Prep football notebook: Trion's latest win was power-packed

Trion fullback Braden Johnson tries to shake loose from LaFayette's Alan Hu during a scrimmage in August.
Trion fullback Braden Johnson tries to shake loose from LaFayette's Alan Hu during a scrimmage in August.
photo Trion fullback Braden Johnson tries to shake loose from LaFayette's Alan Hu during a scrimmage in August.

Trion's 26-7 win over Christian Heritage last week was just what it needed to rise into the top 10 of the GHSA Class A public school power rankings for football.

The Bulldogs (5-2) earned major bonus points with the win because the Lions (4-2) have victories over Class AAAA's LaFayette and Mount Zion-Carroll, which is tied for fifth in the Class A public power rankings. Trion will continue to earn bonus points for every win those teams get as well as its own, and the Bulldogs could take another leap tonight when they host Darlington (5-1), No. 4 in the Class A private power rankings.

"This will give us a huge boost in the power rankings," Trion coach Justin Brown said after last week's home win. "We've had some good wins, just not one over a team like this. At 5-2 and with two of our last three (remaining regular-season games) at home, I feel we are in a good place right now.

"It doesn't get any easier next week when we have to go to Darlington, but if we play like this and not make mistakes, I think we can give them a game."

Christian Heritage fell from No. 2 to No. 6 in this week's Class A private power rankings.

Lions healthy again

Christian Heritage's offense should be at full strength tonight, a week after having to play without three key starters in the loss at Trion.

Senior quarterback Matthew Neff and freshman running back Gage Leonard sat out while going through concussion protocol, and sophomore center Manuel Salaices was out due to an ankle injury.

"That was a tough deal to be without those three," Lions coach Jay Poag said. "But they have all been cleared to play and we will be at full strength at Bowdon Friday."

Christian Heritage is 1-2 in Region 6A-A play heading to Bowdon (0-6, 0-3). The Lions beat the Red Devils 12-7 last season for one of their only two wins.

No doubt about it

Sometimes statistics are misleading. In the case of GHSA Class AAA power Calhoun, though, they are spot on this season.

The top-ranked Yellow Jackets (6-0, 4-0), last year's state champions, lead Region 6 in nearly every statistical category this season as they shoot for their 18th straight region title.

Coach Hal Lamb's team, which is coming off a 61-0 win at Adairsville, is tops in points per game at 45.3 and fewest points allowed at 7.3 per game, as well as total yards per game (400) and fewest yards allowed per game (149.7).

Each of those numbers rank in the top five in AAA.

Point of pride

Grace Baptist Academy opened the school's new 4,400-square-foot fitness center last weekend. The building houses free-weight platforms and Cybex machines on the main floor, and there are elliptical trainers and treadmills on the facility's mezzanine.

"We believe that this new facility will improve both our service to our students and expand our ministry to the church body and community," said Les Compton, who is in charge of the school's advancement and development.

"As an expanded training facility for our athletic teams, student body and church outreach ministries, the facility includes fitness equipment as well as physical activity space."

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