As the Class 3A high school football season nears the mid-point, it’s hard to decide which teams should be considered as front-runners.
There were two top-10 losses in Week 5, but the rest of the ranked teams played to form.
First, the bad.
No. 2 Jefferson lost to Class 4A No. 5 North Oconee 35-0. The Dragons (3-2) have victories against Jackson County (38-3), Clarke Central (42-14) and Stephens County (45-28). Jefferson lost its opener to Marist (23-7).
Calhoun, ranked No. 10 with a 1-3 record, lost to Cambridge 31-19 and is hanging onto the No. 10 spot in the poll by its fingertips. The Yellow Jackets opened with a 17-10 loss to Creekview before defeating Westminster 28-20. A predictable loss to Class 4A No. 2 Cartersville (35-13) on Sept. 6 preceded last week’s loss to Cambridge.
The good?
For No. 3 Monroe Area, senior quarterback Forrest Ross provided a lot of it. He was 9-of-18 passing for 197 yards and two touchdowns – one to Kenzi Battle and one to Jitt Carr – in the Purple Hurricane’s 14-10 victory against Walnut Grove.
Peach County climbed two spots to No. 2 during its bye week, and the Trojans can prove they deserve the respect when they host Class 5A Northside-Warner Robins on Friday. Peach County has beaten Northeast-Macon (40-21), Berkmar (42-7) and Crisp County (42-7). Its loss came against Perry ( 49-39).
Top-ranked Sandy Creek had no issues with Upson-Lee. Sophomore quarterback Caleb Hill was 13-of-20 passing for 196 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Amari Latimer led the run game with nine carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns.
Then-No. 6 Northwest Whitfield climbed one spot and stayed perfect (4-0) by defeating Southeast Whitfield 43-7. Cherokee Bluff’s 42-0 victory against Banks County lifted the Bears from No. 7 to No. 6. Then-No. 9 LaGrange had little trouble moving past Fayette County 42-3 and climbed one spot in the poll.
Cairo, previously unranked, defeated Cook 27-10 to move into the top 10 at No. 9. Bryian Duncan Jr. had 17 carries for 224 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Syrupmakers. Cairo opens Region 1 play against Bainbridge on Sept. 27.
Class 3A results, rankings
1. (1) Sandy Creek (4-0) defeated Upson-Lee 31-0.
2. (4) Peach County (3-1) did not play.
3. (5) Monroe Area (3-0) defeated Walnut Grove 14-10.
4. (2) Jefferson (3-2) lost to Class 4A No. 5 North Oconee 35-0.
5. (6) Northwest Whitfield (4-0) defeated Southwest Whitfield 43-7.
6. (7) Cherokee Bluff (5-0) defeated Banks County 42-0.
7. (8) Douglass (2-2) did not play.
8. (9) LaGrange (3-2) defeated Fayette County 42-3.
9. (NR) Cairo (2-2) defeated Cook 27-10.
10. (10) Calhoun (1-3) lost to Cambridge 31-19.
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