Boyd-Buchanan may not be the best 0-5 football team in the TSSAA -- Siegel probably owns that distinction -- but the Buccaneers have faced three schools larger than theirs and tonight take on their second Division II-A opponent, and an undefeated one at that.
All of Boyd-Buchanan's opponents so far have winning records, with a combined worksheet of 15-5. And Donelson Christian Academy, which wasn't scored upon until its fourth game, brings a 5-0 record to Boyd-Buchanan tonight.
Bucs coach Grant Reynolds said his team hasn't been at full strength since the first half of the season, but some of the injured have returned or are close to returning.
DCA won 16-12 when the teams played last year in Nashville.
"I expect us to play well," said Reynolds, whose team doesn't play the first of its three District 5-A games this season until next week. "I like the way the kids have responded in practice. I really think we have a good football team. We just haven't shown it yet."
Jackets down to 18
Although Lookout Valley started the season with 32 players, injuries and defections have taken their toll.
The Yellow Jackets dressed just 18 players last week.
"Some players quit, but the injury situation is as bad as I've seen it," coach Tony Webb said. "In the second half of one game, four of our five starting offensive linemen were on the sidelines with injuries."
They had three tailbacks and two have been injured.
"It's makeshift who we play back there. The backup for us in some cases may be a 14-year-old," Webb said.
7-AAAA opens
Seldom has an opening week of region play drawn so much attention, but considering the state of Georgia Region 7-AAAA, week one is likely to have long-term meaning in a league no longer subdivided.
"Every week's going to be a big game," said Ridgeland coach Mark Mariakis, whose team opens tonight at Pickens County. "I think it's as even from top to bottom as I've seen in a long time. There are some big games Friday. For the first time in years we're playing a full region schedule, and I believe you're going to have to win at least four of the seven to have a chance at the playoffs."
Preseason favorites Cartersville and Gilmer County clash in Ellijay, while four teams expected to battle for postseason spots -- Southeast Whitfield at Heritage and Northwest Whitfield at LaFayette -- also go head to head in a region where all its teams are 3-0 or 2-1 overall.
"We've seen everybody in film and everybody feels good about where they are," Mariakis said. "It will all shake out in the next seven weeks, but the one thing I'm sure of is there are no gimmes this year."