Alexander pulled off one of the biggest victories in Class AAAAAA on Friday with its 21-13 win over Allatoona, the state champion in AAAAA last season.
It was a breakthrough victory for the Cougars, who competed in the same region with Allatoona the past two seasons before being placed in separate regions in the most recent reclassification. Allatoona won the region title both years, and its 62-21 and 35-14 victories over the Cougars were all that kept Alexander from winning a couple of region titles of its own.
“The win was big because it starts our season off on the right note,” Alexander coach Matt Combs said. “It was a great game between two physical teams. These coaches and players have put countless hours in this offseason to be successful on the field. In this state, especially our region of AAAAAA, all games will be ‘big games’ between two great opponents.”
Alexander has one of the more balanced offenses in the state. The Cougars passed for 189 yards and rushed for 123 against Allatoona. Wide receiver Justin Hall was an all-state first-teamer last season, and he opened the season with 10 receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Daetrich Harrington rushed for 78 yards on 19 carries, and quarterback Mason Wood passed for 189 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 29 yards and a score.
The Cougars hope to build off that victory when they take on Carver-Atlanta, a Class AAAAA school that has won its first two games by a combined score of 77-14. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lakewood Stadium in Atlanta.
“This week our schedule doesn’t get any easier in Carver,” Combs said. “They are led by a good coach, and I am positive they will be ready to play. When we step off the bus, we must be ready too.”
Here are some of the other top games involving AAAAAA teams this weekend:
*Creekside at Southwest DeKalb (8 p.m. Friday, Hallford Stadium): No. 8 Creekside (1-0) faces one of the surprise teams of the state, a Southwest DeKalb squad that is 2-0 for the first time since 2007. Interim coach Fletcher Salter has done an amazing job keeping Southwest DeKalb together after head coach Michael Tanks passed away following a stroke a few days before the season.
*Mays at Peachtree Ridge (7:30 p.m. Friday): This could have been one of the top games in the state, but both teams came up just short last weekend. Mays missed an extra point and lost to Stockbridge 35-34, and Peachtree Ridge gave up a late touchdown in a 20-19 loss to Archer, knocking the Lions out of the AAAAAAA rankings. This is the first game ever for Mays against a Gwinnett school.
*North Cobb at Harrison (7:30 p.m. Friday): Harrison has been impressive in victories against East Paulding and Rome, but now the Hoyas take a step up when they face North Cobb, a Class AAAAAAA team that has looked good in its 2-0 start. The teams played in the same region together every year since 2000. Harrison leads the series 16-8, but North Cobb has won the past five meetings.
*Sandy Creek at Allatoona (7:30 p.m. Friday): You probably wouldn’t have expected this game between perennial power Sandy Creek and state champion Allatoona to match two teams with a combined record of 0-3, but that’s where it stands after Sandy Creek lost to Fort Dorchester, S.C., and Allatoona lost to Cartersville and Alexander. Somebody’s going home with a much-needed win.
*Tucker at Colquitt County (7:30 p.m. Friday): Tucker is 1-1 after losing to Kell and beating Lakeside-DeKalb, and the Tigers will have a tough task avoiding just their second 1-2 start since 2000. But Colquitt County, the state champion in AAAAAA last season, is off to its own slow start at 0-2, losing to Mill Creek and American Heritage, Fla. Tucker and Colquitt County have never met.
*Worth noting: Georgia High School Football Daily wrote preview capsules on two more top games this weekend involving Class AAAAAA teams. Click here to read about Dacula at Mill Creek and Coffee at Ware County.
