Sunday Morning Quarterback: what we learned

Defending champs are feeling good: Northside clicked in every area and from starters to third-teamers in dismantling Warner Robins. And the Eagles are alone atop GHSA Region 2-AAAAA, beginning the countdown to the regular-season finale against Houston County on Nov. 6. Northside has had at least one game scoring 50 or more points in five straight seasons.

Region 2-AAA race tightens up: Jackson's 3-2 win over Peach County threw the GHSA Region 2-AAA race into disarray. Peach County is still in front at 5-1 (6-2 overall), but that lead is now just half a game in the win column. Westside (6-1 overall) and Jackson (5-2 overall) are tied for second at 4-1, with Westside hosting Peach County on Oct. 30. Central and Spencer (both 4-3 overall) are tied for fourth at 3-2, with Central hosting Jackson on Friday and Spencer hosting Westside on Saturday at Kinnett Stadium.

Taylor County making a move: Keyed by the monster 415-yard rushing game by sophomore Lyn-J Dixon, who is getting some big-school attemtion, Taylor County is legitimately in the postseason hunt in tough Region 4-A. The Vikings are 3-2 in region play, and still have Dooly County (3-2), region favorite Marion County (5-0) and Pacelli (3-2) left.

Dominating defense: Central's defense recorded its second shutout of the season, and its second straight shutout over Southwest, in a 41-0 win over the Patriots. Central limited Southwest to 153 yards of total offense, had nine tackles for loss and held the Patriots to 2-of-13 on third-down conversion attempts.

Separation in Region 4-AA: Through two games in GHSA Region 4-AA, half of the region is at 2-0, while the other half is at 0-2. The three 2-0 teams -- Putnam County, Lamar County at Macon County -- appear to be headed toward the playoffs, while the other three -- Bleckley County, Monticello and Northeast -- likely will be fighting for the final playoff spot in the final three weeks of the regular season.

Still some work to do: Stratford claimed sole possession of first place in GHSA Region 7A-A with its win over Twiggs County, but the Eagles haven't clinched their spot in the Region 7-A title game yet. A win Friday at Mount de Sales would help things, but it's likely the Eagles will need to also beat Wilkinson County on Oct. 30 in Irwinton to earn that title game spot.

An odd night for Trojans: Peach County scored two points in losing at Jackson, the Trojans' fewest points since a 32-0 loss at Westside early in the 2007 season, the first season as head coach at Peach County for Chad Campbell. It was the Trojans' first region loss since losing 44-9 to Carver-Columbus in 2013.

Strange stuff in Sparta: Hancock Central's dizzying season continued Friday night when the Bulldogs led Lincoln County only to lose 7-6. The Bulldogs are going in twos this season: two losses -- and shutouts -- to open the season, followed by two wins (including an eye-opening 23-point win over Tattnall Square) and followed by two more losses. Lincoln County now has 20 straight wins over Hancock Central, and this was the first margin fewer than 20 points in the series.

Veterans on a roll: It's taken into the second season, but Veterans' tough non-region schedule seems to be paying off. The Warhawks have won three straight to improve to 4-3 and get past the .500 mark for the first time since the 2013 season. Veterans has won those three by an average of 18.3 points, and the Warhawks are now set to take on Mary Persons in a huge region matchup.

-- Telegraph Staff

This story was originally published October 17, 2015 at 6:59 PM with the headline "Sunday Morning Quarterback: what we learned ."