Marist downs Tucker; 'Game of the Year' set for Friday

Theres a new No. 1 football team in Class 4A. Westside-Macon, currently 5-0 and coming off a quality win over Bainbridge, takes over the top spot after Tuckers loss to Marist. The Seminoles have only given up 20 points in their first five games, and are ranked No. 1 in the states major polls for the first time in school history.

TIGERS TAMED
So, the Seminoles move up one spot to No. 1. But its how the previous No. 1 lost thats the big story this week. Tucker, undefeated at 4-0, traveled to Marist (3-1) for a Region 6-AAAA game last Friday, and the outcome shocked just about all observers and fans of high school football.
It wasnt necessarily shocking that Marist won the gamethe War Eagles had been surging ever since a season-opening loss to St. Pius Xbut more how it happened. In thoroughly dominating fashion, Marist defeated the defending Region 6-AAAA champions 38-0, holding Tucker to zero first downs and only 10 total yards of offense in the first half.
Marist ran its two-quarterback system to perfection in the win, rotating senior Kyle Farmer and junior Sam McNearny at the position. Patrick Sullivan and Matt Connors both ran for touchdowns out of the backfield. Tucker barely hangs on in our newest edition of the Score Prep/GPB Top-10 Rankings at No. 10, while Marist, the highest-ranked team in the classification with a loss, shoots to No. 4.

MORE REGION SHOWDOWNS
As of right nowand even with programs such as Parkview and Brookwood to compete againstGrayson is the best team in Region 8-AAAAA. The Rams moved to 5-0 on the year with a 24-22 win over Parkview last Friday. Ean Pemberton carried the ball an astounding 39 times for 253 yards in the win. In a battle of Atlanta Public Schools, Washington defeated Carver, 20-7. Two of the states best defensive backscornerback Branden Smith of Washington and safety Darren Myles of Carverwere on display in the contest at Lakewood Stadium. Washington is 3-2 with the win; Carver fell to 1-3 on the year with the loss. Westminster pulled out a thriller over Greater Atlanta Christian on the road last Friday, 17-14. With under a minute remaining, GACs Connor Cox drilled a 37-yard field goal that would have tied the game at 17-17, but Westminster had called a timeout before the ball was snapped. Coxs second try was blocked. The game was the Region 6-AA opener for both teams. In Region 1-AAAAA action, Northside-Warner Robins defeated Houston County (31-0) and Lowndes defeated Tift County (28-14). Which brings us to

THE BIG GAME
In one of the most anticipated regular-season matchups in Georgia high school football history, Northside and Lowndes will meet at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in Valdosta with Region 1 supremacy on the line. Each team comes into the game with an impressive winning streak: Northsides at 35 games, Lowndes at 19. Each is a reigning state champion (Northside in 4A and Lowndes in 5A), and in the last four years, these teams have won five state titles between them. Class 5As No. 1- and No. 3-ranked teams (Lowndes and Northside, respectively) will meet as region opponents for the first time since 2005.

THE OTHER GAMES
This Friday brings us more huge matchups between teams in Region 6-AA: Westminster and Lovett meet in the so-called Battle of Buckhead, and Blessed Trinity and Greater Atlanta Christian clash as well. Etowah and East Paulding meet in a game between two unbeatens in Class 5A. And Douglass and M.L. King butt heads in one of the three most important Region 2-AAAAA games this year. (The other two involve the aforementioned teams and Stephenson.)
Of course, be sure to check out our Score Atlanta Games of the Week. Catch I.J. Rosenberg on 790 The Zone this Friday as he helps call the action at the Lithia Springs vs. Douglas County game. You can also tune in to our live Webcast of the Westside-Macon vs. Lee County game; just go to www.gpb.org/football/watch for the live stream. Coverage of both games begins at 7 p.m.
Ewalt can be reached at aewalt@scoreatl.com.