Teams face must-win situations this week

Here are my picks for winners in area high school football games this week:

Evans (1-7, 1-4) vs. Baldwin (5-3, 4-1)

The Knights did two things in their 8-7 thriller over Lakeside: They gave some of their young players a great memory to build on for next season, and they also may have knocked their archrival out of the playoff race. This week however, they will have their hands full with a very talented Baldwin squad.

Baldwin 27 Evans 10

Greenbrier (3-5, 2-3) at Jones County (1-7, 1-4)

The Wolfpack have shot themselves in the foot with consecutive losses to Wayne County, Baldwin, and Effingham County, and now must win this week to have any glimmer of hope to reach the state playoffs.

Greenbrier 31 Jones Co. 13

Lakeside (3-5, 2-3) at Wayne County (4-4, 2-3)

Like Greenbrier, the Panthers have put themselves in a must-win situation this week. Wayne County has a terrific defense, so the Panthers cannot afford to turn the ball over as they did in their 8-7 loss to Evans.

Wayne County 17 Lakeside 14

ACS (7-1, SCISA No. 2) vs. Hammond (8-0, SCISA No. 3)

It's homecoming for the Lions, but they certainly did not schedule a cream puff. The Lions face the No. 3 team in the SCISA AAA state rankings. Hammond has a perfect 8-0 overall record and 4-0 record on the road. The Lions are averaging 37 points per game, and they will play well at home.

ACS 34 Hammond 28

Harlem (5-4, 3-2) is idle this week.

Top Performers

The Evans Defense

Give the Knights some credit. Granted, Lakeside hurt themselves with turnovers, but somehow late in the game Evans had a chance to win because the "D" held the Panthers to just seven points. Kevin Millward's punting was key also. He had several big punts that pinned Lakeside deep in their own territory.

Lee Banks, Augusta Christian

Banks has been a fixture in this section all year. He has been a model of consistency in 2005. He threw two more touchdowns this week, giving him 13 on the season (which leads the Augusta area).

His numbers are a model of efficiency: 51 of 71 passing for 888 yards and 13 touchdowns (only two interceptions); 68 carries for 744 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.