Here's what we learned from Week 5 of Augusta-area high school football action

Week 5 of high school football in Augusta was full of action, though some of it wasn't what anybody expected.

The ingredients were there: a big-time region matchup between Laney-Thomson, the rivalry between Harlem and Aquinas, Burke County hosting a major non-region opponent and one area coach searching for his first career win.

More: Results: Augusta area high school football scoreboard for Week 5

Here's what we learned:

Laney-Thomson potentially robbed of great game

Unfortunately, gunfire outside of Laney Stadium stole the show Friday when the Wildcats and Bulldogs should have been the center of attention.

With Thomson leading 15-14 late in the third quarter, the game was postponed after multiple shots were heard outside the stadium.

More: Thomson-Laney football game postponed after shots fired near stadium

It's hard to come back down to the Xs and Os after something like that, but this game deserves it. I wrote in the Thursday preview that if Laney's defensive front could hold up, along with its offense sustaining a few drives, the Wildcats (3-0) would have a chance at the upset.

Well, the first quarter couldn't have gone better for Laney.

Thomson (2-1) opened the game with a three-and-out and Laney answered with a nine-minute drive that ended in a short rushing touchdown at the beginning of the second quarter (with a two-point conversion). In true Thomson fashion, the Bulldogs answered back with a 4:37 drive of its own, ending in a Jontavis Curry rushing score.

Thomson scored again with Storm Hunt returning a punt 45 yards to the end zone, giving the Bulldogs a 15-8 lead.

Laney could've folded there.

But Wildcats quarterback Keshaun Sanders took over on the next drive, hitting receiver Willie Booker on a 48-yard bomb to get into the red zone. Sanders finished the drive two plays later with a 21-yard rushing score (and running over a Thomson defender at the goal line in the process). They trailed 15-14 after a failed two-point conversion.

After the half, Laney came out and went three-and-out on its first drive and had to punt. That Wildcat defensive front showed its face again, recovering a fumbled snap on the Bulldogs' first play. Shortly after, the shots rang out.

Thomson led 15-14 with 6:28 remaining. The game will resume Oct. 14, when both teams have a bye week. It's hard to say if this magic will pick right up where it left off after a month-long hiatus, but one can hope. This was an instant-classic in the making.

Flowers steps up for Burke County

Trailing Oconee County 21-14 with under a minute left in regulation, senior Burke County quarterback Marshall Flowers delivered with a touchdown pass to send the game into overtime.

He delivered again in the extra period as the Bears (4-0) secured the 28-21 victory. The three-year starter has been known to make plays with his legs and arm, but he can also step up in the clutch.

The game was neck-and-neck all night as the two teams were tied at 7-7 at the half before trading scores in the 3rd and 4th quarters. While the win over the Warriors will surely be felt around the state, it's just the beginning for Eric Parker's squad.

For Burke County, this is the first game in a month-long gauntlet. The Bears' next three matchups are against Statesboro (Sept. 23), Wayne County (Sept. 30) and Benedictine (Oct. 6). Come state playoff time, there will likely not be a team in Georgia more battle-tested than Burke County.

Harlem takes second-straight over Aquinas

After Aquinas took four in a row over Harlem, Harlem now has a win streak of its own.

The Bulldogs (4-1) secured a 27-20 win, led by quarterback Ryan Newman and tailback Jason Williams. Newman found the end zone twice, including a 60-yard touchdown to Jon Jon Howard for the Bulldogs' first score. Williams continued doing Williams things with a pair of rushing touchdowns of his own.

Despite the loss, Aquinas (3-1) quarterback Jim Franklin continued to produce. He found Kevin Douglas on a 15-yard strike for the first score of the game. He added two more touchdowns on the night, both to versatile star Clark Jackson.

More: Here are 10 breakout Augusta-area high school football players so far this season

Harlem is idle next Friday, but squares off against Cross Creek in two weeks. Aquinas takes on Greenbrier Sept. 23 for the first meeting in the programs' history.

Horn secures first coaching win

Cross Creek football coach Ezzard Horn — and his players — found themselves in a nearly impossible situation right before the season. Taking over as head coach just two weeks before the season opener is hardly enough time to prepare for a game, let alone a full season.

The Razorbacks understandably took their lumps through three games, losing in blowouts to Butler, Glenn Hills and Jenkins County. The clouds parted on Friday, however, as Cross Creek defeated Savannah 32-8.

According to Horn, this will be the first of many. His vision is far from using Cross Creek as career a stepping stone, which many past coaches have. He came in with an enthusiasm aimed at creating stability within the program and having that stability stretch into the community.

“I always said that if I got the chance to coach football, our program is going to flip Augusta on its head,” Horn told the Chronicle when he was hired. “You’ve got to bring fresh ideas into a place like this. You’ve got to work these kids hard and develop culture from their freshman year. You’ve got to get in the middle schools and develop things there. Augusta is primed for a boom in football, but you’ve just got to have the right kind of leadership in place at these schools.”

The Razorbacks travel to Hart County next week.

Big night from Jean leads Grovetown to victory

We haven't heard much from Grovetown (3-1) running back Joseph Jean coming into this week. He's only had a handful of carries through three games.

That changed Friday when he scored three times in the second half in Grovetown's 49-27 win over Jefferson County. The Division-I prospect had rushing scores of 60, 55 and 1 yard. While it looks like he's seen a majority of his snaps on defense up until this point, putting him back in the backfield rotation may have been just what the doctor ordered.

Grovetown travels to Evans next week for a huge region matchup and the Warriors likely remember last year's 42-20 loss.

Cronan, Waiters combine for big offensive performance

Augusta Prep (2-2) has two-straight wins and they found Friday's 27-20 win over Bulloch Academy much like they did a week ago.

Quarterback Tyon Waiters and tailback Bryson Cronan once again combined for stellar numbers on offense. Waiters completed four of eight passes for 90 yards and a touchdown, while adding 41 yards on the ground and a score. Cronan, on the other hand, racked up 123 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Coach Todd Booker's offense is buzzing and it's easy to see why Waiters and Cronan each have Player of the Week nods.

Augusta Prep travels to Glascock County next week.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Takeaways from Week 5 of high school football in Augusta