Friday night's Central Georgia GHSA and GISA football scouting reports
Teams: Please email game information – stats (offense and defense), names, big plays, etc. – to centralgasports@gmail.com by midnight Friday or by 10:30 a.m. Saturday for inclusion in Central Georgia’s only comprehensive roundup.
Class 6A
Northside (3-6/0-2) at Houston County (5-4/0-2)
The winner gets third place. After losing to Warner Robins, Richmond Hill, and Colquitt County by 47, 37, and 39, Northside beat 4A Luella, and then was surprisingly competitive with Valdosta and Lee County. The Bears have won three of the last five in the series. This is the first time since 2002 that neither team was ranked when they met.
Class 5A
Coffee at No. 2 Warner Robins, canceled
Veterans (4-4/0-2) at No. 3 Ware County (6-1/1-1)
The Warhawks peaked at No.5 a hair more than a month ago, and now are all but on the outside of the playoffs looking in. If they can beat Ware County this week and Warner Robins next week, and Wayne County can beat Ware County next week …
Woodland-Stockbridge (6-2/3-2) at No. 10 Jones County (5-3/5-0)
The Greyhounds have two quality opponents to finish the regular season, with 5-3/4-1 Dutchtown next week. Jones County is the hottest team in the region, winners of five straight, but can’t take anything for granted in search of its second straight region title.
Class 4A
Perry (4-4/4-0) at Howard 2-3/0-2), Ed DeFore
Perry’s four region wins have all been by double figures, from 12 to 37 points. The Panthers are the most balanced offense – with QB Lane Rucker at 1,341 passing yards, three major targets, and Makeil Kendrick with 10 rushing TDs – Howard has faced in awhile. Of course, Howard’s last two games – Baldwin and Rutland – were called off, so the Huskies haven’t played since losing 28-6 to Westside on Oct. 23. A Panthers win sets up a region title game against Baldwin.
West Laurens 42, Rutland 0, Thursday
Westside 22, Spalding 14, Thursday
Westside (3-3/1-2) at Rutland (1-5/0-3), Monday, Ed DeFore
Class 3A
No. 4 Crisp County (7-1/4-1) at Central (5-2/5-0), Henderson
The defending state runners-up have given up only 56 points, while the Chargers are averaging 37.3 points in their last four games, all region wins. The run-first Cougars have three rushers getting at least 380 yards, and they’ve teamed for 13 TDs. Both have versatile quarterbacks, Central with Jalik Taylor and Crisp with Ahmad Brown and A.J. Lofton. Central has lost 43 straight to ranked teams – the Chargers had to forfeit to Westside, which was No. 10 in 4A to open the season – dating back to a 7-3 win over Warner Robins in 1997.
Mary Persons (4-4/2-3) at Jackson (3-4/2-3)
QB Logan Hickman is fourth in 3A with 1,154 yards, completing 50.8 percent of his passes, and Jaboree Goodson has nine touchdowns on the ground, giving Jackson a balanced offense to deal with in this big, burly rivalry.
Upson-Lee (4-4/2-3) at No. 3 Peach County (6-1/5-0)
The young Trojans have yet to give up more than 14 points in a game this season, and only twice have scored less than 42. The Knights won three of their first four and have now lost three of their last four, two by seven and five points. Peach County could seal the top seed by the end of the night.
Class AA
Bleckley County (6-3/3-2) at Southwest (1-5/0-4), Ed DeFore, Thursday, cancelled
Dodge County (4-3/3-1) at Washington County (5-3/3-1)
Dodge County’s region loss is to Bleckley County, Washington County’s only region loss is to Northeast, whose only region loss is to Dodge County. There are athletes and speed galore on both sides, but this will be just one big, even line-of-scrimmage throwdown.
East Laurens (3-4/0-3) at Jeff Davis (7-1/3-1)
The Falcons try to get in the 2-AA win column against a team looking to lock down a home playoff spot.
Josey (1-6/0-5) at Putnam County (7-1/4-1)
The War Eagles took it on the chin in a big way last week, and can seal second place and their first home playoff game since 2011 with a win.
No. 9 Northeast (5-2/3-1) at Jasper County/Monticello (2-6/1-3)
The Hurricanes showed progress in a 19-6 loss to Lamar County after falling 59-20 and 58-0 to Bleckley County and Dodge County. Northeast watched dreams of a perfect region season fall apart last week at Dodge County, and the Raiders need a win or risk falling to fourth for the playoffs, depending on what else happens in the region.
Class A
Dooly County (3-3/3-3) at Johnson County (6-2/4-2)
The Bobcats got a late start this season, but remain alive for the playoffs, tied with Montgomery County (but Dooly County loses a tiebreaker, courtesy of a 26-7 loss in its second game). Johnson County wants to solidify third place.
Hawkinsville (2-6/1-5) at Treutlen (1-7/0-6)
The Red Devils have lost five straight, three by 10 points or less. The Vikings have lost five straight, none by less than 14 points. The teams have played six times since 2000 but not since 2005, all Red Devil wins.
Marion County (3-3/2-2) at Taylor County (5-2/4-2)
The Vikings lost to the top two teams in the region 77-33, and can seal third place with a win. Taylor County is set for its fifth straight playoff trip, a run that hasn’t happened since 1996-2004. Jabin Ford has passed for 619 yards and rushed for 794 to go with 15 TDs on the ground.
Mount de Sales (4-4/2-1) at Deerfield-Windsor (2-6/0-3)
The Cavs need to avoid the upset to stay in the hunt for a home playoff game, MdS tied with Stratford for second, both a game up on Strong Rock and Tattnall. D-W is in its debut season in the GHSA, and has lost three region games by 27, 28, and 38.
Stratford (5-2/2-1) at FPD (5-3/3-0)
Former FPD head coach Mark Farriba will try to keep current head coach Greg Moore from his 150th career win while getting his 205th, and thus forging a tie for first with the Vikings. FPD’s Parker Ingram has more than 1,400 yards passing, with three main targets. The Eagles are more run oriented. A win is a huge step for FPD toward its first region title since joining the GHSA.
Strong Rock (4-4/1-2) at Tattnall (3-5/1-2)
The winner could find itself in a three-way tie for second, with a chance to move up or solidify next week. The loser is still alive for a playoff spot, but it’ll be tough. The Patriots have lost three of their last four, the Trojans five straight.
Telfair County (4-4/2-4) at No. 5 Dublin (7-1/6-0)
Telfair County faces a run game averaging 8.3 yards a carry and 4.7 TDs a game, and a QB who has eight TD passes on 16 completions. Five Dublin rushers – Quay Ashley, JT Wright, Josh Issac, Jiquarion Mundie, and QB Markelle Mitchlle – all have at least three rushing TDs. Dublin gets the top seed with a win.
Warren County (5-2/2-1) at ACE (2-5/1-2)
It’s the first meeting between the Screaming Devils and the Gryphons, Warren County looking to lock to down a home playoff game.
Wilkinson County (2-4/2-1) at Hancock Central (4-0/3-0)
The Warriors are tied with Warren County for second, and Hancock Central all but locks up the top seed with a win.
GISA
Creekside Christian (5-2/0-1) at John Milledge (6-0/1-0)
The Cougars are 2-1 against GHSA teams. Is that enough to challenge the Trojans, who are 1-0 against the GHSA this year and are dominating GISA competition again?
Gatewood (7-1/1-0) at Piedmont (6-2/0-1)
Piedmont is off a surprisingly harsh 47-7 loss to Brentwood, while Gatewood stepped out of GISA competition and rolled 52-7 over King’s Academy. The Gators have won five straight in the series, by an average of 41.6 points.
Solid Rock at Brentwood (6-1)
The War Eagles prepare for next week’s battle with Gatewood with a GAPPS game while on a six-game winning streak.
Westfield (5-1-1/1-0) at Bethlehem Christian (1-6/0-1)
The Hornets have won 42-21 and 21-7 the past two seasons, and currently have the most wins since going 11-2 in Ronnie Jones final season, 2015.