Albany Herald

HERALD FAB 5 POLL --- WEEK 3:

1. Monroe (1-1)

The Tornadoes bounced back from an opening-night loss to beat Class A No. 2 Wilcox. Next: vs. Fitzgerald, 7 p.m. Saturday at Hugh Mills Stadium.

2. Bainbridge (1-1)

After a bye week, the Bearcats knocked off rival and Class AAAA No. 2 Cairo, 17-14, but now face Herald No. 4 Early County. Next: At Early County, 8 p.m. Friday.

3. Lee County (2-0)

The Trojans have put up more than 100 points in two games with the most explosive offense in SW Georgia. Next: At Westover, 7:30 p.m. Friday at Hugh Mills Stadium.

4. Early County (2-0)

The Bobcats have had two big wins against Seminole and Miller and are playing like one of the top Class AA teams in the state. Next: vs. Bainbridge, 8 p.m. Friday.

5. Westover (1-1)

The Patriots had state-ranked Jonesboro on the ropes early before losing, 34-12, but won’t be penalized — the same way Monroe and Bainbridge weren’t when they lost to state powers — and get to stay in the Top 5 this week. Next: vs. Lee County, 7:30 p.m., Friday at Hugh Mills.

ALBANY HERALD HEISMAN WATCH:

The Top 5 performers from Week 3 who are already making an early case for Player of the Year.

THOMAS AIKEN, RB, SEMINOLE COUNTY: The freshman rushed for 223 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns in his high school debut to lead Seminole County to a 34-32 win against Turner County.

CORNELIUS BENNETT, RB, RANDOLPH-CLAY: The junior rushed for 203 yards on 30 carries and scored four TDs to lead the Red Devils past Spencer, 34-33.

CHARLES STAFFORD, QB, MONROE: The junior completed 16-of-22 passes for 187 yards and a TD, and he also ran for two TDs in Monroe’s 28-14 win against Wilcox County.

STEPHEN COLLIER, QB, LEE COUNTY: Despite splitting time with fellow QB Matt Mears, the junior signal caller threw three touchdowns for 109 yards last Friday during a 52-13 win against Albany High.

KEVIN WILLIAMS, WR, MONROE: Caught eight passes for 98 yards and a TD, and also ran a punt back for a 63-yard TD in Monroe’s 28-14 win against Class A No. 2-ranked Wilcox County.

WEEK 4 GAME OF THE WEEK:

Bainbridge at Early County, Friday, 7:30 p.m.

BY THE NUMBERS:

4: Number of seconds left in the game this past Friday night when Bainbridge’s Daniel Provence kicked a 30-yard field goal to beat Cairo, 17-14. Provence also beat Cairo with a FG in 2011.

11: Number of times Crisp Academy carried the ball against John Hancock as the Wildcats gained a mind-boggling 287 yards on just 11 carries in a 54-0 victory.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“We’ve dedicated the entire season to him. It gives us one more thing to play for, and it’s our way to honor one of our own and all the sacrifices he made for us.”

-- Dean Fabrizio, Lee County football coach on his team’s resolution to play this season in honor of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Steven Sutton, a former Trojan football star who died earlier this year while serving overseas

WEEK 4 AREA SCHEDULE:

(All games 7:30 p.m. unless noted)

Thursday

Cook at Dougherty, 7 p.m.

Friday

SGA at Tiftarea Academy

John Hancock at Randolph Southern

Calhoun County at Turner County

Worth County at Tift County, 8 p.m.

Terrell Academy at Fullington

Stratford at Deerfield

Macon County at Americus-Sumter

Southland at Sherwood

Crisp County at Valdosta, 8 p.m.

Crisp Academy at Covenant

Bainbridge at Early County, 8 p.m.

Windsor at Westwood

Terrell County at Central, Talbotton

Seminole County at Clinch County

Miller County at Pelham

Lee County at Westover

Albany at Mitchell County

Baconton Charter at Telfair County

Saturday

Fitzgerald at Monroe, 7 p.m.

EDITOR'S NOTE: See a game time or matchup listed here that is wrong? Please drop us an e-mail at sports@albanyherald.com or give us a call at (229) 888-9306 and we'll be sure to correct it.