10. Fitzgerald (5-0) @ Worth County (6-0) Friday 7:30 p.m.
In the four straight years these two teams have met, Fitzgerald has won each matchup with little resistance. But this is easily the best Worth County iteration in years. Over the past four seasons, Worth County has averaged three wins a season, and this year seems to have caught lightning in a bottle. At 6-0, the Rams’ offense has been legit and that’s no exaggeration, they’re averaging nearly 40 points per game and nearly 50 points per game in their last four games. While Fitzgerald is as dominant as ever and the stats and numbers speak for themselves, Worth County will have to take itself seriously this season.
9. Cartersville (5-1) @ Cass (3-3) Friday 7:30 p.m.
Cartersville snapped its 62-game winning streak against opponents from the region after losing to Calhoun last week. The Hurricanes still scored 48 points in that game and are averaging 46 points in their last three games, and after two consecutive shutouts they gave up 50 points to Calhoun. Cass will attempt to expose the same flaw Calhoun did in defending Cartersville. One thing Cass has been able to do in the last two weeks is score points. The Colonels have scored 112 points in their last two games and 170 in their last three wins. In a hostile environment on the road and after a big loss, the Hurricanes could be on alert for Cass’s white-hot offense.
8. Trinity Christian (4-2) @ Whitewater (5-1) Friday 7:30pm
Trinity Christian has won four straight after a rocky 0-2 start to the season. Three of the four games during this streak have been against regional opponents, which is a good sign for the Lions as this is their first year in 4A moving from A-Private. The Lions may be coming off one of the strangest games in which they defeated Starr’s Mill with a final score of 3-0. Whitewater’s last outing was a complete 180 by Trinity Christian, the Wildcats dropped 50 points against regional opponent Fayette County and have averaged 36 points per game. Whitewater is 2-1 in regional play so far, while Trinity Christian is 3-0, with a tough region that includes Troup County and Starr’s Mill. Every loss matters, so expect a fight. of dogs in this confrontation.
7. Northside (4-2) @Houston County (5-1) Thursday 7:30 p.m.
Northside come into this matchup having won their last three games and four of their last five. His only loss came against Warner Robins in overtime. The Eagles won their first regional matchup last week against Tift County and now look to go 2-0. Houston County comes into this matchup off the back of its first loss of the season to Lee County, which was also the region’s first game. Houston County was limited to just 21 points after averaging 50 in its first five games. The Bears will need to get their offensive spark back if they hope not to drop to 0-2 in the region. That spark starts with key playmakers in Antwann Hill Jr., Ryan Taleb and Ricky Johnson.
6. Kennesaw Mountain (5-0) @ Osborne (5-0) Friday 7:30 p.m.
Based on last year’s record, many people wouldn’t have predicted that Osborne would be undefeated at this point in the season. The Cardinals were 1-4 at this point in the season last year and didn’t win a game afterward. Now, they are discreet, one of the most complete and competitive teams in the state. They have scored 251 points on the season and have only given up 42 points. No opponent has scored more than 14 points. Osborne wins 46-7, 42-13, 55-0, 70-8 and 38-14, pure dominance. Kennesaw Mountain will seek to put out the flame that Osborne has started. The Mustangs are playing as well as they did last year, while every game hasn’t been a blowout, they’ve won in multiple different ways, which is important. They have shown that they can play from behind, play in a penalty shootout, win low-scoring games based on defensive play, and also beat teams from time to time. This game is very important, especially in a region with North Cobb and Walton in sight.
5. Prince Avenue Christian (5-0) @ Baylor (6-0) Friday 12 p.m.
Prince Avenue will travel to Chattanooga, Tennessee to take on undefeated Baylor. Aaron Philo and the Wolverines’ high passing attack will look to remain undefeated in Tennessee. Prince Avenue is off to another great start to the season and to this point has yet to finish a game winning by sub-double figures. Baylor is having one of its best starts to the season, after beating one of the best teams in the state of Tennessee last week in McCallie, Baylor is now 5-0 for the fourth time in the last six seasons.
Both teams are currently 1-0 against out-of-state opponents this season, for whom it will be interesting to see the outcome of this high-profile matchup.
4. Lee County (5-1) @ Veterans (4-2) Friday 7:30 pm
Lee County will travel to the Veterans to play in the region’s second matchup for both teams. Lee County is coming off consecutive 50-point performances against Lake Gibson and Houston County. Veterans, on the other hand, are coming off their first loss in the region in which they gave up 48 points to Thomas County Central. Outside of that game, the Warhawks have shown a huge improvement this year over last year, already winning two more games than last year. The veterans will look to slow down Lee County’s high-powered offense and not drop to 0-2 in the region.
3. East Coweta (4-2) @ Carrollton (6-0) Friday 7:30 p.m.
This game will showcase two of the top-tier offenses Georgia has to offer, led by two of the best underclass quarterbacks. Christian Langford is under center for East Coweta and has been phenomenal in his second season. With more than 1,400 passing yards and 19 touchdowns, he leads an offense that is averaging 35 points per game and has beaten Lowndes and Sandy Creek. On the other hand, Carrollton’s offense is led by one of the best rookie quarterbacks in the Nation in Julian Lewis. Lewis has thrown for 1,600 yards and 23 touchdowns and the Trojans are averaging 46 points per game. This will be an offensive masterclass from both teams, but Carrollton’s defense is legit and they’re also holding opponents to 10 points a game with four games of keeping opponents in single digits.
2. Valdosta (6-0) @ Lowndes (3-2) Friday 8pm
Valdosta and Lowndes will square off in a highly anticipated regional game. The past five years, Lowndes has dominated this matchup, including multiple 40-plus blowouts. But this is a year where the outcome is by no means set in stone. This year Valdosta is one of the best teams in the state, and that’s not hyperbole. In six games, the Wildcats scored 221 points and allowed just 29 points, only one opponent scoring in double figures (14). Lowndes is coming off a big win against Grayson in his last outing, but he will need to prepare for this battle that is sure to be one of the best games of the week.
1.North Cobb (3-2) @ Walton (4-1) Friday 7:30 p.m.
Walton will host North Cobb in the first regional matchup for both teams this season. Both teams are coming off wild performances in their recent outings. Walton won his fourth straight game in an overtime triple shootout against North Paulding. North Cobb is coming off a bye week, but last week he defeated a Top 25 opponent in Milton. This will be a great test, first because North Cobb has yet to allow an opponent to score more than 21 points and Walton is one of the highest scoring teams coming off their first 50-point performance. This is also the first regional matchup for both teams, so it should definitely be a good one.