Albany Herald

HERALD FAB 5 POLL:

1. Lee County (7-2)

The Trojans put up 70 points last week. Any questions? They stay No. 1 with a huge showdown Friday against No. 2 Bainbridge. Next: At Bainbridge, 7:30 p.m. Friday.

2. Bainbridge (6-3)

The Bearcats move up from No. 4 to 2 on the strength of their win earlier this year against Cairo, which beat No. 3 Westover and No. 4 Monroe. Had Monroe beaten Cairo, the poll would have had a big shakeup. Next: vs. Lee County, 7:30 p.m. Friday.

3. Westover (6-3)

The Pats have had a big year, will finish second in the region and will host a playoff game for the first time in history. Next: vs. Albany High, 7 p.m., Saturday.

4. Monroe (6-3)

The Tornadoes drop one spot after losing to Cairo. There is no team that is not ranked in the Fab 5 that would have a prayer to beat Cairo, which is why Monroe stays in the Top 5. Next: vs. Worth County, 7:30 p.m., Friday.

5. Early County (6-3)

The Bobcats stay at No. 5 because the next two teams on the bubble are Seminole and Deerfield. Early beat Seminole — and would be a huge favorite against any GISA team. Next: vs. Cook, 8 p.m., Friday.

Teams eligible for poll: Albany, Monroe, Dougherty, Westover, Sherwood Christian, Deerfield-Windsor, Terrell County, Terrell Academy, Pelham, Westwood, Mitchell County, Miller County, Bainbridge, Seminole County, Early County, Randolph-Clay, Randolph Southern, Southwest Georgia Academy, Southland, Americus-Sumter, Lee County, Worth County, Calhoun County, Baconton Charter, Crisp County and Crisp Academy.

Poll voted on by Herald sports staff; new poll released every Tuesday

HERALD HEISMAN WATCH:

The Top 5 performers from Week 11 who are making a case for Player of the Year.

CORNELIUS BENNETT, RB, RANDOLPH-CLAY: Rushed for 173 yards on 32 carries and scored two touchdowns in 20-18 win against Calhoun County.

DALTON TODD, QB, SHERWOOD: Threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns in SCA’s 40-19 loss to Brookwood.

EMANUEL DAVIS, WR, MONROE: Made nine receptions for a total of 123 yards and scored a touchdown in Monroe’s 28-20 loss to Cairo.

DALVINESS GREENE, RB, WESTOVER: Rushed for 216 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns, and returned a kick 33 yards to lead Westover to a 32-22 win against Worth County.

MATT KENDRICK, RB, RANDOLPH SOUTHERN: Rushed for 286 yards on 30 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead the Patriots to a 35-14 win against First Presbyterian.

GAME OF THE WEEK:

Briarwood at Westwood, GISA Class AA state playoffs, first round, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

BY THE NUMBERS:

646:

Number of total yards of offense by Lee County, which set a school record with 70 points against Northside, Columbus in a 70-19 win as the Trojans rushed for 333 yards and passed for 313.

230:

Number of combined yards by Monroe’s Emanuel Davis and Kevin Williams in a 28-20 loss to Cairo. Davis had nine catches (123 yards, TD) and Williams eight (107, TD).

DYNAMITE DROP-IN:

A look at the highlighted Herald Dynamite Dozen player of the week:

WHO: Charles Stafford, Monroe, Jr., QB

WHY: Completed 25 of 39 passes — including 17 of 20 during one stretch — for 290 yards and two touchdowns, and he aso ran for a touchdown in Monroe’s 28-20 loss to Cairo.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“We just prayed. I thanked them for sticking together. They could have easily quit on the season. But these guys came back each week and practiced hard and got a win. It was something the kids deserved.”

Corey Joyner,

Dougherty first-year coach on what he said to his players in his postgame speech last Thursday after beating Americus-Sumter and snapping the program’s 15-game losing streak

WEEK 12 AREA SCHEDULE:

Friday (regular season)

Cook at Early County, 8 p.m.

Randolph Southern at Crisp Academy

Randolph-Clay at Terrell County

Calhoun County at Stewart County

Pelham at Thomasville

Worth County at Monroe

Deerfield at Southland

Crisp County at Americus-Sumter

Lee County at Bainbridge

Seminole County at Mitchell County

Dougherty at Cairo

Saturday (regular season)

Albany vs. Westover at Hugh Mills, 7 p.m.

Friday (GISA state playoffs)

GISA Class AA state playoffs, first round, SGA at Gatewood, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday (GISA state playoffs)

GISA Class AA state playoffs, first round, Briarwood at Westwood, 7:30 p.m.

NOTE: See a game time or location that’s incorrect? Drop us a line at sports@albanyherald.com or call us at (229) 888-9306.