Mt. Zion pulls off the upset win over Stephenson in PSN's notable wins of Week 5

Week 5 of the Georgia High School Association football season did not disappoint as upset wins and statement victories were a part of the week’s storylines:

10. Marietta def. Etowah 34-0 – The Blue Devils last opened up the season at 0-3 in the 2015 season and avoided going 0-4, which they last did in 2011, with Friday’s much needed win over Etowah. However, while the Blue Devils have gotten off to a rocky start to the season, Friday’s victory puts them at 1-0 in region play as the most important part of the season begins for them.

9. Lakeside-Dekalb def. Arabia Mountain 51-50 – For the first time in four seasons, the Lakeside playing a region schedule and Friday’s win over Arabia Mountain helped them kick off region play heading in the right direction as they sit at 1-0 in the standings and 2-2 overall thanks to back to back wins. While the Vikings have six games remaining, all against region opponents, if they can keep enough momentum behind them to finish in the top four of the region, it would be their first playoff berth since the 2015 season.

8. Buford def. Douglas County 31-14 – It was potentially a preview of a GHSA 6A playoff matchup, the Wolves proved to be the better team this time around as they handed the Tigers their first loss of the season and captured their third consecutive win, improving to 3-1. The Wolves’ win also marked the second straight week in which their run game was once again the dominant factor with senior running back Justin Baker leading the way with 112 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.

7. Hiram def. Cass 41-28 – After opening the season with a victory over Paulding County, Hiram hit a three game skid, but finally got back on track and did so in the right way as they opened region play with Friday’s win over Cass, which is the second straight year they have defeated their region foe.

6. Woodward Academy def. Shiloh 21-6 – The last 0-3 start to a season for Woodward came in the 2020 season and thanks to Friday’s win over Shiloh, the War Eagles avoided an 0-4 start, which has not happened for the program since the 2001 season. And while the War Eagles picked up their first win of the season on Friday, it was the right time to pick up a victory as that was their region opener and now they sit at 1-0 in the standings.

5. Cambridge def. Calhoun 31-19 – In their first year under head coach, Tyler Jones, the Cambridge Bears have gotten off to their best start to a season since 2021 season as they improved to 5-0 after Friday’s win over Calhoun. And while the Bears have impressed with their five straight wins, Friday’s victory over a Calhoun team, considered one of Georgia’s toughest teams to face, proves the Bears are worthy of keep an eye on as a team to make some post-season noise.

4. Carver-Columbus def. Northside Columbus 26-0 – While the two rivals have not faced one another since the 2019 season in which the Tigers once again held Northside scoreless. Friday’s win also marks the third consecutive win Carver has over the Patriots.

3. Rome def. East Paulding 27-7 – After having the start of their season derailed by a bus accident that involved players and coaches, after an 0-2 start, the Wolves opened up region play on Friday with a win over East Paulding, slowing the Raiders down and handing them their first loss of the season. The win came with Rome having their best defensive showing so far this season and they’ll look to keep momentum when they travel to Alexander on Friday.

2. New Manchester def. Kennesaw Mountain 21-14 – The Jaguars have not started at 4-0 since the 2013 season and picking up Friday’s win over Kennesaw Mountain allowed the Jaguars to kick off region play with a victory as Coach Olten Downs has New Manchester trending up in just his second season as the head coach.

1. Mt. Zion (Jonesboro) def. Stephenson 20-14 – With Friday’s win giving the Bulldogs back to back wins and allowing them to improve to 2-2 overall and 2-0 in region play, Mt. Zion has won now won more games than they had combined the past three seasons. Their win over Stephenson on Friday, is considered one of the biggest upsets of the week and has them sitting atop of the region standings.