Photo by Jon Barash

Tonight will be a great night for scoreboard-watching among Georgia high school football fans. Several big-tie matchups are taking place around the state, some against out of state schools and other that may decide region titles.
Marist-Tucker may just decide the Region 6 Class AAAA championship in the second week of the season. This rivalry has turned into none of the best in the state over the past decade, as the two have been in the same region since 1996 and have won every region title except last year’s. The rivalry reached a crescendo in 2008 when they met twice- once in the regular season (Marist won) and again in the state final (Tucker won). … Class AAAAA defending champion and current No. 1 Camden County gets its first test of the season tonight when Miami Central comes calling. The Wildcats have not lost since the third game of last season, when Hoover (AL) edged them 30-27. However, head coach Jeff Herron said this week that Central “may be the best team we’ve ever faced.” And that is saying a mouthful. The Wildcats have made a point of playing top teams from around the Southeast since Herron came aboard in 2000 and also have met the cream of the state of Georgia in the playoffs. … North Gwinnett will once again played a solid non-region opponent tonight as Crenshaw (Calif) flies into town for tonight’s tilt in Suwanee. Both teams are ranked nationally by rivals.com and ESPN Rise and consequently, the game will be broadcast on ESPNU. If North Gwinnett wins this game, they deserve to be ranked No. 1 in the state. In three weeks, they have played more top competition that the other members of the Class AAAAA top 5 has played combined. … The GPB Game of the Week features No. 2 Lowndes travelling to McEachern for a delicious North Georgia vs South Georgia grudge match. The Indians have come on strong under head coach Kyle Hockman in recent years, but are still trying to get to the elite level that Lowndes has been encamped upon for years. Former McEachern running back Rajaan Bennett will have his jersey posthumously retired before the game in what is sure to be a touching ceremony. … Roswell will travel to Peachtree Ridge tonight in a game that matches one team that is fortunate to be undefeated with another that is unfortunate in being winless. The Hornets dominated play at Collins Hill last week, but could not punch the ball into the end zone in an unlucky 13-9 loss. Meanwhile, Peachtree Ridge avoided overtime against McEachern when an Indians field goal was disallowed after the Lions had apparently called timeout just before the snap. Upon taking the kick again, the kick was no good.