Heading into Week 5 of the prep football season, it’s extremely difficult to ascertain who the real powers are in each classification with a few exceptions, and also to wait and see if some of those teams which are currently rolling merrily along as undefeated can maintain that status. Week 4 had some surprises, but the GPB-TV sports Top Ten will have few changes this week.

Class 7A power Archer rolled past Mill Creek, 42-0. The Sequoyah Chiefs surprised perennial 6A power Dalton, 42-14. Other finals saw Mary Persons beat Lovett, 58-21, Rabun County top Stephens County 41-14; 7A Camden County defeated 6A Richmond Hill 33-6, and Blessed Trinity cruised by 3A power Benedictine Military, 38-7.

As far as some of the surprise teams which are rolling along undefeated at this point in the season other than Sequoyah, one would be remiss if the Denmark Danes were not mentioned for beginning their initial season 3-0 after a narrow 7-3 victory over Forsyth Central last week.

There is also Claxton from Region 3A East at 3-0 on the season after topping class 2A Toombs County on the road last Friday night, 21-14. The Tigers have now beaten 3A Tattnall County, 2A Bryan County and now 2A Toombs County on consecutive weeks to open the season. 

Pelham High School football team

Other undefeated teams of note, the Pelham Hornets are 3-0 to open the 2018 campaign and have yet to surrender their opponents a point in those three outings, 171-0, while the class 3A Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets have also won their first three games.

On the other end of the spectrum, two teams which were early favorites to challenge for a title in their respective classifications, are struggling at this point. Class 1A Public division power, the ECI Bulldogs are 0-3 after a heart-breaking loss 14-13 to rival Metter this past Friday night, while one of 7A’s preseason favorite to play for this year’s top trophy, the Marietta Blue Devils are now 1-3 on the campaign.

It’s still early in the season and both teams will surely make a run at a title as predicted.

As we move closer to the midpoint in the season, the matchups continue to be top notch. This week’s GPB-TV  Game of the Week is Carrollton at Rome from Barron Stadium. These top-ten ranked 5A powers will go at it in front of a large statewide audience and a jam-packed stadium. The winner of this game has the inside track to the Region 7-5A title, but the road ahead for both teams is laden with worthy region foes waiting to knock off the two preseason favorites.

Another classic matchup will take place in the mid-state when 7A’s top team, the Colquitt County Packers, play the Warner Robins Demons at McConnell-Talbert Stadium in Warner Robins. An overflow crowd is expected for this game as last year’s 5A runner-up meets last year’s 7A runner-up.

Other games of note this weekend finds Irwin County at Clinch County, Fitzgerald at unbeaten Dodge County, Union Grove at Dutchtown, St Pius X at Marist and Parkview at Tift County.

Join the entire GPB sports team this Friday night at 7 p.m. as we kick off the Football Fridays in Georgia game of the week broadcasts. Its Carrollton at Rome … don’t miss it!