Sandy Creek is the new No. 1 team in Class 3A after two teams ahead of the Patriots lost last week, and Sequoyah was the biggest riser in all classifications, going from No. 8 to No. 4 in Class 5A. In Class 3A, previous No. 1 Calhoun lost its second straight game last week – this time to Class 4A’s No. 9 team, Cambridge, 52-42. Calhoun lost to another ranked 4A team, Cartersville, 38-35 the week before.
Tyson Sanford, a senior cornerback at Peachtree Ridge is the scoutSMART Student-Athlete of the Week. Sanford, a three-year starter, Tyson anchors the Lions’ secondary with consistency and leadership. Off the field, he maintains a 3.62 GPA while taking AP courses. Sanford recently committed to Duke.
A season after going 1-9, two years removed from 0-10, Lithonia perked up with a 6-4 finish last year, but first-year coach Kevin Barnes wasn’t satisfied. The Bulldogs didn’t make the playoffs. They could’ve tolerated three region losses, but not four. This week, Barnes is feeling better, for now. Lithonia last week avenged one of those region losses – against Tucker, winning 27-20 after losing 41-7.
Having a career night is a tough ask for a player with more than 4,000 all-purpose yards and 200 tackles in his four seasons to date. When his team couldn’t do without it, Reid Giles delivered. The Rabun County senior running back and free safety topped 100 yards rushing and 200 receiving, returned a kickoff 99 yards and scored four touchdowns in his team’s 49-42 victory over Dalton.
Monday’s question: What Georgia team has scored 70 points in a game twice this season? (Answer Tuesday)
Answer to Friday’s question: John Kasay played for Clarke Central before going to Georgia. Morgan Burnett played at North Clayton before going to Georgia Tech. Both former longtime NFL players were announced this week as 2026 inductees into the Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame.
