CAIRO — The No. 1 team in Class AAA is living up to its billing.

The Cairo Syrupmakers are off to a 10-0 start, having posted their third shutout in last week’s 48-0 dismantling of Troup in the first round of the state playoffs.

“We played well. Our kids were anxious, I guess, to get the second season started,” Cairo Tom Fallaw said. “We got started on a good note. We’ve got to put that game behind us because there’s going to be some tough ones in front of us.”

Cairo has not allowed an opponent to score in double figures since its Oct. 24 tilt with Perry in which the Syrupmakers notched a 42-10 win. Since then, the Syrupmakers have outscored opponents 116-12. An even scarier thought for future opponents is Fallaw doesn’t believe his team has peaked.

“I hope not,” Fallaw said. “We have several more games that we can keep talking about peaking. I think we’ve played well in spurts this year. There’s been some games we’ve been lackluster in. I like the fact that the emotion was there last Friday. I’m hoping that’ll carry over.”

Cairo played one of its best games of the year last week. Against the Tigers, the Syrupmakers ran for 349 yards, passed for 97, tallied 16 first downs, allowed just 22 yards and one first down.

Cairo’s second-round opponent Friday night is Burke County, whose coach. Eric Parker, admits his team faces a huge challenge when it arrives to West Thomas Stadium.

“They’re just real athletic on both sides of the ball,” Parker said.

“Obviously, they have some senior kids that are very experienced and really good and playing with a lot of confidence. Obviously, being where they went last year, they feel like they have a chance to win it all and they’re playing that way.

“They’re a good football team. There’s not a whole lot else to say about them.”