Loughdmouthings

Memo to the grumblers in Gray: Really? Seriously?

Jones County was 0-3 against two top-5 7A programs and a top-5 5A team, and there was whining?

There are no rings for the first month of any season. The Greyhounds are in transition, but nobody’s running away with Region 4-5A, and nobody’s going undefeated in region play.

And the whipping of Union Grove should silence some of the skeptics. Should. …

Communications are a struggle in 2020. If only there were easy avenues for schools and teams to tell people about schedule changes, or even email all area media outlets so they could tell people.

If only …

Still undefeated (at least three games, GHSA and GISA): Warner Robins (see below), Veterans, Putnam County, Macon County, Taylor County, John Milledge, Piedmont, Gatewood. …

Speaking of communications and the GHSA – that’s a knee-slapper: When Valdosta QB Jake Garcia was ruled ineligible last month after some brilliance from his parents, and an appeal denied and denied again, it turns out that the Wildcats forfeited the win over Warner Robins in the season opener.

Valdosta appealed the forfeit ruling, and that was denied. Colquitt County, current employer of former Jones County coach Justin Rogers and former employer of current Valdosta coach Rush Propst, denied Valdosta

But the GHSA doesn’t release such information of great interest to the public, which it can easily do in simple form with one or two generic sentences, for convenience and clarity.

As it was, the Demons were the better team that night that failed to cover some folks in the second half and finish. …

Really and truly, schools/teams need to post on school/team websites – except for the fact that schools’ websites throughout the state are in large part atrocious – and on social media each Monday their varsity athletic schedules for the week, especially if there are changes.

Why so many are keeping secret information from people who might show up with their wallets and pay to get in remains astounding. …

It’s still too early to really discuss surprise teams, since some have played five games and others only one or two, or just getting started.

Have said it for a good while now: Teams in 2020 get something of a pass for their first two games to figure out what they have, and everybody gets a certain version of a pass for the whole year.

Unless, of course, they cluster it up beyond recognition. Granted, there are teams who are fudging rules and standards and guidelines, but so far, oddly, there aren’t any major surprises.

This, of course, means the final two weeks and the playoffs are going to drive us batty.

The Polls

Division I (6A, 5A, 4A)

1. Warner Robins, 4-0

The Demons are above average in every phase of the game, if not pretty elite. Most impressive is the consistency they’re showing this year. Again. They wasted none of the gifts gifted them from Houston County.

2. Veterans , 4-0

Perry made the Warhawks work, and that’ll benefit Veterans entering a notable non-region game.

3. Vacant

There’s just a gap here. Of the remaining division teams, only Howard has a winning record. Winless teams don’t deserve rankability, and one-win teams … debatable. But next week, the top five will be full, and the competition for spots will be better.

4. Houston County, 3-2

The Bears coughed up three rounds of points in one quarter against Warner Robins, and that was about it. Houston County’s offense stats were brutal – two first downs, less than 50 yards offense – but the Bears held the Demons to 11 first downs and almost 100 yards below average on offense.

5. Jones County, 1-3

Amazing what happens when you don’t play ranked teams three weeks in a row in something of a transition year. You get to show what you can do a little bit

On the verge: None.

Division II (3A, AA, A, GISA)

1. Peach County, 2-1

Why folks thought the Mary Persons game would be tight made little sense. The Bulldogs are dealing with player/COVID issues more than some, and were coming off a big loss. The Trojans have the steadier program.

2. Macon County, 3-0

The Bulldogs have given up 25 points in three games.

3. John Milledge 3-0

Dominating, and still without Amaad Foston.

4. Upson-Lee, 3-1

The Knights are starting to take care of business, a missing step the past few years

5. Dublin, 1-1

The Irish are rounding into form quickly despite disruptions.

6. Bleckley County, 3-1

The Royals are developing into a balanced team that can win in a variety of ways.

7. Taylor County, 3-0

From passing a few years ago to running, the Vikings average 8.1 yards a carry.

8. Washington County, 2-2

The Golden Hawks wouldn’t mind an issue-free week at some point.

9. Putnam County, 4-0

Statement time for a team whose opponents so far are 6-11.

10. Central, 2-1

A double-digit win on the road was a nice rebound from the Howard loss.

On the verge: Dodge County, East Laurens, Gatewood, Lamar County, Mary Persons, Northeast, Tattnall.