Sports

Early County still top area team

• Early County, The Albany Herald's No. 1-ranked squad, faces defending region champ, Fitzgerald, Friday night.

Scott Chancey

ALBANY — The scenario could not be more perfect in GHSA Region 1-AA.

While Early County retains the top spot in The Herald’s Top 7 of ’07, coach Trey Woolf’s Bobcats have two things at stake Friday night when Fitzgerald visits for the annual matchup.

The Bobcats, if they win, would not only remain the Herald coverage area’s top-rated team, they would likely move past the Purple Hurricanes in The Associated Press’ poll. Fitzgerald, which is the defending region champion, is ranked third in the state, and the Bobcats are fourth.

During Early County’s win against Brooks County, quarterback Michael Perry accounted for three touchdowns, including passes of 67, 89 and 27 yards.

Woolf’s team not only held on to its spot in The Herald’s poll, five others did the same. Monroe — ranked ninth in AAA — remains second after a win against Worth County, and Americus-Sumter County is still third after having a bye last week.

The Panthers, however, play Thomas County Central — Class AAAA’s third-ranked team — this week. Dougherty, which lost to Crisp County, is still fourth, followed by Bainbridge and Deerfield-Windsor, which defeated Sherwood Christian.

Thanks to a spectacular night by running back Chris Clay, Randolph-Clay is now seventh, replacing Calhoun County, which lost last week.

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