UPSET ALERT: Houston County, Milton face intense rivals

Here are just some of the ranked teams that could get upset in tonight’s action:

Class AAA No. 1 Washington County at Class AAAA No. 8 Burke County

We don’t typically pick games featuring teams from lower classifications playing teams from higher classifications, but frankly, the Golden Hawks are as good as any team not in AAAAAA and not named “Buford”. This will be a stiff test for Washington County, however, as Burke County can hang with WaCo athletically and won the last two meetings between the two (2010 and 2011).

It will be a quarterback dual of sorts as WaCo’s A.J. Gray (committed to Georgia Tech) leads the Golden Hawks’ offense and Caleeb Roberson guides Burke County. The host Bears are coming off losses to Griffin and South Carolina-power Northside-Augusta. WaCo, meanwhile, has beaten three quality opponents (Thomson, Mary Persons and Veterans), all by at least 27 points.

B.E.S.T. Academy at Class AA No. 4 Lovett

The defending state champs host one of the great mysteries of Georgia high school football this week in B.E.S.T. Academy. In just their fourth year as a program, the Eagles are 2-1 with an impressive win over Callaway and a loss to powerful Central-Carroll, which is ranked No. 7 in AAA. B.E.S.T. made the playoffs last year and took Carver-Columbus to four overtimes before losing 38-32.

Lovett, meanwhile, has lost twice this season, but to ranked opponents from higher classifications. The Lions’ offense is not quite as potent as last year’s version, but their defense has been stingy yet again. Last week’s 21-20 win over Woodward Academy evened Lovett’s record.

Class A-Public No. 10 Atkinson County at Class A-Public No. 2 Charlton County

Atkinson County has come out guns-a-blazin’ this season, with a 3-0 record with three convincing wins. The Rebels were 1-9 last year in coach Kipp Hall’s first season at the helm, but have made an incredible turnaround this season. Hall, who coached at Druid Hills from 2006-2012, has taken well to the south Georgia program it seems.

Now it gets real. Atkinson will travel to perennial Class A-power Charlton County, a program that has made the playoffs 24 straight seasons, according to GHSFHA.org. A win here by Atkinson would give the Rebels a shocking first place standing in Region 2-A, arguably the toughest in the classification.

Roswell at Class AAAAAA No. 8 Milton

The old adage regarding rivalries is “you can throw the records out when these two get together.” While that phrase has become jaded due to the media’s overuse of it, this year’s Roswell-Milton game qualifies. The Hornets, though unranked, looked impressive in dismissing Centennial 42-10 in Week 2 and upsetting previously undefeated Walton last week.

Milton has burst onto the AAAAAA scene this year behind the dynamic running of Micco Brisker and a defense that allowed 10 total points in wins over Alpharetta and Norcross.

Roswell leads the 55-year-old series 34-24-1 despite losing three straight. Sometimes called The Battle of North Fulton, this game carries with it a lot of history. It is one of the most tradition-rich rivalries in metro Atlanta football.

Class AAAAAA No. 10 Houston County at Warner Robins

The Bears debuted in this week’s poll, but they could be out as quickly as they got into it. Houston County travels to county-neighbor Warner Robins tonight in what has turned into a nice middle-Georgia rivalry in recent years. HCHS opened in 1991, but didn’t play the mighty Demons until 1998. While the Bears lost 10 of the first 12 meetings (2004 was a tie), they have won two of the past four, including last year’s 27-23 upset.

Warner Robins will be looking for revenge this season and this matchup may be the most ripe for an ‘upset” this week.