Friday night's Central Georgia scouting reports: Region titles, seeding, playoff spots, 10-0 seasons, Farriba's 200th? Big night
Games of the Week
Warner Robins (8-1/3-0) at Veterans (8-1/3-0)
The records were similar going into last year’s game, a 28-0 Warner Robins win. Expect a combination of long drives and defensive stops as well as a fair number of three- or four-and-outs in this Region 1-5A championship game. Field position and the kicking game will be part of the chess match with a veteran head coach owning a 105-26 record and a state championship against the rookie head coach who early on eliminated remnants of a coaching transition. Watch penalties and Veterans’ offense, which isn’t quite as explosive as Warner Robins’.
Perry (6-3/4-0) at West Laurens (8-1/4-0)
The Panthers won’t be awed, having taken a 38-27 win last year and 20-14 two years ago in Dexter. This is a whole lot different than those two, with a region favorite hosting the region upstart for the 2-4A championship. It will loud and blue in the Raiders’ Shu, West Laurens looking for its first nine-win regular season since 2014, its last region title, and second since 1996. The big key is Perry’s offense against one of Class 4A’s top defenses.
Peach County (8-1/5-0) at Westside (6-3/4-1), Ed DeFore
The Trojans won 28-12 a year ago, and the Seminoles will need plenty more offense against a defense that, frankly, hasn’t been tested in a good while this season. But Peach County’s offense – not tested much, either – is explosive, and will be focused in looking for another region title.
Washington County (6-3/3-2) at Dublin (9-0/5-0)
Washington County is the latest to try and slow down an offense that averages 423.3 yards a game on the ground, and has 61 rushing touchdowns. JaQues Evans has 1,529 of those yards and 29 of those touchdowns. Marcus Adams (965 and 11) and Zion Kemp (894 and 11) are problems to deal with, too, as are Washington County’s Shamarcus Poole and Malyk Walker. Dublin goes for the perfect regular season and an outright region title, and the Irish’s sixth perfect region season under Roger Holmes. Dublin has won five straight over Washington County.
Aquinas (8-1/5-1) at Mount de Sales (9-0/5-0)
It’s the Region 7-A overall championship, Aquinas getting the trip to Macon courtesy of Hancock Central using an ineligible player, and thus turning the upset loss into a win and the top seeded in that sub-region. Both teams are in the playoffs, but the winner gets the automatic spot and a first-round bye, plus more of a home-field advantage down the line. Aquinas has won four region titles under head coach James Leonard, who showed up a year before Keith Hatcher took over at Mount de Sales. The Cavs are working for their first region title since 1997.
The Matchups
Houston County (4-5/0-3) at Northside (3-6/0-3)
Not long ago, this was the marquee region matchup with all-state players all over the place. That’s not the case this time, but the intensity level should be pretty hefty, since the winner goes to the playoffs, period. Houston County has the stat edge in about every area, averaging five more points a game on offense and giving up eight fewer points a game on defense. Northside hasn’t gotten the offense going in awhile, with only seven points since beating Baldwin 33-28 on Sept. 20. The Bears will go for their second shutout of the season, and first ever against the Eagles, who have scored less than 20 points only four times in the 21-game series.
Jones County (9-0/6-0) at Stockbridge (7-2/4-2)
Stockbridge won 17-10 last year in Gray, in a battle of top-6 teams. It was a crusher for the Greyhounds, who let chances to win slip away, and had to settle for third in the region. First playoff game? At Bainbridge, in bad weather, ending in a 40-13 loss to the surprise team in the state in that the Bearcats went on to win the state title. The Hounds have the top seed in the region, but 10-0 and outright region champs? Stockbridge doesn’t want that to happen on its field.
The Games (last year’s scores)
Class 4A
Upson-Lee (3-6/1-3) at Spalding (1-8/0-4)
The Knights won 50-23 last year, and get into the playoffs with a win.
Cross Creek (2-7/0-3) at Baldwin (3-6/2-1)
The Braves rolled 31-0 to clinch the region title, and this year are tied with Thomson, a half-game behind Burke County. A big game for seeding.
Class 3A
Rutland (2-7/1-4) at Jackson (6-3/4-1)
Jackson cruised 42-0.
Class AA
Bleckley County (7-2/4-1) at Southwest (3-6/1-4), Henderson
Bleckley County won 33-12 at home.
East Laurens (1-8/0-5) at Northeast (4-5/2-3), Thompson
The Raiders’ O was working in a 47-16 win. Northeast stays alive in the playoff hunt with a win.
Temple (5-4/2-3) at Lamar County (6-3/2-3)
The Trojans pulled off the 26-23 win.
Social Circle (2-7/0-6) at Monticello (2-7/2-4)
Monticello remains in the playoff race if it repeats the 36-28 win.
Oglethorpe County (2-7/1-5) at Putnam County (4-5/3-3)
Putnam County held on 13-10.
Class A
Central Talbotton (1-8/0-5) at Crawford County (2-7/1-4)
Crawford County took a 33-14 win.
Manchester (7-2/4-1) at Dooly County (4-5/3-2)
Dooly Couty beat Brookstone 63-36 this week a year ago.
Greenville (3-6/1-4) at Hawkinsville (2-7/1-4)
The Red Devils eked out a 24-22 win.
Marion County (7-2/4-1) at Macon County (6-3/4-1)
Manchester popped Macon County 34-13 this week a year ago.
Taylor County (4-5/2-3) at Pacelli (5-4/2-3)
It was a good night for the Vikings in a 42-7 win.
Lincoln County (7-2/5-1) at Tattnall (5-4/3-2)
Tattnall fell 35-10 to Greene County in the crossover.
Washington-Wilkes (5-4/4-2) at Stratford (4-5/3-2)
Stratford stunned Aquinas in the crossover, and this go ‘round, the Eagles will try to give head coach Mark Farriba his 200th career win as well clinch as a playoff spot.
Warren County (6-3/4-2) at FPD (4-5/3-2)
FPD rolled past Washington-Wilkes 28-12 in the crossover.
Greene County (2-7/2-4) at Wilkinson County (1-8/1-4)
The Warriors fell 36-0 to Warren County in the crossover.
GMC (3-6/1-5) at Twiggs County (0-9/0-5)
GMC lost 19-14 to Walker, and Twiggs County lost 54-0 to Lincoln County in the crossover.
GISA
Bethlehem Christian (1-8) at Trinity Christian (2-7)
TCS survived 23-16.
John Milledge (9-0/1-0) at Augusta Prep (0-9/0-1)
The records were similar entering John Milledge’s 48-7 win.
Pinewood Christian (7-1/4-0) at Westfield (3-7/1-2)
Westfield was crushing in a 57-16 win.
Gatewood (7-2/1-0) at Piedmont (3-5/1-0)
The Gators bit off a 41-7 win.
Thomas Jefferson (6-2/1-2) at Brentwood (8-2/4-0)
Brentwood had little trouble in winning 45-13.
GAPPS Playoffs
AAA
King's Academy at CFCA
AA
Fullington at Georgia Christian; John Hancock at Griffin Christian