No shortage of action early on

If you envisioned having to wait until mid season for hearty Class AA football action, think again.

Already, by just the season’s second game for most teams and third for some, many things are coming sharply into focus. Here’s some of what we learned Friday:

Kyle Scales can run: The Greater Atlanta Christian running back rushed for four touchdowns and 251 yards on 29 carries in the Spartans’ 31-21 win at Apalachee. He started with a 63-yard scoring run and finished with a 20-yarder with 3:20 remaining.

Healed from last season’s knee injury, the senior had 128 yards and a touchdown in the Region 6-AA Spartans’ season-opening 34-26 win over Stone Mountain and 73 yards and two scores in their 31-8 victory over Savannah. Already, he’s become one of the state’s biggest game changers, now with 452 yards and seven touchdowns as the No. 6 Spartans (3-0) prep for Friday’s game against Chamblee Charter at North DeKalb Stadium.

Calhoun can score: The defending state champion and top-ranked Yellow Jackets (2-0) haven’t been bashful about visiting the end zone, already nearly eclipsing the century mark in a season-opening 42-35 win over Ridgeland and Friday’s 56-41 victory against Dalton.

Harrison Butker has leg: Westminster’s senior kicker, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution preseason all-state selection, hit 49- and 52-yard field goals in the Wildcats’ 15-12 win over No. 8 Laney, their first this season. Showing Georgia Tech is getting a difference-maker, he also nailed the game-winner with seven minutes remaining.

As the Wildcats (1-2) prepare to host Thomasville, he’s already improved on his season-long 51-yarder last year, when he made 16 of 17 attempts.

Just try stopping Wesleyan’s ground game: In evening their record at 1-1, the Wolves racked up 409 yards of offense. Not bad for an offense with just four returning starters.

Cook’s defense is stiff: The Hornets (2-0) have yielded zilch on the scoreboard in eight quarters, allowing just 66 yards in Friday’s 37-0 victory over Crisp County. No. 4 Cook enters Thursday’s matchup with Dougherty having outscored opponents 73-2.

Will Anderson has arm: With 284 yards and four TDs passing in the Wolves’ 38-19 win over Salem, Wesleyan’s quarterback now has 523 yards and five scores approaching Friday’s home game against Stone Mountain.

Brooks County is for real: The third-ranked Trojans, who hadn’t beaten Valdosta in their first six tries, waltzed into Winnersville and prevailed 28-24 Friday to improve to 3-0. Not bad against a Valdosta team whose 21 state championships overshadow the Trojans’ one in 1994.