The ranked teams active in Week 9 outscored opponents 241-24 in region games, highlighted by Thomson’s 27-14 victory against Burke County, which gave the No. 7-ranked Bulldogs (7-0, 4-0) a one-game lead in the Region 4 standings.
Thomson led 21-0 after two touchdowns from Jontavis Curry and a 16-yard touchdown pass from Tay Martin to Jordan Lane. The Bulldogs converted a crucial third-and-15 situation for a first down, then scored on a Martin touchdown run to help put away the game.
Here is how the weekend played out:
-- Top-ranked Cedar Grove (5-2, 4-0) defeated Salem 63-0, and No. 3 Sandy Creek (7-0, 4-0) beat GAC 37-3 in Region 5 games. Both teams are tied atop the league standings ahead of Carver-Atlanta.
-- Fourth-ranked Appling County (8-0, 2-0) defeated Tattnall County 42-7 and leads the Region 1 standings, ahead of No. 5 Pierce County (5-2, 1-0) which rested this week.
-- Rockmart (6-1, 5-0) enjoyed a 72-0 Region 6 victory against Murray County, which pulled the Yellow Jackets tied with No. 10 Ringgold (7-0, 5-0) atop the league standings.
-- In Region 2, Crisp County (4-3, 4-0) leads the standings ahead of Jackson (4-3, 3-1) and now-unranked Peach County (3-3, 3-1).
-- Windsor Forest (4-2, 3-0) defeated Groves 52-7 and leads the Region 3 standings, ahead of Liberty County (3-3, 3-1) and Southeast Bulloch (6-1, 2-1).
-- North Hall (6-2, 4-0), Cherokee Bluff (7-0, 3-0) and Dawson County (4-3, 3-0) are each undefeated in Region 7. Cherokee Bluff beat Lumpkin County (55-8); North Hall beat Gilmer (47-6), and Dawson County beat West Hall (51-0) this week. Jaquan Smith has six carries for 165 yards and two touchdowns for Cherokee Bluff.
-- In Region 8, No. 7 Monroe Area (7-0, 2-0) is tied with No. 2 Oconee County (7-0, 2-0) atop the league standings with No. 8 Hart County (6-1, 1-1) closely behind. All three programs rested this week. Unranked Stephens County (6-1, 1-1) is tied with Hart County and rested this week.
Week 9 top-10 results
1. (1) Cedar Grove (5-2) beat Salem 63-0 (5-3A Game)
2. (2) Oconee County (7-0) Off.
3. (3) Sandy Creek (7-0) beat Greater Atlanta Christian 37-3 (5-3A Game)
4. (4) Appling County (8-0) beat Tattnall County 42-7 (1-3A Game)
5. (5) Pierce County (5-2) Off.
6. (7) Thomson (7-0) beat Burke County 27-14 (4-3A Game)
7. (8) Monroe Area (7-0) Off.
8. (9) Hart County (6-1) Off.
9. (10) Rockmart (6-1) beat Murray County 72-0 (6-3A Game)
10. (NR) Ringgold (7-0) Off.
