Jackets, Knights set for marquee matchup
Last Week's Picks: 4-1
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Total for Year: 11-4
This week's matchups:
Evans (3-0) vs. North Augusta (4-0)
Last week: Evans was idle; North Augusta rolled past Sumter 35-14.
All-time: The series, which started in 1976, is tied 5-5.
Last meeting: Evans won 23-12 in 1997.
Evans averages 27 points per game and allows 12.3; North Augusta averages 36.3 points per game and allows 15.8.
This is one of the marquee matchups of the season. The Yellow Jackets have not missed a beat despite an injury to the area's best player. Quarterback Loranzo Hammonds should be back this week from a shoulder injury. If he does not play, Tyrell Hillary will continue to fill in.
Pick your poison with this duo. Hammonds ran for more than 1,000 yards and threw for more than 2,000 last season, with 30 touchdown passes and just four interceptions. In the past two games, Hillary is 26 of 37 passing for 466 yards and seven touchdowns. He also ran for two scores in last week's win against Sumter.
Evans has been solid in 2010. Steady play by quarterback Glen Cassedy, along with terrific running from Jamerson Turner and Will Scott, have been the key. The Knights will need huge games from that trio if they want to pull out a victory.
This is the GHSA Network on Comcast Game of the Week. The game will air at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday on Comcast Channel 4 and will be available on demand on Channel 1.
North Augusta 34, Evans 24
Grovetown (1-2) at Butler (3-0)
Last week: Grovetown beat Cross Creek 40-6; Butler blanked Harlem 36-0.
All-time: First meeting
Grovetown averages 25 points per game and allows 16.3; Butler averages 33.3 points per game and has not allowed a point all year.
Butler came into the season riding a 41-game losing streak, but it has turned things around under second-year coach Ashley Harden. Grovetown has shown it can play with any team in the area and will be a big test for the Bulldogs.
Butler 23, Grovetown 20
Harlem (0-3) vs. Cross Creek (0-3)
Last week: Harlem was shut out by Butler 36-0; Cross Creek was pounded by Grovetown 40-6.
All-time: The Bulldogs lead 6-2.
Last meeting: Harlem won 19-8 last year.
Harlem averages just 2.3 points per game and allows 34.3; Cross Creek averages 10.7 points per game and allows 29.7.
Cross Creek should win a close one here.
Cross Creek 13, Harlem 10
Lakeside (1-3) vs. Statesboro (3-1)
Last week: Lakeside lost to Northside-Warner Robins 30-7; Statesboro was beaten by Liberty County 29-0
All-time: Statesboro leads 6-1.
Last meeting: Lakeside won last year 16-0. (Before that game, Statesboro had outscored the Panthers 218-21).
Lakeside averages 14.8 points a game and allows 20.3; Statesboro averages 16 points a game and allows 17.3.
Which Statesboro team will show up: the one that beat Washington County 19-14 in Week 2, or the one that was crushed 29-0 by Liberty County last week? Lakeside has played a brutal schedule (Northside-Warner Robins, Thomson and North Augusta). I think the Panthers will pull out a victory.
Lakeside 17, Statesboro 16
Augusta Christian (2-2) vs. Hilton Head Christian (3-0)
Last week: Augusta Christian beat Laurence Manning 26-14.
Last meeting: Augusta Christian won 42-14 in 2007.
Quarterback Tyler Roberson and wide receiver Matt Rogers were terrific in the Lions' big win last week. Augusta Christian should be able to get its third win.
Augusta Christian 34, Hilton Head Christian 13