Counting by fives, here is a look at some of the best games and performances for the week that is, and was, in Georgia:
Westminster High's Ralph Abernathy.
Photo by Tom Lemming
This is the Battle of Buckhead in Atlanta. The winner of this game between private schools is the champion of its subregion in Region 6-AA and these teams have split their last eight meetings. The coaches - Lovett's Mike Muschamp and Westminster's Gerry Romberg - are good friends, and each was a technical adviser to the movie “The Blind Side,’’ which was filmed partly on the Westminster campus. Two great running backs also are going at it in Lovett's
Zach Boden and Westminster's
Ralph Abernathy, a grandson of the late civil rights leader.
Thomasville (6-2) at Cook (Adel) (8-0): This is probably for the Region 1-AA championship, though either would have to win its final game. Thomasville features all-state quarterback and defensive back Jeffery Dyson. Cook is led by linebacker and running back
Shannon Brown, who has committed to Alabama. Cook is seeking its first region title since 2001.
Stephenson (Stone Mountain) (8-0) at Newnan (5-3): Both were region champions in 2009, Stephenson in Region 2-AAAAA, Newnan in Region 4-AAAAA. Both have sent great players to college programs. Newnan, the home team, is only 5-3 but has won four straight and could steal the Region 2 title with a good finish.
Grayson (Loganville) (6-2) at Brookwood (Snellville) (7-1): It’s the big game in Gwinnett County this week. There's a three-way tie in Region 8-AAAAA among these two teams and South Gwinnett. Grayson had its 23-game region winning streak ended last week by South Gwinnett. Brookwood is looking for its first region title since 2007.
Lovejoy (8-0) at Creekside (Fairburn) (8-1): This is the top game on the south side of metro Atlanta and could decide the title in Region 4-AAAA. Creekside, the alma mater of NFL player Eric Berry, got a break last week when its one loss, to Mount Zion, was overturned by forfeit. Lovejoy is after its first region title since 2004.
THE FIVE MOST SIGNIFICANT GAMES LAST WEEKGrady (Atlanta) 7, St. Pius X Catholic (Atlanta) 6:
Marcus Caffey's 70-yard touchdown run with 3:38 left in the first half stood up as the game-winner for Grady, which stands closer to its first region title (5-AAA) since 2006. Caffey finished with 153 yards on 19 carries. St. Pius cornerback
Geno Smith had two interceptions and held Grady's Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11 wide receiver Damian Swann to two catches for 24 yards.
Stephenson (Stone Mountain) 30, East Coweta (Sharpsburg) 19: Stephenson won a game of unbeaten teams in Region 2-AAAAA as Mike Davis (120 yards) and
Willie Davis (110) each rushed for more than 100 yards for the fourth consecutive game.
South Gwinnett (Snellville) 24, Grayson 22:
Kadeem Yearwood kicked a 31-yard field goal with 7:11 left for the final margin, and South Gwinnett ended Grayson's 23-game winning streak in Region 8. Grayson missed a 36-yard field goal later in the fourth quarter that might have won it. South Gwinnett got 158 yards rushing from
Tevon Walker.
Etowah (Woodstock) 17, Woodstock 14: Etowah held Woodstock four times from the 1-yard line in overtime, then got a 24-yard field goal from Kyle Riordan to win it. Linebacker
Christian Harris returned an interception 61 yards for a touchdown in the second half to make it 14-14. This gives Etowah the inside track in Region 5-AAAA.
Calvary Day (Savannah) 6, Savannah Christian 0: Calvary Day blew the Region 3-A East race wide open with a victory against the team that was ranked No. 3 in Class A coming into the game. The only score was Dom DeMasi's 47-yard pass to running back Stephen Williams. The Cavaliers can win the subregion title by beating Savannah Country Day this week.
THE FIVE BEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES LAST WEEK* Putnam County (Eatonton) running back Marteze Waller: Rushed for 295 yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns in a 21-7 victory over Pike County. The junior tailback has 1,655 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season.
* Calhoun running back Dustin Christian: Rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns in a 43-8 victory over Dade County.
* Gilmer (Ellijay) senior fullback Jacob Teague: Rushed for 287 yards and six touchdowns on 33 carries in a 41-27 victory over Murray County. He also completed three of four passes for 40 yards.
* Kell (Marietta) running back Brian Randolph: Rushed for 197 yards while playing full-time at free safety in a 55-30 victory over North Paulding.
* Starr's Mill (Fayetteville) defensive end Ufomba Kamalu: Posted five sacks in a 35-24 victory over Northgate. Kamalu, who is 6-5, 245 pounds, began playing football as a freshman after coming to Starr’s Mill from Nigeria.
