Week 4 recap: Underclassmen lead No. 2 Grayson, No. 1 Colquitt

Four weeks of action and teams are starting to build confidence heading into region action while others are still searching for the winning formula and spark needed to compete for a spot in the 2014 postseason.

One of the biggest matchups this weekend was the Region 8 opener Grayson at Archer. Archer drove the ball to the Rams’ 1-yard line but failed to punch it in as time expired and dropped to 0-3 after a school-record 10-0 regular season a year ago and a first-ever region title. Grayson, however, has nearly matched its win total from a season ago (4-6) and improved to 3-0.

The Rams allowed 20.1 points per game last season and have returned to their championship form from 2011, allowing just 8.7 points per game this year. Rams quarterback Chase Brice was 14 of 25 passing for 210 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Archer and included a 75-yard touchdown pass to Deshaun Warren on the second play of the game. Brice is just a sophomore, and led the Rams to the Georgia Invitational 7-on-7 championship this past summer and the Rams have been playing with confidence since the dog days of summer workouts.

Top-ranked Colquitt County is off to a 4-0 start with junior Chase Parrish under center. Parrish is 75-of-105 passing for 825 yards and nine touchdowns through the Packers’ first four games. He has thrown just two interceptions and has added 63 yards on the ground.

Class AAAAA gave us a great matchup this weekend as Ware County topped Coffee 24-21. Deandre Taylor had a 42-yard interception return for a touchown that gave Ware County a 24-14 fourth quarter lead. Ware County improved to No. 2 in Class AAAAA, while Northside-Warner Robins continued to dominate as the top team. Willie Jordan rushed for 158 yards and four touchdowns on just 15 carries. Northside will face undefeated Jones County on Friday.

In Class AAAA, Griffin has proven to have one of the most explosive offenses in the state. The Bears dominated Eastside 53-7 and used a five touchdown performance from Malik Miller. Woodward Academy had a different approach on Friday and used running back Elijiah Holyfield as a workhorse before falling a point shy to Lovett (21-20). Holyfield carried the ball 38 times for 260 yards and at one point of the game carried the ball 24 consecutive Woodward snaps. Lovett blocked the would-be game-tying point after with 34 seconds left.

In Class AAA, all of the top 10 remains unbeaten, while obliterating the competition. Washington County, Calhoun, Peach County, Jefferson, Westminster, Central-Carroll, Hart County, Westside-Augusta and Adairsville combined to outscore this week’s opponents 371-37.

Class AA appears to be a wide-open race to No. 1. GAC, Fitzgerald, Vidalia and Brooks County each had bye weeks, but Lovett’s 21-20 win over Woodward Academy was a notable victory for the defending champion Lions. Lamar County suffered its first loss of the season in a 29-27 defeat to Mary Persons, but it was called with 1:53 left in the third quarter as Lamar County was lining up for a potential game-tying two-point conversion.

In Class A, defending state champions Aquinas and Marion County remain at the top of the divided Public and Private rankings and the two high-scoring programs are averaging 39 and 40 points per game, respectively.