Upsets fill week in prep football
Last Friday could easily be deemed "Upset Friday" after two heavy favorites lost and a large underdog won.
Evans (2-1) shocked just about anybody that knows anything about high school football when they blanked Laney, 7-0, at Richmond Academy's stadium.
The Wildcats had been ranked in the state's top 10 and in The Augusta Chronicle's Power Poll all season. Eight of the nine "experts" in The Chronicle's "Beat the Pros" contest picked Laney.
"I don't blame any of you that picked Laney," Evans' coach Marty Jackson said when reached by phone late Friday night. "They deserved to be the favorite. They are one of the best teams in the state of Georgia.
"But we're not too bad either."
Jackson called the win the biggest of his two year tenure at Evans.
The Knights fell to Jefferson County, 32-20, two weeks ago after committing five turnovers. If it wasn't for that slip up, the Knights would be one of the highest rated teams in the area.
"That bothered the staff all week," Jackson said. "We knew we could have played better against Jefferson and we didn't. I guess we showed how capable we were tonight."
Evans carries a tremendous amount of momentum into an off week that will be spent preparing for Greenbrier.
The Wolfpack also was involved in a shocking upset.
Greenbrier fell to 0-2 on the season after losing 27-10 to Westside at The Battlefield.
The last score was cosmetic - an interception returned for a score with less than two minutes to play - but the Wolfpack have many unanswered questions.
Coach Mickey Derrick is hurting after losing Eugene Rogers and quarterback Sean Gray to injuries. Sophomore Allan Lanier and senior Brandon Hicks filled in against the Patriots but couldn't muster enough to come away with a win.
Lakeside lost its first region game of the season, 19-7, to Effingham County. Game details were not available but the Panthers will have to rebound and face a tough Jefferson County team on Friday.
Jefferson County walloped Harlem 35-2, gaining 304 yards on the ground. Senior running back Jeffrey Walker, who had more than 160 yards two weeks ago against Evans, ran for 235 yards and three touchdowns.
Harlem's lone score came when the Warriors' punter stepped on the end line for a safety.