Canes continue strong hold on No. 1

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes passed what was arguably their toughest test of the 2016 regular season in Region 5-AAAA Friday night with a win a Sandy Creek.

As a result, the Canes continue a solid hold on the No. 1 spot in the latest release of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Top Ten rankings.

Trevor Lawrence threw for three touchdowns and Trey Creamer ran for two more as the top-ranked Cartersville Purple Hurricanes won their 23rd straight game and improved to 8-0 this season with 35-21 win in Tyrone.

Lawrence had first half touchdown throws to E.J. Turner (6-yards), Avery Showell (13-yards), and JKobe Orr (18-yards) to take a 21-14 lead at halftime.

Creamer extended the Canes lead to 28-14 with a 14-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter. A 51-yard pass play from Lawrence to Turner preceded the scoring run as the Canes went 65 yards in two plays.

Creamer, who recently committed to Minnesota, added a nine-yard rushing touchdown with 2:58 remaining in the third quarter to put the Cane ahead 35-14.

Lawrence was 19-of-31 passing for 248 yards and three touchdowns. Creamer rushed for 56 yards and two scores on 12 carries.

Sandy Creek fell to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in Region 5-AAAA with the loss.

Cartersville (8-0, 4-0) travels to Chapel Hill (2-3-1, 0-2) next Friday.

ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION TOP TEN RANKINGS

Class AAAAAAA

Rank (Previous Rank) (Season Record) 1. (1) Roswell (7-0) 2. (2) Mill Creek (8-0) 3. (3) Grayson (6-1) 4. (4) McEachern (6-1) 5. (5) Norcross (7-0) 6. (6) Lowndes (7-1) 7. (7) Colquitt County (4-4) 8. (9) Parkview (5-2) 9. (10) North Cobb (5-2) 10. (NR) Brookwood (5-2)

Out: No. 8 Lassiter (5-2)

Class AAAAAA 1. (2) Valdosta (6-1) 2. (3) Northside, Warner Robins (7-1) 3. (4) Harrison (7-0) 4. (1) Lee County (6-1) 5. (5) Dalton (7-0) 6. (6) Tucker (6-1) 7. (7) Mays (6-1) 8. (8) Alexander (7-0) 9. (10) Glynn Academy (6-1) 10. Coffee (5-2)

Out: No. 9 Houston County (6-2)

Class AAAAA 1. (1) Buford (6-1) 2. (2) Stockbridge (7-0) 3. (3) Kell (6-1) 4. (4) Rome (5-2) 5. (5) Carrollton (6-1) 6. (6) Ware County (3-3) 7. (7) Grady (6-1) 8. (9) Arabia Mountain (6-1) 9. (10) Woodland, Stockbridge (6-2) 10. (NR) Loganville (6-1)

Out: No. 8 Thomas County Central (5-3)

Class AAAA 1. (1) Cartersville (8-0) 2. (2) Thomson (7-0) 3. (3) Woodward Academy (7-1) 4. (4) Jefferson (6-1) 5. (5) Cairo (6-1) 6. (6) Blessed Trinity (6-2) 7. (7) Mary Persons (5-2) 8. (8) Burke County (6-1) 9. (9) Ridgeland (6-0) 10. (10) Marist (5-2)

Class AAA 1. (1) Greater Atlanta Christian (7-1) 2. (2) Peach County (6-1) 3. (3) Westminster (5-2) 4. (5) Calhoun (5-2) 5. (6) Lovett (5-2) 6. (7) Crisp County (7-0) 7. (9) Cedar Grove (5-2) 8. (8) Liberty County (6-1) 9. (4) Pace Academy (4-3) 10. (NR) Pierce County (5-2)

Out: No. 10 Appling County (4-2)

Class AA 1. (1) Benedictine (7-0) 2. (2) Fitzgerald (6-1) 3. (3) Jefferson County (8-0) 4. (4) Callaway (7-0) 5. (5) Rabun County (6-0) 6. (6) Brooks County (6-1) 7. (7) Vidalia (5-2) 8. (8) Screven County (6-1) 9. (10) Pepperell (5-1) 10. (9) Heard County (5-2)

Class A (private) 1. (1) Eagle’s Landing Christian (7-0) 2. (2) Wesleyan (6-1) 3. (3) Landmark Christian (7-0) 4. (4) Prince Avenue Christian (8-0) 5. (5) Calvary Day (5-0) 6. (6) Fellowship Christian (7-0) 7. (7) Athens Academy (7-0) 8. (10) Tattnall Square (7-0) 9. (8) Mount Paran Christian (6-1) 10. (9) Darlington (6-2)

Class A (public) 1. (1) Clinch County (6-1) 2. (2) Macon County (5-2) 3. (3) Emanuel County Institute (7-0) 4. (4) Manchester (8-0) 5. (5) Mount Zion (7-0) 6. (6) Twiggs County (5-2) 7. (7) Lincoln County (5-1-1) 8. (9) McIntosh County Academy (4-1) 9. (8) Bowdon (5-3) 10. (10) Commerce (5-2)