CLASS AAAA

Third unbeaten regular season in a row for Sandy Creek: The top-ranked Patriots completed their regular season with a 65-0 victory against visiting Columbus. The only unbeaten team left in AAAA, Sandy Creek has allowed 20 points just once, has held six opponents to a touchdown or less and has averaged 45 points.

Marist stops another unbeaten team: The War Eagles (9-1) enter the playoffs having won eight in a row, and the past two weeks they’ve thumped previously unbeaten teams, winning 24-0 over Chamblee last week and 42-14 over Carver-Atlanta on Friday night. Quarterback Myles Willis, who accounted for 221 yards and three touchdowns against Carver, leads a talented group of skilled players on offense and like Sandy Creek, the Marist defense has allowed more than 20 points just once, that coming against Class AAAAA Thomas County Central.

Burke County wins ninth in a row: Last year’s Class AAA champions are one of three teams in AAAA this year to have lost their season opener then reeled off nine consecutive wins. To get past Burke in the playoffs will mean figuring out a way to slow quarterback Donquell Green, who has rushed for 1,461 yards and passed for 929. Burke has surpassed 40 point six times.

Ridgeland tops 35 again: The 10th-ranked Panthers (9-1) got three touchdowns from Darrell Bridges in a 48-14 win over River Ridge in the Region 7 championship. They’ve scored at least 35 points in every game and are averaging 43.5 points, and they’ve won nine consecutive since losing to AA power Calhoun in the season opener.

Five routs in a row for Stockbridge: After back-to-back nail-biters in September, the Tigers (9-1) blew through their sub-region schedule with five consecutive blowout wins, including a 290 win against North Clayton. The Tigers, who also have won nine consecutive since a season-opening loss, are making their third playoff appearance in a row.