QUALITY LOSSES: Carrollton and ELCA move on after early defeats

When is an upset not really so bad? Usually if it comes the first weekend of the season to a highly-ranked out-of-state opponent. Some folks might raise their eyebrows over state title contenders ELCA and Carrollton losing, but a quick look at each game reveals that the loss isn’t so bad. Eagles Landing Christian Academy nearly toppled Alabama Class AAAAA power Briarwood Christian, coming up just short 21-18. Carrollton meanwhile fell to Oxford (Ala.) 34-24, despite statistically outplaying Oxford. … Marist doesn’t seem to have missed a beat with new quarterback Myles Willis taking over for Andy Perez. Willis rushed for three scores in Marist’s 44-6 win over Douglass. Willis and Marist will face a tall test in Tucker this Friday. … Chattahoochee will finally open up its title defense this Friday against Lambert (1-0). Former Cougar QB Timmy Byerly broke out against Lambert one year ago, passing for 146 yards and a pair of scores while also racking up 100 yards on the ground on 15 carries. Chattahoochee won that game 31-7. … RB Tray Wafford of Whitewater rushed for 182 yards on 24 carries in a loss to Sandy Creek. Speaking with a coach before the season, Wafford has a different skill-set than that of Josh Clemons, Whitewater’s standout from one year ago now at Kentucky, but the coach said he thought Wafford could have a better senior season than Clemons did. … Finally the Brookwood boys cross country team won its fourth-consecutive Walton/Peachtree Ridge Stage Races, held at the Rivergreen Complex. The Broncos are the defending Class AAAAA state champions. Harrison won the girls event.