Gwinnett Daily Post

Pace Academy Knights (5-A North)

Coach: Matthew Hall

Record: 2-2, 1-0 subregion

Last week: Beat King's Ridge 22-13

Wesleyan Wolves (5-A North)

Coach: Franklin Pridgen

Record: 3-2, 1-1 subregion

Last week: Beat Fellowship Christian 14-7

The Wolves missed a pair of field goals last week that could have led to a slightly more comfortable victory, but the bottom line still looked good with a subregion victory.

"I thought the defense played extremely well," Wesleyan head coach Franklin Pridgen said. "The defense and special teams were fantastic. Offensively, until we get our quarterback back, we have to be creative to move the ball."

Wide receiver/kicker Eric Sunderman continues to fill in for the Wolves' injured quarterback, Will Anderson, who is expected to return from a knee injury later in the season. Zander Yost (110 total yards) and Charles Mack (three catches for 27 yards) took up some of the offensive slack last week, while Josh King (93 percent blocking grade) led the way up front.

King also made seven tackles (one for a loss) on defense, while free safety Mack (five tackles) and freshman linebacker Miles Smith (nine tackles, fumble recovery) also stood out. They're part of a unit that has been stingy the last two weeks, holding Holy Innocents' to 14 points and Fellowship to seven.

The defense's task this week is handling Pace's go-to player, sophomore running back Denzel Franklin. The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder rushed for 343 yards and three scores in last week's win over King's Ridge. Wesleyan controlled Franklin last season during a lopsided victory.

The matchup is Wesleyan's homecoming game.

Last meeting: Wesleyan won 48-14 last year

Directions to the Wesleyan School: From I-85, take I-285 west to Peachtree Industrial Blvd./Ga. 141 north exit. Veer to the left on Peachtree Parkway/Ga. 141 and turn right on Spalding Drive. School is on the left.