Who Will Win Battle of Unbeatens Between Mill Creek and Peachtree Ridge?

With every passing week in the Gwinnett County high school football season, each game becomes that much more important.

Here are 5 questions (and their answers) about Gwinnett County high school football entering Sept. 20 games.

1. Question: Which undefeated Gwinnett team will lose first?

• Answer: Trick question. Mill Creek plays Peachtree Ridge Friday, so one of those 3-0 teams will fall to 3-1. The remaining undefeateds playing this week — North Gwinnett, Archer, Berkmar, Lanier and Hebron Christian — all should be favored. But don’t be surprised if Archer falls at Parkview and Berkmar at Central Gwinnett. (Note: Collins Hill, Buford and Greater Atlanta Christian are all undefeated, but idle this week)

2. Question: Is Norcross, the defending state champion in Class 6A, in danger of missing the playoffs?

• Answer: No … not yet. The Blue Devils should get better with a win over Duluth this week, and they have their toughest Region 7 games at home the rest of the way. But in what might be the toughest region in the state, they cannot afford a loss to at least one of these teams — Collins Hill, Mill Creek or Peachtree Ridge.

3. Question: How many state championships can Gwinnett teams win this year?

• Answer: Three — North Gwinnett in Class 6A, Buford in 3A and Greater Atlanta Christian in 2A. North Gwinnett has been especially impressive, with one-sided wins over recent state champions Norcross, Grayson and Camden County. Buford looks destined for an undefeated regular season. GAC is averaging better than 40 points per game, but we’ll find out more later when the Spartans face tough region foes.

4. Question: What’s to make of the county’s greatest rivalry — Brookwood vs. Parkview?

• Answer: Good question. If Parkview loses to Archer at home Friday, the Panthers will be 0-4 for only second time in school history (according to data available on the Georgia High School Football Historians Association). Brookwood is 0-3 and is idle this week. The only time the teams were winless for Brookwood-Parkview was 1986, when both were 0-5. Brookwood won that game 29-6.

5. Question: Who’s gonna win the Mill Creek-Peachtree Ridge game?

• Answer: Mill Creek. First things first, both teams are headed for the playoffs. They’ve both scored three easy wins so far.  And they usually play close games. Here’s the reason the Hawks will win — in the seven game these teams have played in past seasons, the road team has won six times. Friday’s game is at Peachtree Ridge.

• Upcoming Football Schedule in NE Georgia, Sept. 20
• NE Georgia High School Football Scores, Sept. 13
• NE Georgia High School Football Scores, Sept. 6
• NE Georgia Scores, Aug. 30
• 2013 GHSA Football Schedules