Poll Talk: Big week ahead with 12 winner-take-all region c’ship games

Looks like 12 games this week are winner-take-all region championships. Some are by design, and others just happen to be the 10th game on the schedule. Here they are:

Class AAAAA
1 – Thomas Central-Harris County
3 – Ware County-Effingham County
5 – Allatoona-East Paulding
8 – Flowery Branch-Gainesville
Class AAAA
3 – Burke County-Wayne County
6 – Marist-Carver
7 – Ridgeland-River Ridge
Class AAA
8 – Hart County-North Oconee
Class AA
5 – Bowdon-Heard County
6 – GAC-Lovett
Class A
3 – ECI-Savannah Christian
5 – ELCA-Landmark Christian winner

Here is our schedule of the region play-in games.

Meanwhile, there are five new teams in the rankings this week.

They are Ware County and Flowery Branch for Gainesville and Stephenson in AAAAA, Westside-Macon and Carver-Atlanta for Carrollton and Statesboro in AAAA and North Hall for Woodward Academy in AAA.

Why did Gainesville fall out, and Warner Robins didn’t? First, I have no idea how Loganville beat Gainesville. Has there been a more surprising upset. That’s the answer to the question. WR lost to the #1-ranked team by one TD.

Why did Stephenson fall out despite winning? Despite the victory over Tucker, not sure the Jags are playing like a Top 10 team in losing to Miller Grove (6-3) and beating Mays (5-4) by a point.

Why is Wilkinson and Irwin still ranked at 6-3 and Walker (9-0) unranked. Wilco and Irwin lost close games to ranked teams, and their schedules rank 3-4 in Class A. Hate not ranking a 9-0 team, but I suspect unranked Aquinas and Landmark Christian will do better in postseason than Walker. We’ll see. Unfortunately, we won’t get to see how Walker and other private schools do against publics like Wilkinson County this season in the playoffs.

I’ll return later to add ‘How They Fared’ game summaries and notes for all the ranked teams.

Class AAAAAA
1. (1) Camden County (9-0)
Last week: Beat Lowndes 24-7. Camden County clinched Region 1 while holding Lowndes to 121 yards in total offense, much of which came on the game’s first drive that gave Lowndes a 7-0 lead. Lowndes had only 41 yards of total offense over its final nine possessions, according to the Jacksonville Times-Union. J.J. Green returned the second-half kickoff 74 yards to set up a touchdown that made it 17-7. QB Brice Ramsey threw a 57-yard TD pass to Connor Lockhart for the final margin late in the fourth quarter. Next: Friday at Colquitt County (6-3)
2. (2) Lassiter (9-0)
Last week: Beat Roswell 28-14. Lassiter jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first seven minutes and held on to clinch Region 5. Eddie Printz threw for 251 yards and a touchdown, and Lane Jackman rushed for 73 yards and scored two touchdowns. This is Lassiter’s second region title in history and the first since 2009. Next: Friday at Etowah (4-5)
3. (3) Norcross (9-0)
Last week: Off. Next: Friday vs. Meadowcreek (0-9)
4. (5) Grayson (8-1)
Last week: Beat Archer 48-0. Grayson shut out its fourth consecutive opponent. Ryan Carter and Wayne Galleman each returned interceptions longer than 50 yards for touchdowns. Gallman also rushed for two touchdowns. Archer was held to 97 yards in total offense. Next: Friday vs. Brookwood (6-3)
5. (6) North Gwinnett (8-1)
Last week: Beat Mountain View 49-7. QB Michael Haynes threw four TD passes on 11-of-16 passing for 165 yards before giving way to Hayden Sphire, who was 9-of-12 for 129 yards and a touchdown. North secured the No. 2 seed behind Norcross in Region 7. Next: Friday at Peachtree Ridge (4-5)
6. (4) Lowndes (9-1)
Last week: Lost to Camden County 24-7. Lowndes held Camden County to 241 yards of total offense and limited all-state HB J.J. Green to 18 yards on 10 carries. DB Tiquan Lang and RB Nick Burgman, two likely first-team all-region players, did not play for Lowndes because of injuries. Next: Nov. 16 in state playoffs
7. (7) Lovejoy (8-1)
Last week: Off. Next: Friday vs. Alcovy (4-5)
8. (8) West Forsyth (8-1)
Last week: Beat South Forsyth 56-14. QB A.J. Erdely threw for 408 yards, completing 15 of 19 attempts, with three touchdowns. RB Jake Wieczorek had 276 yards receiving (six catches) and 90 yards rushing (10 attempts) and scored four touchdowns. West Forsyth intercepted four passes. West Forsyth can clinch Region 6 with a victory this week. It would be the 5-year-old school’s first region title. Next: Friday at Lambert (5-4)
9. (9) Parkview (7-2)
Last week: Beat Berkmar 38-7. Justis Rosser rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns for Parkview, which trailed 7-0 in the second quarter before scoring the game’s final 38 points. Parkview RB Chris Carson, who missed last week’s game against Central Gwinnett, was injured again in the first half and did not return to the game. Parkview can clinch Region 8 with a victory this week. Parkview’s last region title came in 2004. Next: Friday at South Gwinnett (7-2)
10. (10) Colquitt County (6-3)
Last week: Beat Coffee 27-9. Cole Segraves was 14-of-17 passing for 220 yards and two touchdowns, and WR Bobby Hill had 10 catches for 143 yards. It was a must-win game to make the playoffs for Colquitt, the likely No. 4 seed from Region 1. Next: Friday vs. Camden County (9-0)

Class AAAAA
1. (1) Northside-Warner Robins (9-0)
Last week: Beat Warner Robins 35-28. Keshun Hill scored four touchdowns, one on a 25-yard run that gave Northside a 35-21 lead in the final three minutes. Warner Robins scored a touchdown with two seconds left. Hill had 102 yards rushing on nine carries and 73 yards receiving on five catches. Glenn Smith had three TD passes, all in the first half. The victory clinched Region 2 for Northside. Next: Friday vs. Evans (3-6)
2. (2) M.L. King (9-0)
Last week: Beat Tucker 24-17. Monquavious Johnson passed for 188 yards and three touchdowns to help M.L. King clinch its third consecutive region title. Johnson’s third TD pass – a 43-yarder to Romello Shumake – gave M.L. King a 24-10 lead in the third quarter, and Tucker never made a serious bid to tie the game. Next: Friday at Miller Grove (6-3)
3. (3) East Paulding (9-0)
Last week: Beat Lithia Springs 58-14. East Paulding scored touchdowns on its first six possessions and led 44-7 at halftime. Next: Friday vs. Allatoona (9-0)
4. (6) Thomas County Central (8-1)
Last week: Off. Next: Friday vs. Harris County (5-4)
5. (8) Allatoona (9-0)
Last week: Beat North Paulding 56-27. Sophomore TB Josh Bettistea rushed for 344 yards and two touchdowns. T.J. Herron, who was moved to fullback, rushed for 124 yards on 16 carries. Allatoona had 461 yards rushing. Next: Friday at East Paulding (9-0)
6. (9) Kell (8-1)
Last week: Beat Pope 31-3. Matthew McGuigan was 13-of-20 passing for 210 yards. Quincy Mauger had six catches for 105 yards. Kell led 17-0 in the first quarter. Kell clinched its subregion title but must win a Region 7 play-in game this week to make the playoffs. Next: Friday vs. Forsyth Central (2-7)
7. (5) Tucker (7-2)
Last week: Lost to M.L. King 24-17. QB Juwaan Williams scored on a 14-yard run and threw a 21-yard TD pass to Dallas Rivers, but Tucker couldn’t mount a scoring threat in the fourth quarter after pulling within 24-17. It is the first time since 1999 that Tucker has lost to two DeKalb County Schools teams in one season. Next: Friday vs. Mays (5-4)
8. (NR) Ware County (8-1)
Last week: Beat Bradwell Institute 39-6. Xavier Tobler scored three touchdowns for the fourth time this season and broke 1,000 yards rushing on the season. Ware’s game this week will decide the champion of Region 3. Next: Friday vs. Effingham County (6-3)
9. (7) Warner Robins (7-2)
Last week: Lost to Northside-Warner Robins 35-28. Warner Robins trailed 21-0 at halftime and got within 28-21 in the fourth quarter but couldn’t complete the comeback. Warner Robins led in first downs 20-17 and trailed in total yards 385-354. Next: Friday vs. Lakeside-Evans (5-4)
10. (NR) Flowery Branch (7-2)
Last week: Off. Next: Friday vs. Gainesville (7-2)

Class AAAA
1. (1) Sandy Creek (9-0)
Last week: Beat Carrollton 30-7. Sandy Creek held Carrollton to 107 yards of total offense. Chris Williams and Michael Henderman each had two of Sandy Creek’s 10 tackles for losses. Sandy Creek RB Delvin Weems rushed for 96 yards on six attempts and scored two touchdowns, one on a 75-yard run. Next: Friday vs. Columbus (0-9)
2. (2) Marist (8-1)
Last week: Beat Chamblee 24-0. Marist ended Chamblee’s bid for an undefeated season and scored its fourth shutout, the most in a season since Marist’s 1999 team had five. Michael Toner intercepted two passes, and Kenneth Brinson had two sacks. Marist forced three turnovers and committed none. Next: Friday vs. Carver-Atlanta (9-0)
3. (3) Burke County (8-1)
Last week: Beat Butler 57-28. Burke completed a 5-0 finish in its subregion and will play for the Region 3 championship this week. Next: Friday at Wayne County (5-3-1)
4. (6) Monroe Area (9-0)
Last week: Beat Chestatee 35-14. Monroe Area won its first region title since 1969. QB Michael Gallup, subbing for injured Stanton Truitt, scored three touchdowns and passed for two. Gallup rushed for 175 yards on 25 carries. Kwan Brooks had 125 yards rushing on 19 carries. Next: Friday at Eastside (6-3)
5. (7) Stockbridge (8-1)
Last week: Beat Locust Grove 36-0. Malik Bryan rushed for 150 yards on 11 carries. Stockbridge can win Region 4 with a victory this week in a region play-in game. WR Maetron Thomas took an end-around 70 yards for a score. The other Region 4 subregion champion is Griffin, which Stockbridge defeated on Sept. 28. Next: Friday vs. North Clayton (2-7)
6. (8) Griffin (8-1)
Last week: Beat Spalding 42-0. Devontae Freeman rushed for 123 yards on 12 carries for Griffin, which won its subregion of Region 4. Next: Friday vs. Eagle’s Landing (1-8)
7. (9) Jonesboro (8-1)
Last week: Beat Upson-Lee 44-35. Tennessee recruit Cameron Sutton scored four touchdowns, and he and Patrick Petty each returned kickoffs for touchdowns. Next: Friday vs. Dutchtown (6-3)
8. (10) Cairo (7-2)
Last week: Beat Monroe 28-20. Cairo clinched the Region 1 title. Paul Davis scored three touchdowns, his third to give Cairo a 28-7 lead in the fourth quarter. Monroe QB Charles Stafford threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns. Next: Friday vs. Dougherty (1-8)
9. (NR) Carver-Atlanta (9-0)
Last week: Beat Grady 22-19. Carver recovered a blocked punt at the 2-yard line with 4 minutes left, and QB Jordan Holden scored the game-winning touchdown. Montavious Taylor rushed for 196 yards on 27 carries. Carver has won four games by three points or fewer, including a victory over Washington by the same 22-19 score. Next: Friday vs. Marist (9-0)
10T. (NR) Westside-Macon (8-1)
Last week: Beat Howard 40-3. Westside clinched Region 2 with the victory, the school’s first region title since 2008. Westside was 5-5 last season. Westside is ranked for the first time since Sept. 7, 2010. Next: Friday at Rutland (3-6)
10T. (NR) Ridgeland (8-1)
Last week: Beat Heritage-Ringgold 56-14. Ridgeland had 595 yards of total offense. Darrell Bridges rushed for 168 yards on 16 carries, and Vonn Bell had 145 yards rushing and 66 receiving. The score was 14-14 in the second quarter. Next: Friday vs. River Ridge (5-4)

Class AAA
1. (2) Thomson (9-0)
Last week: Off. Next: Friday vs. Jefferson County (4-5)
2. (4) Carver-Columbus (8-1)
Last week: Beat Peach County 26-17. Trailing 17-13 at halftime, Carver opened the second half with a drive of 80 yards on eight running plays and didn’t allow another point in beating the previously No. 1-ranked team. Brandon Watt’s 25-yard fumble return was the only other scoring of the half. Carver finished with 326 yards rushing, led by Noah Hickey’s 81 yards on eight carries. Carver clinched Region 2. Next: Friday at Jackson (6-3)
3. (3) Buford (6-3)
Last week: Beat East Hall 49-6. Thomas Wilson rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown on three carries and brother Terrance Wilson had an interception. Buford’s leading rusher, Dontravious Wilson, was injured in the first half and was on crutches in the second. Next: Friday vs. North Hall (8-1)
4. (5) Washington County (9-1)
Last week: Beat Dodge County 49-0. Washington County led 35-0 at halftime and held Dodge to 132 yards in total offense. Jukilo Johnson rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns, and Melvin Hill ran for 98 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries. William Walker was 8-of-10 passing for 216 yards. Next: Nov. 16 in state playoffs.
5. (1) Peach County (8-1)
Last week: Lost to Carver-Columbus 26-17. Peach County committed three turnovers and was held to 33 yards rushing on 28 carries. It was only the fourth region-game loss for Peach over the past 10 seasons. Next: Friday vs. Southwest (2-7)
6. (6) Cartersville (9-0)
Last week: Beat Sonoraville 56-7. Cartersville scored two touchdowns on blocked punts and another on a 99-yard interception return. Brooks Barden threw three TD passes. Cartersville clinched Region 5 with the victory. Next: Friday at Ringgold (6-3)
7. (9) St. Pius (7-2)
Last week: Beat Blessed Trinity 24-17. St. Pius bounced back from a loss to Woodward Academy and put itself within one victory of the Region 6 title. Branden Mitchell (105) and Ryan Braswell (104) each surpassed 100 yards rushing. St. Pius had 323 yards rushing, none passing. Nick Glass’s 39-yard interception return gave St. Pius the lead for good, 16-14, in the third quarter. St. Pius is tied for the region lead with Cedar Grove and Blessed Trinity but has victories over both and will clinch title with a victory this week. Next: Friday at Decatur (5-4)
8. (10) North Oconee (8-1)
Last week: Beat Oconee County 63-21. Kawon Bryant rushed for 238 yards and three touchdowns, and Nick Colvin rushed for 173 yards and four touchdowns. Colvin also was 5-for-8 passing for 127 yards and one touchdown. North Oconee’s game this week will decide the Region 8 title. Next: Friday vs. Hart County (5-4)
9. (NR) North Hall (8-1)
Last week: Beat Banks County 42-7. North Hall clinched Region 8, the school’s first title since 2007. North Hall got 296 of its 354 total yards in the first half. QB Bradley Brown completed all four of his passing attempts for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Next: Friday at Buford (6-3)
10. (7) Blessed Trinity (7-2)
Last week: Lost to St. Pius 24-17. Blessed Trinity took a 14-9 lead into halftime on a Spencer McManes pass to C.J. Brazil for 73 yards. Barring an upset loss by St. Pius, Blessed Trinity is playing for the No. 2 seed this week. Next: Friday vs. Cedar Grove (6-3)

Class AA
1. (1) Calhoun (9-0)
Last week: Beat Model 35-0. Calhoun won Region 7, the school’s 12th consecutive region title, and got its fourth shutout in five games. Alex Urbano rushed for 138 yards, and Taylor Lamb threw for 153 yards. Next: Friday at Chattooga (2-7)
2. (2) Brooks County (9-0)
Last week: Off. Next: Friday at Berrien (3-6)
3. (3) Vidalia (9-0)
Last week: Beat Toombs County 41-7. Vidalia led 27-0 at halftime and allowed its only points on an interception return. Juan Foster rushed for 202 yards on 26 carries. Vidalia’s Jordan Black returned an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Next: Friday at Jeff Davis (2-7)
4. (4) Fitzgerald (8-2)
Last week: Beat Thomasville 35-14. Fitzgerald had 414 yards rushing. Larry Stewart (134 yards), Ron Swain (116) and Zeke Coley (98) were the top rushers. Fitzgerald will be the No. 2 seed from Region 1. Next: Nov. 16 in state playoffs
5. (5) Greater Atlanta Christian (7-2)
Last week: Beat Wesleyan 42-20. The score was 14-14 in the third quarter before GAC scored the next four touchdowns. Rafe Chapple was 13-of-16 passing for 191 and two touchdowns. Next: Friday at Lovett (5-4)
6. (6) Lamar County (8-0-1)
Last week: Beat Macon County 36-14. Lamar County claimed its second consecutive Region 4-AA title. QB Lance Austin scored on runs of 1 and 33 yards. FB Jeremy Fletcher had touchdown runs of 2 and 49 yards, and RB Lawrence Austin added a 12-yard scoring run. Next: Friday vs. Crawford County (0-9)
7. (7) Cook (7-2)
Last week: Beat Berrien 57-22. QB Ross Pickle was 15-of-26 passing for 196 yards and rushed for 15 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries. Grant Wilson rushed for 142 yards on 17 carries and caught two passes for 63 yards. Wilson scored four touchdowns. Berrien had 329 total yards – all on the ground. Next: Friday at Early County (6-3)
8. (8) Heard County (9-0)
Last week: Beat Spencer 54-28. Heard County had three rushers with more than 100 yards in Duranta Dunson (153), Tori Rogers (108) and Qua Reid (103). Next: Friday at Bowdon (8-1)
9. (9) Jefferson (8-1)
Last week: Beat Riverside Military 35-7. Jefferson clinched Region 8 and won its eighth consecutive game. QB Bryant Shirreffs was 16-of-21 passing for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Next: Friday vs. Union County (6-3)
10. (10) Lovett (5-4)
Last week: Beat Westminster 10-7. Willie Candler’s 30-yard pass to Andrew Siegel with 6:54 left completed an eight-play, 77-yard drive that gave Lovett the final margin. Candler was 9-of-12 passing for 177 yards and a touchdown. Lovett held Westminster to 122 yards of total offense. Next: Friday vs. Greater Atlanta Christian (7-2)

Class A
1. (1) Eagle’s Landing Christian (8-1)
Last week: Beat Pace Academy 55-0. ELCA outrushed Pace 491 to minus-4 yards. RB Kyante Green rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns, and Lane Tipson ran for 106 yards. Bryson Durden returned an interception for a touchdown, and Jevius Terry forced a fumble. Next: Friday vs. Landmark Christian (7-2)
2. (2) Emanuel County Institute (8-1)
Last week: Beat Montgomery County 56-7. ECI had 366 yards in total offense in only 20 plays in a game shortened by a running clock as ECI led 35-0 at halftime. ECI plays for the Region 3 title this week. Next: Friday vs. Savannah Christian (7-2)
3. (3) Athens Academy (9-0)
Last week: Beat Hebron Christian 44-20. Athens Academy scored its 44 points in the first half and clinched Region 8. Taylor Allen rushed for 108 yards on eight carries. Next: Friday vs. Athens Christian (4-5)
4. (4) Prince Avenue Christian (8-1)
Last week: Beat Pinecrest Academy 50-35. Prince Avenue took leads of 29-0 and 50-14 and held on. Carl Mattox (136 yards) and Bryce Huff (115) each rushed for more than 100 yards. Next: Friday at George Walton Academy (6-3)
5. (5) Lincoln County (8-1)
Last week: Beat Wilkinson County 21-19. Lincoln County overcame a 13-0 deficit and a fumble that Wilkinson County ran 30 yards for a touchdown. Lincoln took the lead for good at 14-13 on Ben Turner’s 1-yard run with 7:13 left in the third quarter. Mike McIntire rushed for 138 yards on 17 carries. Wilkinson got inside Lincoln’s 25-yard line twice in the fourth quarter but was stopped. Lincoln County clinched Region 7 with the victory. Next: Friday vs. Hancock Central (5-4)
6. (6) Savannah Christian (7-2)
Last week: Beat Savannah Country Day 51-33. Ivan Reese scored on an 80-yard run on the first play from scrimmage, and Savannah Christina led 31-7 at halftime. Freshman QB Chase Marini threw an 89-yard TD pass to Jalen Myrick. Savannah Christian plays for the Region 3 title this week. Next: Friday at ECI (8-1)
7. (7) Wilcox County (7-2)
Last week: Beat Irwin County 28-21. QB Makail Grace’s 1-yard run with 1:51 left was the winning touchdown. Wilcox then recovered the kickoff and ran out the clock. Grace rushed for 131 yards and passed for 114, completing 14 of 21 attempts. Johnathan Howard caught eight passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns and intercepted a pass in the end zone. Next: Friday vs. Telfair County (6-3)
8. (10) Calvary Day (8-1)
Last week: Beat Portal 49-0. QB Michael Peterson, subbing for preseason all-state Jake Clemens, was 11-of-12 passing for 131 yards and a touchdown and scored a TD. Next: Friday vs. Treutlen (5-4)
9. (8) Irwin County (6-3)
Last week: Lost to Wilcox County 28-21. Irwin County trailed 14-0 but tied it 21-21 in the fourth quarter before Wilcox County drove for the winning touchdown with 1:51 left. Next: Friday at Charlton County (5-4)
10. (9) Wilkinson County (6-3)
Last week: Lost to Lincoln County 21-19. Trailing 21-19, Wilkinson had first-and-goal at the Lincoln County 7-yard line but missed a 38-yard field goal. Wilkinson later had first down at the Lincoln 24 but turned the ball over on downs. QB David Whipple was 10-of-18 passing for 151 yards. Next: Friday vs. Warren County (1-8)