In Week 2 of the football season, Class AA brings plenty of entertainment. Below is a look at some of AA’s top games involving top 10 teams.
Opelika, Ala., Bulldogs (0-0) at the No. 3 Callaway Cavaliers (0-0)
When, where: 7 p.m. Friday, Callaway Stadium
2017 records: Opelika went 9-4; Callaway went 11-2.
Last meeting: This is the first meeting between teams.
Maxwell's projection: N/A
Notes: Because this is a game between teams from two different states, Maxwell's projections doesn't have a calculation for it. What we do know is the Bulldogs reached the quarterfinals last year and enter the season ranked No. 6 in AAAAAA — Alabama's second-highest classification — according to the Alabama Sports Writers Association rankings. For the Cavs, this is the first season since 2013 that they've opened the season against an opponent other than LaGrange, but the third consecutive season in which they've played an Alabama school early in the season. They beat Handley (Roanoke) in '16 and '17. Opelika is led by quarterback Cade Blackmon, a Samford commit and Opelika-Auburn News "Super 8 Senior." The Cavs, whom I've picked as a team to watch, will be led by OL and Auburn commit Keiondre Jones, two-way end Nathan Sapp, who is committed to Jacksonville State, and four-star 2020 running back Cartavious Bigsby, who holds 36 offers including Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State.
*Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets (1-0) at the No. 4 Thomasville Bulldogs (1-0)
When, where: 8 p.m. Friday, Veterans Memorial Stadium, Thomasville
Last meeting: Thomasville won 41-7 in 2017.
Maxwell's projection: Thomasville by 13
Notes: Thomasville's victory in last season's matchup was just its second in the past 14 games against its crosstown rival, but it evened the all-time series 25-25. Both teams opened the 2018 season with victories - Thomas County Central 33-7 over Early County, and Thomasville 15-14 over Cairo. New Thomas County Central coach Ashley Henderson has brought a wide-open offense to the traditional veer team, but it was the defense setting the tone last week. The Yellow Jackets scored on an interception return (45 yards by Jatonee Thomas) and a fumble recovery in the end zone and set up another score with an early turnover. The Yellow Jackets had 170 yards of total offense. Thomas County Central is unranked in AAAA. Thomasville scored a school-record 522 points last season but lost its star quarterback to graduation. JT Rice broke Mike Bobo's school single-season passing records in yardage (2,665) and touchdowns (23) in 2017. Freshman Chad Mascoe got the start against Cairo and was 16-of-32 passing for 131 yards and the game-winning two-point conversion with 1:37 remaining. Tan Gelin, the second-leading rusher in 2017 with 771 yards, ran for 187 yards and two TDs in the opener.
*Irwin County Indians (1-0) at the No. 9 Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane (1-0)
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jaycee Stadium, Fitzgerald
Last meeting: Fitzgerald won 31-6 in 2017.
Maxwell's projection: Fitzgerald by 10.
Notes: Fitzgerald is coming off its first losing season (4-6 record) since 1999. The Purple Hurricane lost to five ranked teams and one larger school (Camden County) but managed to rout Irwin County, which went on to reach the Class A public-school championship game. Fitzgerald won its opener 45-7 over Bacon County last week. Martez Hannah scored on a 55-yard run on the final play of the first half for a 45-0 lead. Justin Reliford, a 5-foot-9 dual-threat athlete who is replacing graduated QB James Graham (Georgia Tech), passed for two touchdowns and ran for another. The team doesn't have a major college prospect. Coach Tucker Pruitt calls his team "a bunch of undersized, try-to-play-hard overachievers." Irwin County is the No. 2 team in A-Public and won 11 straight after losing to Fitzgerald last year, beating five ranked teams to finish runners-up to Clinch County. Most of the Indians' best players are back. D.J. Lundy, a 230-pound bruiser, rushed for 152 yards in the opening win over Berrien last week. RB/DB Javon Stanley, a four-year starter, is another versatile preseason all-state player.
No. 10 Rockmart Yellow Jackets (1-0) at the Central-Carrollton Lions (1-0)
When, Where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Roy Richards Memorial Stadium, Carrollton
Last meeting: Central won 14-6 in 2015.
Maxwell's projection: Rockmart by 17
Notes: The Yellow Jackets earned their way into the rankings by beating then-Class AAAA No. 10 Cedartown 20-14 with a dramatic come-from-behind win. Juke Boozer caught a 57-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Bailey with 20 seconds left to bring the score to its final margin. Riding in on that momentum, they should beat the Lions by more than the 17 points Maxwell projects as long as they don't overlook them. The Lions host an AA school for the second consecutive week, but they barely beat lowly South Atlanta of 6-AA by a score of 21-20. While the Yellow Jackets have finished 9-3 in each of Biff Parson's first two seasons, the Lions have gone 3-17 in that same span including 3-7 last year — coach Darius Smiley's first with the team. Their last winning season was 2015, when they went 9-2 in Rico Zackery's final year with the program. Central is a run-oriented team, so its best shot to keep the game close is to control the clock though that still likely wouldn't be enough for a win.
*Courtesy of Georgia High School Football Daily.
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