Friday night drew a sharp line across Georgia high school football.
Some teams needed chaos to survive. Newton escaped Westlake 40-38 on a touchdown in the final minute after a game that changed hands eight times. Others made their point in a hurry: Cartersville buried previously unbeaten Cass 50-0, Gainesville rolled into Roswell and came away with a 34-5 win, Lee County smothered Coffee, and Toombs County got to 70 for the second time this season.
That mix of drama and domination left the top of the High School On SI Georgia Top 25 mostly intact, even as the middle of the list keeps tightening. Peachtree Ridge, now 6-0, finally cracks the rankings, Langston Hughes is back in, and two teams that were ranked a week ago are gone.
Here is the Oct. 5 edition of the Georgia Top 25.
Buford stayed idle after opening 5-0 and now returns to region play at Dacula. The Wolves have beaten Dacula in each of the last five meetings.
Carrollton also had the week off after putting up 56 points per game through its first six contests. The Trojans begin region play at Douglas County before Westlake comes to town later this month.
Thomas County Central got 258 total yards and three touchdowns from Aidan McPherson in a 55-12 win over Veterans. Houston County, which scored 56 last week, is next, so the Yellow Jackets’ defense should get more of a test Friday.
North Gwinnett scored all 48 of its points before halftime in a 48-3 win at Duluth. Brookwood visits Suwanee on Friday needing a bounce-back after taking its first loss.
Next: vs. Brookwood, Friday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m. TV: GPB TV
Sandy Creek made quick work of previously unbeaten Woodland, winning 42-6 and handing the Wolfpack their first loss. The Patriots scored eight touchdowns on just 29 offensive plays and now get an extended break before resuming region play at Hampton.
Newton’s win over Westlake came in the final minute, when Josiah Frazier connected with Kevin Hartsfield on a 37-yard touchdown. The Rams turn around quickly and open region play Thursday at Rockdale County.
Next: at Rockdale County, Thursday, Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m.
Creekside posted its third shutout in four games, blanking McIntosh 54-0 while holding the Chiefs to minus-10 total yards. Northside-Columbus is up next, followed by a stretch that includes Lovejoy, Hughes and Woodward Academy.
Next: vs. Northside-Columbus, Friday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m.
Valdosta didn’t play Friday after Booker canceled its season, so the Wildcats picked up a forfeit win. They’ll have another week off before opening region play at Colquitt County.
Next: at Colquitt County, Friday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.
Lowndes shut out Winter Haven 44-0 and has given up only 14 points through six games. Region play begins Friday against Camden County, a matchup that should tell us plenty about the Vikings’ defense.
Lee County answered its first loss by holding previously unbeaten Coffee to 196 total yards in a 15-6 win. The Trojans now turn to Veterans as they try to keep pace with Thomas County Central in the region.
Joseph Owens threw five touchdown passes in Toombs County’s 71-7 win over Brantley County, and the Bulldogs reached 70 points for the second time this season. They’re off next week before heading to Islands.
Cartersville was in control from the start against Cass, leading 43-0 at halftime before finishing off a 50-0 win. Tyon Coe ran for 114 yards and three scores, and Cedartown is next in another matchup of strong starts.
MJ Craft powered Blessed Trinity with 125 rushing yards and four touchdowns in a 41-2 win over Centennial. The Titans travel to Sprayberry next, then face another important region game at St. Pius X.
Westlake’s wild night ended in a 40-38 loss to Newton after the teams traded the lead eight times. East Coweta comes next, and then the Lions get a week off to get ready for Carrollton.
Derrick Baker threw three touchdown passes in Milton’s 60-21 win over Lanier, the Eagles’ fourth straight victory. A bye comes next before region play continues against Alpharetta.
Jackson County’s Ben Musser was nearly perfect, completing all eight of his passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns in a 53-0 shutout of Loganville. The Panthers are off next week before heading to Apalachee.
Dontrey Ford scored twice and rushed for 154 yards on just seven carries as Benedictine beat Evans 48-10. The win gave Danny Britt his 200th career victory, and Jenkins visits Friday as the Cadets go for a sixth straight win.
Kharim Hughley accounted for 356 yards and four touchdowns as Gainesville went to Roswell and won 34-5. The Red Elephants have won four in a row and now head to Johns Creek before their Oct. 23 matchup with Milton.
Coffee’s unbeaten start ended in a 15-6 loss to Lee County, with two first-quarter turnovers helping put the Trojans in an early 15-point hole. Coffee has a bye before Houston County comes to Douglas.
Next: vs. Houston County, Friday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.
North Oconee held Winder-Barrow to 90 total yards in a 55-0 win, its second shutout in three games. The Titans visit Madison County on Friday before the schedule gets tougher later in October.
Peach County erased an 11-point first-half deficit and beat Mary Persons 29-21 to stay unbeaten. Westside-Macon comes to Fort Valley next, followed by a week off.
Next: vs. Westside-Macon, Friday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m.
Javarris Warner ran for 180 yards and three touchdowns in Troup’s 49-0 win over Westside-Macon. The Tigers have an extended break before hosting Baldwin in another region game.
Peachtree Ridge didn’t play last week, but it enters the rankings unbeaten and with a 37-31 win over Parkview on its résumé. The Lions return at Norcross before a late-October trip to North Gwinnett.
Hughes beat Newnan 47-28 for its fourth straight win since the loss to Grayson, and Esco Grant led the way with 171 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Panthers are off before Woodward Academy visits in a game that should help sort out the region race.
Next: vs. Woodward Academy, Friday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.
Brookwood’s first loss came in a 34-24 home defeat against Parkview. The Broncos don’t get much time to recover, because unbeaten North Gwinnett is waiting Friday.
Next: at North Gwinnett, Friday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m. TV: GPB TV
At the bottom of the shakeup, Roswell is out after Gainesville’s 34-5 win, and Cass drops after Cartersville’s 50-0 beatdown left the Longhorns down 43-0 at halftime.
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