HSFB 2018: Everybody's underway in week two of prep football
Thursday
Hawkinsville at Rutland, Ed DeFore
The Hurricanes have lost four straight season openers, and are a bit antsy in trying to break a 13-game winning streak. Hawkinsville has won only three of its last 17 games.
Central at Houston County, Freedom
The teams have played twice, and not since 1999. The Bears are already in something of a must-win mode, losing despite outgaining Perry by nearly 150 yards. Central hopes to have fixed things since the 37-0 scrimmage loss to Veterans (which doesn’t look as bad now).
East Laurens at Johnson County
The Falcons still have bruises from a non-unexpected thumping by West Laurens, and they’ve lost four straight to Johnson County, which won 20-14 last year and hasn’t had a losing season since 2003. EL, meanwhile, in on a 17-game skid.
Friday
ACE at Notre Dame Academy
After a respectable program debut at Treulten, ACE may need only two games to get its first win. Notre Dame was hammered 63-9 by Brentwood in a GISA matchup.
Bleckley County at Veterans, Freedom
The Warhawks have loads of momentum for the home opener after thumping Upson-Lee on the road. They outscored the Knights 24-0 in the second half. The Royals took care of business against Hawkinsville, and will hope for a little letdown from Veterans, dropping down to AA competition.
Baldwin at Jones County
Baldwin’s only score against Washington County came on an interception return, so offense will be a focus this week. And on third-down pass defense, since Jones County saved its hide against Howard with touchdown passes on third-and-15 and third-and-19. The Hounds have won 9 of their last 11 at home.
Crisp County at West Laurens
It’s quite a turnaround for West Laurens, welcoming a Crisp County team that is off a quality win over Americus-Sumter and working on replacing some notable senior transfers.
Dooly County at Worth County
Electric QB Bo Lawson starts his senior season at a AAA team that lost its opener to Turner County and went 0-10 last year. Lawson and the starters are likely to have a well-rested fourth quarter.
FPD at Howard, Ed DeFore
If Howard can eliminate the pesky pre-snap 5-yard penalties – mainly by improving simple communication – then it’ll be a long night for FPD, which is replacing some quality skill players. And the Huskies have some size.
Greenville at Lamar County
The Trojans gave up a chunk of big plays in losing 34-0 to Mount Zion-Carroll after holding the Eagles to a pair of field goals. Greenville went 2-8 last year.
Hancock Central at Toombs County
Hancock Central ended last season with a little momentum, winning two of the final three games. Toombs County went 10-2 last year and opened with a 35-0 win over Twiggs County
Jefferson County at Washington County
The Golden Hawks at home after a win over a nearby 4A team? Should be loud. Throw in a team that’s 1-10-1 against Washington County and has had only one losing season in the last 14, and it’ll be louder.
Mary Persons at Jackson
Clocks hadn’t run out last Friday before the talking started for this Friday. The Bulldogs have been to do the talking in this rivalry five straight times, and 56 times in 75 meetings.
Mount de Sales at Landmark Christian
Both teams are off wins, which was big for Landmark Christian, which went 0-10 last year. The closest game was 21 points. Two of the last three spreads were 72 an 62 points. The Cavs are trying to go 2-0 for the first time since 2011, back in their GISA days.
Oglethorpe County at GMC
The GMC starters are probably going to be watching in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs coming off a nice 35-7 win and facing a team that went 1-9 last year and lost 36-19 to GMC.
Pacelli at Crawford County
The Eagles won this one 42-6 last year, and the Vikings went on to finish 0-10 and crack double figures only three times.
Perry at Northeast, Thompson
Perry was efficient and clutch in beating 6A Houston County while Northeast lost a lead late in falling to new GHSA member Trinity Christian-Sharpsburg. Both teams need to tighten up, but Perry will be quite tough for the Raiders if its gets the run game going.
Stratford at Savannah. Country Day
Both teams made the playoffs last year. SCD has an RB hole to fill, but will be similar on defense to last year’s 10-3 team that lost 33-14 at home to Stratford. The Eagles have to replace stellar RB Deondre Duehart, who transferred to Warner Robins.
Temple at Putnam County
The War Eagles have to get better quick after losing 58-21 to a team that went 1-9 last year.
Upson-Lee at East Paulding
The Knights suffered their worst loss since 53-7 to Griffin early in 2016, and worst at home since 42-0 to Mary Persons late in the 2014 season. East Paulding is a 5A team that went 4-6 last year.
Warner Robins at Locust Grove
Warner Robins made a statement with a win over a 7A ranked team. Locust Grove, a Jones County region rival, opened with a 42-6 win over Jackson, and will try to avenge last year’s 20-3 loss to the Demons.
Westside at Harris County
Westside has won all four meetings, three under Spoon Risper. The Tigers have a new head coach for the third time in four years. But Westside has to clean up things from the win over Southwest.
Wilcox County at Wilkinson County
New head coaches are on both sidelines for teams that combined to go 5-15 last year.
GISA/GICAA
Brentwood at Trinity Christian
John Milledge at Gatewood
The state championship rivals of the 2016 3A title game are in different classifications now, but that won’t matter much at kickoff of a tone-setting game.
Monsignor Donovan at Piedmont
Westfield at Deerfield-Windsor
Holy Ground at CFCA
Central Christian at Covenant
Westwood at Fullington
Thomas Jefferson at John Hancock
Twiggs Academy at Vidalia Heritage
Saturday
Macon Touchdown Club Kickoff Classic, at Mercer
5 p.m.: Tattnall vs. Dublin
Tattnall cleaned and sharpened up a lot of things after the Howard scrimmage, although Our Lady of Mercy bears no resemblance to Dublin, which hammered a quality Class A ECI team.
8 p.m.: Peach County vs. Northside
The Trojans have a good front seven and young secondary, which works, since Northside’s passing game is a work in progress. But Peach County lost all sorts of skill players on offense, which doesn’t project well against a Northside defense that is a Northside defense.