Just another perfect week of picking
Last Week: 5-0
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Year to Date: 41-6
I had my second consecutive 5-0 week last week. Hopefully I can keep the hot streak going in the final week of the regular season.
Last week was a great week for the Lakeside Panthers. Fans should add coach Chris Hughes to their Christmas list this year.
Hughes' Richmond Academy squad knocked off Hephzibah 35-13, opening the door for Lakeside to claim the school's first region title in football.
The Panthers need to simply beat Josey on Friday night and they are the Region 3-AAAA champs.
It also set the stage for
Evans to play host to a home playoff game for a third consecutive year.
The Knights need a win vs. ARC, or a loss by Hephzibah (against Cross Creek) to be at John Pierce Blanchard Memorial Stadium in the opening round of the GHSA state playoffs.
Evans (8-1, 7-1) at ARC (6-3, 6-2)
Last week: Evans beat Cross Creek 49-18; ARC upset Hephzibah 35-13
Last meeting: Evans won in 2008, 27-10
All-time: Evans leads 14-1-1 (ARC won the first meeting in 1976, then tied Evans in 1977. Since then, the Knights have won all 14 matchups).
The Knights continued their offensive onslaught on Region 3-AAAA foes with 49 points in a win over Cross Creek. The Knights are averaging 38.9 points per game since their loss to Lakeside. The Knights also boast an impressive 26-3 regular-season mark since the start of the 2007 season. ARC is a dangerous team coming off its best performance of 2009 in the win over Hephzibah.
Evans 31, ARC 17
Greenbrier (2-7, 1-5) at Redan (1-8, 0-6)
Last week: Greenbrier lost to Stephenson 48-13; Redan lost to M.L. King 47-0
Last meeting: Greenbrier won one of the wildest games in its history. The Wolfpack rallied from a 38-7 third-quarter deficit to win 59-57.
The 'Pack do not have Ben Turner this season. Last year he threw for 277 yards and ran for 283 yards to lead the 'Pack to the amazing win. Redan has struggled mightily in 2009. It has lost its eight games by an average of 24.5 points per game.
Greenbrier 20, Redan 14
Grovetown (5-4) vs. Mount Paran Christian (8-1)
The Warriors have had two weeks to prepare for their season finale. Rodney Holder's squad will have its hands full with a tough Mount Paran team. After losing its first seven games a year ago, Mount Paran has won 10 of its past 11. Mount Paran can score points; it has averaged 30 per game this season, including 42.7 points per contest in its past three games. The teams have faced one common opponent. Mount Paran beat Locust Grove 23-19, while Grovetown dropped a 13-12 heartbreaker.
Grovetown 32, Mount Paran 28
Harlem (3-6, 3-5) vs. Westside (4-5, 3-5)
Last week: Harlem beat Josey 20-7, and Westside lost to Glenn Hills 14-6.
Last meeting: Harlem edged Westside 32-30 last year.
All-time: Westside leads 4-3.
Harlem is trying to equal its win total from a year ago against a Patriot squad that has struggled all year. The Bulldogs have had just two winning seasons in 28 years, but this year has not been as bad as the record might indicate. The Bulldogs lost most of their key underclassmen from a year ago to Grovetown High School, yet they have beaten the teams in the bottom half of the region.
Harlem 19, Westside 16
Lakeside (8-1, 7-1) vs. Josey (1-8, 1-7)
Last week: Lakeside shut out Butler 38-0; Josey lost to Harlem 20-7.
Last meeting: Lakeside won easily in 2008, 35-7.
All-time: Lakeside leads 5-4.
The Panthers have had a magical season. The defense has garnered much of the praise, yielding just 39 points all year (4.3 per game). The offense has picked it up of late, too. The Panthers have won their past two games by a combined 77-0. Also, Josey has been terrible versus the other three playoff-bound teams in the region, getting outscored by a combined 113-0 vs. ARC, Evans and Hephzibah.
Lakeside 40, Josey 7