North Cobb, which ran for more than 300 yards.
Northside (W.R.) at Warner Robins
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, McConnell-Talbert Stadium, Warner Robins
Records, rankings: Northside is 3-0 and No. 9 in Class 6A; Warner Robins is 2-0 and No. 1 in 5A.
Last meeting: Warner Robins won 47-0 in 2020.
Things to know: Warner Robins leads the series against its crosstown rival 38-25 and has won the past four meetings. The Demons’ 47-point victory last year was their largest ever against Northside. Warner Robins won a state title last season after losing in the finals the previous three years. The Demons have had little trouble this season in wins over Valdosta (48-20) and Archer (50-26). They have been balanced offensively, averaged 284 yards passing and 266 rushing. Christon Lane has passed for 436 yards and four touchdowns, and Malcolm Brown has rushed for 340 yards and five TDs. Daveon Walker, a preseason all-state pick, has 181 receiving yards on 10 catches. Northside, which got a forfeit victory against Howard last week, is 3-0 for the first time since 2016. Northside is similarly balanced on offense, averaging 177 yards rushing and 173.5 passing in the two games they’ve played. Cameran Brown has passed for 213 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for a team-leading 121 yards. Centavious Lowe has 171 receiving yards on seven catches.
Sprayberry at Kennesaw Mountain
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Cobb EMC Mustang Stadium, Kennesaw
Records, rankings: Sprayberry is 1-1 overall, 1-0 in Region 6-6A and unranked; Kennesaw Mountain is 3-0, 1-0 and unranked.
Last meeting: Sprayberry won 51-20 in 2020.
Things to know: The winner of this game will be tied with the Lassiter-Pope winner for first place in 6-6A in what should be a wide-open playoff race after losses by preseason favorites Allatoona and Kell in region openers last week. It was Kennesaw Mountain that knocked off Allatoona 22-21, scoring on a 56-yard pass from Cayman Prangley to Savion Riley with about four minutes left to improve to 3-0 for the first time in school history. Riley (committed to Duke) has 13 of the team’s 19 receptions this season. WR Jailen Taylor and OL Conner Lew were preseason all-state selections. The Mustangs made their first-ever playoff appearance last season. Sprayberry, the region’s third-place team the past two seasons, played its first game last week after having to cancel the first two (one was ruled a forfeit to Collins Hill). The Yellow Jackets defeated Wheeler 33-0 behind Isaiah Abbey’s 270 yards and four touchdowns rushing. Abbey (committed to Harvard) ran for 833 yards last season in a backfield that included honorable mention all-state pick Damarion Owens.
Starr’s Mill at Sandy Creek
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Battlefield, Tyrone
Records, rankings: Starr’s Mill is 2-1 and unranked in Class 5A; Sandy Creek is 2-0 and No. 5 in 3A.
Last meeting: Starr’s Mill won 10-7 in 2020.
Things to know: Sandy Creek leads the series against its Fayette County rival 5-4 and had won five of six meetings until last season. Sandy Creek finished 2-4 in a COVID-disrupted 2020 season and missed the playoffs for just the second time in 19 years. The Patriots are led by junior QB Geimere Latimer, who has passed for 460 yards and rushed for 80 in victories over Northgate (24-3) and Class 7A Newnan (35-34). He threw two TD passes in the final six minutes last week, including a 16-yarder to Miles Thornton with 20 seconds remaining to beat Newnan. Starr’s Mill had worked its way up to No. 7 in the Class 5A rankings until dropping out after a surprising loss to 24-point underdog Union Grove last week. Still, the Panthers remain one of the favorites, along with Griffin, to win the 2-5A championship, which would be their sixth straight region title. The Panthers rely almost exclusively on the run and are led by Brandon Mathis, the only senior among the top rushers. Mathis had 165 of Starr’s Mill’s 376 rushing yards in a 28-14 victory over Newnan in the opener.
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