Closer look at Friday night's games
SHAW VS. NORTHSIDE
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Kinnett Stadium
Records: Shaw 2-2, 0-0 Region 1-AAAAA. Northside 1-2, 0-0.
Last week: Shaw beat Northeast-Macon 45-17. Northside lost 40-17 to Upson-Lee.
Series: Shaw leads 7-4, but Northside won 31-28 last season.
You need to know: Shaw's season has been up-and-down to say the least. The Raiders have big wins over Luella (39-14) and Northeast-Macon (45-17) and big losses to Northgate (45-0) and Americus-Sumter (65-49). Since opening with a win over Kendrick, Northside has dropped games to Spencer and Upson-Lee. This matchup last year decided the No. 4 seed from the region. It could well do the same again this season. Northside running backs Kalan Watts has rushed for 356 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
KENDRICK VS. WESTSIDE-MACON
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium
Records: Kendrick 2-2, 1-1 Region 2-AAA. Westside-Macon 4-0, 2-0.
Last week: Kendrick beat Rutland 20-18. Westside-Macon beat Central-Macon 24-21 in OT.
Series: Westside-Macon leads 1-0 after a 42-0 victory last season.
You need to know: Kendrick snapped its two-game losing streak with the win at Rutland last week. Westside-Macon needed overtime last week to beat Central-Macon.
SPENCER AT CENTRAL-MACON
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Brad Henderson Memorial Stadium, Macon, Ga.
Records: Spencer 1-2, 0-1 Region 2-AAA. Central-Macon 2-2, 1-1.
Last week: Spencer lost 41-0 to Peach County. Central-Macon lost 24-21 in overtime to Westside-Macon.
Series: Spencer leads 1-0 after a 27-21 victory last season.
You need to know: The Greenwave will be looking to avoid an 0-2 start in region play. Central-Macon owns a region win, 52-28 over Jordan.
JORDAN AT JACKSON
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Red Devil Hill, Jackson, Ga.
Records: Jordan 1-3, 0-2 Region 2-AAA. Jackson 2-1, 1-0.
Last week: Jordan lost 42-27 to Southwest-Macon. Jackson was idle.
Series: Jackson leads 1-0 after a 35-7 victory last season.
You need to know: Offense has not been a problem for the Red Jackets, who are averaging 30.3 points per game. But the defense is allowing 41 per game.
BROOKSTONE AT GREENVILLE
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Freeman Stadium, Greenville, Ga.
Records: Brookstone 1-2, 1-0 Region 4-A. Greenville 3-0, 2-0.
Last week: Brookstone beat Hawkinsville 14-0. Greenville beat Pacelli 22-12.
Series: Greenville leads 21-12, including a 32-21 victory last season. Prior to that, Brookstone had won three straight and six of eight.
You need to know: The first win of the Scott Pethtel era was a big one for the Cougars, coming over the defending Class A-public school state champion. Greenville had an impressive win of its own last week, over Pacelli.
PACELLI AT DOOLY COUNTY
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Grove, Vienna, Ga.
Records: Pacelli 3-1, 1-1 Region 4-A. Dooly County 2-2, 1-1.
Last week: Pacelli lost 22-12 to Greenville. Dooly County beat Central-Talbotton 45-6.
Series: Dooly County leads 9-0 including a 28-21 win last season.
You need to know: Pacelli lost its home opener last week after starting the season with three straight road games. After tonight's road game, Pacelli plays four straight at home. With Marion County next on the schedule, Pacelli can ill afford another region loss.
CALVARY CHRISTIAN AT SHERWOOD
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where:
Records: Calvary Christian 4-0, 1-0 GICAA Region I-AA. Sherwood 0-4, 0-1.
Last week: Calvary Christian beat Skipstone 38-7. Sherwood was idle.
Series: Sherwood leads 2-0 with both wins coming last season.
You need to know: This is a rematch of last year's state championship game, which Sherwood won 21-13. Sherwood is giving up an average of 50.5 points per game.
SCHLEY COUNTY AT MARION COUNTY
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Eagle Stadium, Buena Vista, Ga.
Records: Schley County 0-3, 0-2 Region 4-A. Marion County 2-1, 1-0.
Last week: Schley County lost 49-13 to Taylor County. Marion County lost 21-14 to Columbus.
Series: Marion County leads 6-1 with six straight wins, including 34-13 last season.
You need to know: Schley County has struggled on offense, having scored just 20 points in its three games. Marion County returns to region play after falling to Class AAAAA Columbus last week.
RANDOLPH-CLAY AT CHATTAHOCHEE COUNTY
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Panther Stadium, Cusseta, Ga.
Records: Randolph-Clay 2-2. Chattahoochee County 1-2.
Last week: Randolph-Clay was idle. Chattahoochee County lost 13-6 to Crawford County.
Series: Chattahoochee County leads 1-0 with a 33-18 victory last season.
You need to know: Randolph-Clay opened with wins over Lanier County and Abbeville (Ala.), but then lost to Dougherty and Turner County. This is Chattahoochee County's last game before Region 5-AA play begins.
OPELIKA AT CENTRAL
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Garrett-Harrison Stadium
Records: Opelika 5-0. Central 4-1.
Last week: Opelika beat Oxford 55-0. Central beat Prattville 20-10.
Series: Central leads 41-33, inclduing a 28-21 win last year.
You need to know: This is one of the best matchups in the state in a non-region week. Central is No. 2 in Class 7A, while Opelika is No. 3 in 6A. These two rivals have played every year since 1947.
RUSSELL COUNTY AT SMITHS STATION
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Panther Stadium, Smiths Station, Ala.
Records: Russell County 0-4. Smiths Station 4-1.
Last week: Russell County lost 47-7 to Northview. Smiths Station beat Valley 36-0.
Series: Smiths Station leads 51-5 including a 42-14 win last season.
You need to know: This is homecoming for Smiths Station. Smiths Station quarterback Dalton Sinquefield has completed 68 of 128 passes for 1,139 yards anbd 10 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 366 yards and four TDs.
LEE-SCOTT AT GLENWOOD
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Sammy Howard Field
Records: Lee-Scott 3-1, 1-1 AISA Class AAA Region 2. Glenwood 3-1, 1-0.
Last week: Lee-Scott beat Autauga 42-16. Glenwood beat Lakeside 28-17.
Series: Glenwood leads 18-13, including a 20-13 victory last season.
You need to know: Glenwood can tie Bessemer atop the region standings with a win. The Gators could also clinch a berth in the state playoffs with the win. Brandon Moseley leads Glenwood with 305 yards rushing. Quarterback Carrington Huddleston has rushed for 237 and passed for 150.
-- Kevin Price
This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 10:49 PM with the headline "Closer look at Friday night's games ."