Class AAAA: Week 5 Rundown

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Columbus was the only team from Region 1 not in action this past week and gets set for a big region showdown with Carver-Columbus this Friday. Columbus is 1-0 in region action after defeating Westover 46-23. Carver-Columbus, Americus-Sumter and Cairo each improved to 2-0 in conference play after scoring a trio of shutout victories this past weekend (Carver-Columbus 41, Dougherty 0; Cairo 24, Hardaway 0; Americus-Sumter 21, Shaw 0). Also, Westover defeated Northside-Columbus 21-16 to improve to 1-1 in region play and drop the Patriots to 1-2.

Region 2

Howard fell 24-6 to Class AAA Jackson and 4-0 Perry observed its bye in what was a strong Week 5 for the rest of Region 2-AAAA. Mary Persons snapped its streak of eight straight losses to Peach County with a 35-21 victory and Spalding (20-0 over Fayette County) and West Laurens (37-0 over South Effingham) each shutout their Class AAAAA opponents. Also, Upson-Lee defeated Class AAAAA Griffin 21-7. Only Perry and West Laurens have games scheduled this upcoming week, but when the region action gets started the following week, all six of its teams will be carrying winning records.

Region 3

Richmond Academy’s Torri Taylor rushed for five touchdowns and 217 yards off his 15 carries to lead the visiting Muskateers to the program’s first 5-0 start since the 1975 season in a 46-20 win over Midland Valley (SC). Burke County cruised to a 42-13 win over Class AAAAAA Evans and Baldwin suffered a 45-0 loss to Class AAAAAA’s Northside-Warner Robins. Cross Creek’s matchup with Liberty County got rescheduled to Monday, Sept. 24 and Thomson was trounced 42-14 by Greater Atlanta Christian in what marked the 1-3 Bulldogs’ first home game of the season.

Region 4

Region 4 began region play this weekend and the results were four lopsided margins. Eastside scored a 37-0 win over North Clayton on Thursday and Friday night saw Woodward Academy defeat Henry County 52-7, Luella top Druid Hills 25-3 and Salem beat Hampton 32-17.

Region 5

Cartersville held Cherokee without a single yard in the first half and allowed its first touchdown of the entire year in the third quarter of its 28-10 victory on Friday. Chapel Hill (28-7 over Whitewater) and Troup (37-20 over Callaway) picked up solid victories and join Cartersville at 4-0. Sandy Creek used a 48-0 scoring run to sprint past Starr’s Mill 55-21 and improve to 3-1 and Cedartown dominated Region 6-AAAA’s Southeast Whitfield 55-7. Central-Carroll was blown out 45-0 by Class AA Heard County and 1-2 LaGrange had a bye week. Region action will begin this week with Cedartown vs. Cartersville, Central-Carroll vs. LaGrange and undefeated Troup vs. undefeated Chapel Hill, while Sandy Creek rests on the bye.

Region 6

Pickens improved to 4-0 with a 49-6 win over Chamblee, Southeast Whitfield lost its previously-mentioned matchup with Region 5-AAAA’s Cedartown 55-7 and Northwest Whitfield topped Temple 42-14. LaFayette, Heritage-Catoosa, Ridgeland and Gilmer were all four on their bye weeks. Region play starts this Friday, however, with LaFayette vs. Southeast Whitfield, Pickens vs. Gilmer and Ridgeland vs. Heritage-Catoosa while Northwest Whitfield is on its bye.

Region 7

Undefeated Blessed Trinity (4-0) and Flowery Branch (3-0) joined West Hall on the bye this past week, and two teams suffered their first losses of the season; Denmark was outclassed by AAA Dawson County 38-21 and Marist suffered a 17-0 loss to rival and Region 8-AAAA occupant St. Pius. Chestatee defeated Fannin County 45-42 for its first win of the season and White County dropped a 27-20 contest to Class AAA’s North Hall.

Region 8

St. Pius had a signature 17-0 win over Marist and extends its winning streak to four games after dropping its opener to defending state champion Blessed Trinity. Madison County dominated Class AAA East Jackson 55-0 and Stephens County outscored Class AAAAAA Habersham Central 41-28. Oconee County’s offensive woes continued in a 14-0 loss to Class AAAAA Cedar Shoals and North Oconee, which posted a 1-9 record a year ago, improved to 4-1 with a 35-7 win over Franklin County.