Notable results of week 8: Meadowcreek ends drought; McIntosh is for real

ATLANTA — GHSF Daily’s Chip Saye ranks the most surprising results of Week 8:

1. Meadowcreek 21, Habersham Central 14: Meadowcreek snapped a 53-game losing streak that was the second-longest in state history. The Mustangs got two defensive touchdowns in the first two minutes of the game and increased the lead to 21-0 in the first half. Meadowcreek hadn’t won a game since a 24-14 victory against Duluth on Sept. 5, 2008.

2. McIntosh 35, Whitewater 15: McIntosh improved to 6-0 for the first time and tied the record for victories in a season with what some are calling the biggest win in school history. McIntosh’s first five victories came against schools with a combined current record of 10-20, but Whitewater was 5-1 and the defending champion in Region 4-AAAAA.

3. Arabia Mountain 32, Mays 29: Mays, which had been undefeated in 6-AAAAA, fell out of a first-place tie with a loss to an Arabia Mountain team that was just 1-3 in region play. The Raiders are tied with M.L. King and Stephenson for second place in the region. Mays is still in good shape for a playoff berth but now has less margin for error.

4. Aquinas 42, Lincoln Co. 14: Aquinas broke a 32-game losing streak against Lincoln County, beating the Red Devils for the first time since a 45-0 victory in 1972. Last year, Lincoln County won 20-13, the only game during the streak that was closer than 11 points. Aquinas meets Wilkinson County this week in a game that will decide the Region 7-A title.

5. Lowndes 3, Valdosta 0: Lowndes beat its rival for the ninth time in 10 seasons despite being the lower-ranked team for the first time in the series since 2002. The computer Maxwell Ratings had projected Valdosta as a 15-point favorite. The victory put Lowndes in third place in 1-AAAAAA. Valdosta is in sixth place and still seeking its first region win.

6. Alexander 33, LaGrange 19: Alexander put itself in position to capture its first playoff berth since 1997 by improving to 4-2 for the first time since that season. It has been a big turnaround season for the Cougars, who finished 2-8 in 2012 and lost to LaGrange 42-28. Alexander faces top-ranked Sandy Creek and No. 2 Carrollton in its next two games.

7. Decatur 31, Blessed Trinity 28: Decatur jumped into the playoff race in Region 6-AAA with a victory against a Blessed Trinity team that was ranked No. 10 in AAA last week. Decatur, which hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2005, is 5-2 overall and 1-2 in the region but has two winnable games coming up before closing the regular season against St. Pius.

8. Brunswick 26, Coffee 19: Coffee has lost three consecutive games (all in Region 1-AAAAAA) since reaching No. 10 in the rankings after a 4-0 start. Brunswick came in 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the region. The loss probably ended any hopes the Trojans had of making the playoffs. Coffee closes the season against Lowndes, Colquitt County and Valdosta.

9. Parkview 28, Dacula 21: Parkview stopped a six-game losing streak that was the team’s longest since 1990-91 and avoided its first 0-6 start since 1986. The loss dropped Dacula into third place in Region 8-AAAAAA, although the Falcons have a good shot of winning their final three regular-season games and finishing as the No. 2 seed for the playoffs.

10. Spencer 46, Bremen 41: Spencer has moved into third place in 5-AA by putting together its first three-game winning streak in 20 years. Spencer is trying to claim its first playoff berth since 1993 but has games remaining against region leaders Bowdon and Heard County. Bremen likely needs to beat Manchester this week to keep its playoff hopes alive.

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