WHO'S SIZZLING: Cross Creek and Evans. Take your pick as to which school enjoys its 6-0 start more. The Razorbacks have never been this high before. Evans has, but it beat a better team in Statesboro (5-1) to stay perfect.

Cross Creek also remained unbeaten despite the loss of starting quarterback Keenan Grissett in the first half.

WHO'S ON SLOW BURN: Burke County. The Bears (4-2) have quietly won four in a row after being routed in their first two games. Burke County held on to its 20-7 halftime lead against Liberty County on Friday.

That win puts the Bears in the right lane for the playoffs. A 7-3 record and a playoff berth seem possible.

WHO'S FRIGID: Washington County (1-5) is in its worst stretch since going 1-9 in 1989. It looks to be a rare year where Washington County rebuilds instead of reloads.

Coach Joel Ingram has 58 underclassmen. He started three freshmen against Cross Creek, but there were signs of life. The defense allowed just 225 yards and held on all but Patrick Province's 15-yard touchdown run.

That's progress for a team giving up almost 30 points per game.

The key call was Ingram's decision to go for it on fourth down at his own 18 early in the fourth quarter.

"All this is going to do is make us better," he said. "You try and improve each week. This week, the players improved. I didn't."

1. North Augusta at South Aiken: Yellow Jackets coach Dan Pippin makes his first visit to South Aiken since leaving the school before the 2006 season. The victor will probably secure a playoff spot. South Aiken needs this. The Thoroughbreds cannot fall to 0-3 in the region and expect to be playing past Nov. 2.

2. Jefferson County at Swainsboro: The winner should snag at least a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

CRYSTAL BALL: Cross Creek (6-0, 1-0) should be unbeaten for a likely region title showdown playing host to Thomson on Nov. 2. Grissett should be back from his shoulder sprain then. The Razorbacks will need his dual-threat prowess because Thomson (5-0-1, 1-0) is decimated in its secondary but stout against the run.

NEW THREAT: Laney junior receiver James Bing caught six passes for 85 yards in the last two drives of a 21-12 loss at Screven County, with five catches coming on the final drive. His touchdown catch with 35 seconds left allowed the Wildcats to save a little face in the defeat.

The Wildcats got him the ball on a lot of soft coverage, but he looked sleek every time he had the ball. His skills seem ready for more than garbage time action.

FUTURE: Screven County (4-2, 2-1 in Region 3-AA) coach Pat Collins will have a lot back in 2008.

The Gamecocks have 26 juniors and 27 sophomores on their roster. They started 11 juniors and five sophomores against Laney.