The second week of Region 5A-AAAA play features a rematch of a surprising game last year and a game pitting two teams looking for their first region win of the season, among others.

Fayette County Tigers (1-4, 1-0 region) at Northgate Vikings (3-2, 1-0 region)

Coming off an 8-6 victory over McIntosh last week, which was their first win of the season, the Tigers are looking to build momentum. They face a much-improved Northgate squad that relied on its stout defense to defeat Starr’s Mill 7-3 last week.

Neither team has a high-scoring offense; Northgate is averaging 12.4 points per game to Fayette’s seven points per game.

Fayette’s offense, though, expects to improve with the return of starting wide receiver Tay Pettaway, who had a few key catches last week in his first game back after battling a preseason injury. By drawing attention to Fayette’s passing game, Pettaway should help his brother, standout running back Tim Pettaway, find some running room.

Northgate has a significant defensive edge, allowing 16.4 points per game to 25.2 for Fayette, though the Tigers turned in their best defensive performance of the season last week.

Fayette will need another sterling effort from its defense, led by defensive lineman Malcolm Reid and linebacker Evan Reid, to contain Northgate’s offense, led by quarterback Jake Copeland.

McIntosh Chiefs (2-3, 0-1 region) vs. Sandy Creek Patriots (5-0, 1-0 region)

Creek hasn’t forgotten its stunning 16-10 overtime loss in its season opener last season against McIntosh. The Chiefs are arguably the most improved team in the region this season, but they face two difficult tasks — slowing down a talent-laden Creek offense that is scoring 27 points per game and trying to penetrate a defense that is allowing 12.2 points per game.

Linebacker Andrew Graham, defensive lineman Taylor Peaden and the rest of McIntosh’s defense must find a weapon to contain Creek’s collection of offensive weapons: quarterback Rio Johnson, wide receivers Jarrett Davis and Devon Hughes and running backs Rajion Neal and Lucky Charleston.

McIntosh’s defense is allowing 15.6 points per game.

McIntosh’s offense, led by quarterback Cam Porter, running back Darius Miliam and wide receiver Bradley Larson, won’t have it any easier. Creek defensive linemen James Hervey, Brandon Putnam and Lacy Coleman, linebacker Matt Solomon and safeties Isaiah Johnson and Russell Bonner comprise the top defensive unit in the region.

They will attempt to stymie a McIntosh offense that is averaging 17.4 points per game.

Starr’s Mill Panthers (0-5, 0-1 region) at Whitewater Wildcats (2-3, 0-1 region)

Both teams are looking for their first region win of the season. Whitewater possesses a higher scoring offense, averaging 22 points to 14 for Starr’s Mill, and a stingier defense, allowing 17 points to 22 for Starr’s Mill.

Whitewater also had another edge: speed, especially at running back, where the Wildcats have three players who can go the distance, Thomas Frierson, Josh Clemons and Austin Faulkner. Quarterback Chase Penland also is a scoring threat for Whitewater.

Linebacker Stephen Roberts and defensive end Ufomba Kamalu are two standouts on Starr’s Mill’s defense, which must find a way to stop Whitewater’s fast, run-oriented offense.

Starr’s Mill’s offense is looking to break out. Injuries have hurt — starting wide receivers Dan Ellis and Terrell Tripp are out for the year — so quarterback Myles Jaye, wide receiver Lontrell Anderson and running back Spencer Penson need to pick up the slack and produce points.

A repeat of last week’s three-point performance won’t cut it against a tough Whitewater defense that features two of the best linebackers in the region, sideline-to-sideline playmaker Zac Mann and Davis Knowles.

Landmark Christian War Eagles (4-2, 3-1 region) vs. Holy Innocents Golden Bears (4-2, 3-1 region)

Both teams have identical overall and region records. Holy Innocents is one of the hottest teams in Region 5-A, having won four consecutive games. In all but one of those wins, the Golden Bears have scored at least 48 points.

The two teams are evenly matched: Landmark is scoring 29.3 points per game to 31.3 for Holy Innocents, and it’s allowing 11.3 points per game to 8 for Holy Innocents.

Landmark will look to bounce back from a one-point loss (21-20) to Whitefield Academy last week that ended a four-game losing streak.

For that to happen, the usual suspects must make significant contributions on both sides of the ball for Landmark: quarterback/safety Tanner Bryant, wide receiver/defensive back Blake Wyatt and running back Andrew Glaize.

Our Lady of Mercy Bobcats (0-4, 0-3 region) vs. Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy Warriors (0-5, 0-3 region)

Mercy and SACA have the same goal this week: win and get out of the Region 5-A basement. The Bobcats will be especially pumped up this week, playing in front of a homecoming crowd.

Quarterback William Pearl and wide receiver Jarrell Bankhead will look to exploit a SACA defense that is allowing a whopping 58 points per game.

Shawn Edoimoiya, Amir Mustafa and the rest of Mercy’s defense face a struggling SACA offense that is averaging a paltry 6 points per game.

login to post comments