Halfway - basically - through the high school football season, what's going on?
Let’s stroll around Central Georgia at the almost-halfway point of GHSA schools, going in order of record, followed by a summary of the GISA programs:
5-0
Warner Robins
Beating Northside to open the season was huge, and then knocking off Peach County at the horn was as huge, if not moreso, in a way. Influx of transfers has been vital. And they have one of the area’s top kickers.
Jones County
The offense has transitioned mighty well despite losing a posse of weapons – but RB Drake Bolus is back, and that’s huge – and note that the defense has been pretty sporty, too.
4-0
Dodge County
The Indians dropped 70 on Dooly County, handled the growing Southwest team a week later by 24 points, and would be 5-0 if the Appling County game hadn’t been canceled.
Stratford
Winning by 11 at Lincoln County is a good sign that the Eagles are for real. Lincoln County may be down, but it’s still Lincoln County, and it was on the road.
Tattnall
The Eagles haven’t lost a regular-season game since Oct. 30, 2015 against Mount de Sales, and better not overlook the Cavs when they play on Oct. 6.
5-1
Northside
The offense is still a work in progress, but the defense is rolling along. And they have one of the area’s top kickers.
4-1
Howard
Anybody outside of the staff and some players who predicted 4-1 after last year is fibbin’. Schedule isn’t brutal, but the Huskies are taking care of business, a big step.
Perry
There was little doubt that new head coach Kevin Smith was revitalizing the program and culture, and it showed within 48 hours of his hiring. The Panthers are still awaiting a marquee win, because opponents they’ve beaten are 4-11.
Peach County
The Trojans could easily be 5-0, and even then, still aren’t playing all that consistently. Head coach Chad Campbell hasn’t been thrilled with the practice effort, so if the Trojans step that up, watch out.
Bleckley County
Getting off to a good start isn’t all that new for the Royals, who were 4-1 in 2013, 2012 and 2007. The scoring offense and defense numbers are similar to the 2013 start, but the region-opening win over Northeast was a nice one.
3-1
Northeast
The Raiders had the game with Central cancelled, and probably needed that game before taking on Bleckley County (a loss). The early schedule wasn’t much of a test, and they’ll be a solid underdog against Dodge County, and will need an upset and some help to make the playoffs or finish .500.
Taylor County
As they lay down to sleep each night, the Vikings dream of taking care of business in the regular season and getting another shot at Macon County. And that would be worth a road trip.
Mount de Sales
Among the best turnarounds in the area, the Cavs have to be taken seriously. They’re ranked five spots higher than Tattnall in the current power ratings, and knocking off Aquinas on the road is huge.
FPD
By all rights, the Vikings should be undefeated, albeit with no real “quality” wins. Beating Brookstone would have qualified. FPD struggled down the stretch last year, but is unlikely to repeat that.
3-2
Mary Persons
The Bulldogs had a week off after losing by 21 to Peach County, and they have to get the passing game going a little bit more to emerge atop a region that’s balanced with no elite team.
Upson-Lee
The Knights also need to step up the passing game – getting the snap to the quarterback 95 percent of time would be a marvelous start – to match a defense that might be the difference-maker down the stretch.
Baldwin
The Braves followed a quality loss to Class 5A top 10 Griffin on the road with an embarrassing 45-2 loss at home to unranked 6A Evans, which is only 3-2, so they’re tough to figure out.
Macon County
The Bulldogs don’t have quite the firepower on both sides as last year, and certainly not the same balance on offense, but they have a legit chance to repeat as Class A public champ.
Dublin
Only 19 points on the road from being undefeated, Dublin is probably better than 3-2. The third quarter has been a problem. The Irish need to fix that with a mighty strong set of opponents the rest of the way.
Putnam County
A 3-0 start against Class A teams was followed by losses of 41-6 and 56-7 to Class AAA and AA, both unranked. The War Eagles are in a balanced region where everybody is a notch below Elbert County (the 56-7 game), so they are very much in the playoff hunt, where they’ve been only once in a half-dozen years.
GMC
The Bulldogs aren’t playing a region schedule this season, and have a GISA win to go with two GHSA wins. They have two more GISA opponents, so it’s first .500 season since 2011 is very much in reach.
2-2
Southwest
The trip to Cochran last week was a bit humbling, a 38-14 loss, coming after a game with Spalding was cancelled. The co-champs of a year ago start a slate of must-win dates on the schedule next week with Northeast, or they’ll be watching the playoffs.
Crawford County
The Eagles are on a two-game losing streak, to a pair of beatable teams. Taylor County andMacon County are next, so Crawford County is likely to be struggling by the time winless Dooly County comes to town. It’ll need an upset to crack .500.
2-3
West Laurens
The Raiders are in transition staff-wise, and losing to Class AA Dodge County was no doubt a wakeup call. They’ve scored 10 more points than they’ve given up, and need to strengthen the passing game down the stretch.
Westside
The schedule now turns favorable for the Seminoles, who face two winning and two winless teams the rest of the way. Take care of business, and the Seminoles have a good shot at a third seed for the playoffs.
1-3
Central
How much was in the cupboard for new head coach Larry Harold? The Chargers are clearly rebuilding, and could get on a two-game winning streak before having to take on Peach County and Jackson on consecutive weeks.
Washington County
The Golden Hawks should probably be 2-2, but they’re still looking for consistency. The game next week against Bleckley County, a 39-7 win last year, is a key for Washington County to get momentum and make a run to region title contention. The battle a week later at home against Dodge County will be huge.
Wilkinson County
A program that five straight winning seasons not long ago has had one in the past five, and that streak will be extended to six seasons, with perhaps a brutal offensive output. They’ll be an underdog the rest of the way except for a trip to Twiggs County.
2-4
Houston County
There was a legit chance that the Bears might go winless, but now there’s a chance they can nudge past the defending state champion and make the playoffs. And they have one of the area’s top kickers.
Veterans
The Warhawks remain a tough team to figure out, but odds are against them recording their second winning season in school history and they’ll have to get better to get in the back door of the playoffs. Again, they’re close, but can’t finish.
1-4
Hawkinsville
Just three years removed from the Class A public title, the Red Devils are again struggling, and are likely to miss the playoffs for the third straight year. But there is an improvement on offense and defense, albeit highly unlikely enough to make the postseason.
0-4
Rutland
The Hurricanes have given up nearly four times as many points as they’ve scored. But losing to region contender Jackson by six is a step forward, and they need another one against Kendrick.
Twiggs County
Departed head coach Ashley Harden pulled off a major surprise in Jeffersonville, where 2016 was the first winning season since 2009, a span that included one winless season and five seasons of three wins or less. Unfortunately for the Cobras, that stretch will continue.
Hancock Central
There was a desire for a new head coach a few years ago, and the Bulldogs are 3-11 since then, winless this season. Hancock Central hasn’t had even a .500 season since 2006, and that streak continues.
0-5
East Laurens
Having scored only 36 points in five games makes for a long season. The Falcons have had three winning seasons since the turn of the century, and eight seasons of two wins or less since then.
Lamar County
Transition is bruising the Trojans, who are on their fifth head coach since 2011. They’ll give up more points this season than since the last losing season, 1-9 in 2008 when teams scored 315 points.
Monticello
Don’t overlook the winless team that has scored only eight fewer points and given up 28 more than 3-2 Putnam County. The region is down, so the Hurricanes – who haven’t had a winning season since 2003 – are very much a contender for their third playoff trip this century. But
Dooly County
It was only five years ago the Bobcats went to the finals, and they haven’t had a losing season since 2008. Dooly County, which has sent two players to the SEC since 2012, will struggled to match that 4-win mark of 2008. But it responded well against Schley County after losing 70-27 to Dodge County.
GISA
John Milledge appears to be the class of the association in general, and certainly in Central Georgia. But Gatewood is rolling along pretty well, too, as is Brentwood in AA.
Westfield has an outside shot at a winning season, and Trinity Christian is in a tough region (only one team is below .500 after six games).