Red Devils must prepare for rushing attack

WHO'S HOT

Burke County's offensive line. The Bears ran for 396 yards in a 70-0 win against Jenkins County. Burke's six-man line consists of three juniors and three seniors. All three seniors are returning starters.

WHO'S NOT

Lincoln County. A 38-13 loss at Greene County was one thing. The last time the Red Devils lost that big was to Buford, 31-6 in 2001. The troubling sign for Lincoln County fans was the rush defense. Greene County ran the ball 30 times for 273 yards. That's an average of 9.1 yards per carry. And Class AAA Burke County is next on the schedule.

BEST WINS IN WEEK 1

1. Harlem: Coach Jimmie Lewis said the 13-7 win at Evans was his top football moment.

2. Laney: The Wildcats showed no signs of star withdrawal, breaking in a new offense with a 43-0 mercy-shortened win vs. Butler.

3. Burke County: 49 points at the half isn't shabby. But it came against Jenkins County. The Eagles scored 47 points the entire 2004 season and gave up 513.

FRIDAY'S BIG GAMES

1. Washington-Wilkes at Thomson: The Tigers need to be more careful with the ball to have any chance at an upset.

2. Strom Thurmond at North Augusta: The game got the Rebels rolling last year and sent North Augusta on a downward spiral.

3. Aquinas at Richmond Academy: Same as above. Aquinas played the part of Strom Thurmond, and ARC was North Augusta. No doubt Aquinas coach Jim Connor scouted ARC while his Irish were off last week.

WHAT WAS THAT?

A top-10 ranking in the Georgia Associated Press Class A preseason poll wasn't worth squat last week.

The top three teams lost, and six of the top ten fell in the first week. All but one of the teams lost by more than 18 points.

RISING STARS

Richmond Academy's Marquel Jordan had 76 yards on 14 carries against Westside. If he produces those numbers each week, ARC will be improved this year.

Harlem's Barry St. John also carried the ball 14 times for 101 yards, including the 34-yard touchdown run that toppled Evans.

WORTH QUOTING

"Hart County last year was a defensive dogfight. Both teams got after it. You can kick a brick as far as we ran the ball against them. Ricky (Young) may have had 50 yards. It was the same for both teams."

- Glenn Hills coach Felix Curry, on last year's 7-0 loss to Hart County. The Spartans travel to face Hart County on Friday.

PEP TALK

"We snuck up on people last year beginning with North Augusta. Everyone knows good and well they are not going to take what we did to them last year lightly. It was the first time we had beat North Augusta in nine years. If those boys have any blood pumping through their heart and guts, they will take us very seriously this time around."

- Strom Thurmond coach Lee Sawyer, on Friday's game at North Augusta. The Rebels won 20-18 last year.

Reach Jeff Sentell at (706) 823-3425 or jeff.sentell@augustachronicle.com.