Last week: 23-3

Season: 247-69, 78.16 percent
Within 7 points of margin: 9, 76 for the season

A note: The Sports Report policy is to max out picks at 39 points, although some games could earn a predicted margin of victory in the 40s and 50s.

GHSA

First Round

Class 6A

Lakeside-Evans (R3/3, 4-6) at Northside (R1/2, 7-3), Saturday, 2 p.m.

When those Augusta-area schools were in the same region as some Houston County schools, the trip home was long. This isn’t quite the same scenario. And daytime kickoffs can make things interesting.

TSR pick: Northside by 19

Houston County (R1/3, 4-6) at Evans (R3/2, 8-2)

TSR pick: See above.

TSR pick: Houston County by 4

Class 5A

Jonesboro (R3/3, 7-3) at No. 4 Warner Robins (R1/2, 9-1)

The Demons aren’t 100 percent, with workhorse RB Malcolm Brown out, but this team isn’t losing a first-round home game. Should be a decent game for awhile. Of course, that’s been said before with the Demons.

TSR pick: Warner Robins by 32

Veterans (R1/4, 2-8) at No. 2 Woodward Acad. (R3/1, 10-0)

The reward for making the playoffs is a road game at an undefeated team. The Warhawks, though, are a fairly gutsy 2-8 team.

TSR pick: Woodward by 30

Griffin (R2/4, 4-5) at Jones County (R4/1, 8-2)

Former Rutland head coach Rusty Easom brings Griffin to town. The Greyhounds are still a little inconsistent, and have kept some games closer than expected, but pull out wins. That’s relevant in the playoffs.

TSR pick: Jones County by 23

Class 4A

Hardaway (R2/4, 6-4) at No. 7 Perry (R4/1, 9-1)

The Panthers are getting to the point where worries about overconfidence are less and less. A fairly close first half will take care of that.

TSR pick: Perry by 23

LaGrange (R2/3, 8-2) at Baldwin (R4/2, 6-3)

A mighty tough matchup for the team after getting flattened at home in a championship game. Those kinds of things can linger.

TSR pick: LaGrange by 5 (upset special)

West Laurens (R4/4, 5-5) at No. 3 Carver-Columbus (R2/1, 9-1)

Even one week in the playoffs is a good thing. Carver can expect a physical game, no matter what.

TSR pick: Carver by 28

Class AAA

Morgan County (R4/3, 3-7) at Peach County (R2/2, 6-3)

Note to Peach County backups: be ready to go in the third quarter.

TSR pick: Peach County by 32

Mary Persons (R2/3, 7-3) at Burke County (R4/2, 7-2)

The drive to Burke County sucks, but this looks like a normal 2-3 matchup, meaning the third seed can very much win. A subpar night last week against Sumter County should awaken the Bulldogs, but enough?

TSR pick: Burke County by 6 (upset watch)

Class AA

Early County (R1/4, 4-4) at No. 3 Bleckley County (R3/1, 10-0)

Note to Bleckley County backups: be ready to go in late in the third quarter, early in the fourth.

TSR pick: Bleckley County by 30

Cook (R1/3, 5-5) at No. 8 Northeast (R3/2, 7-3)

The loss to Lamar County last week should be worth two playoff wins for Northeast. But Cook’s not bad, and has played five ranked teams.

TSR pick: Northeast by 17

No. 9 Dodge County (R3/3, 7-3) at No. 4 Fitzgerald (R1/2, 7-2)

The games the coaches will play, considering they played this season, Fitzgerald winning 15-6. Can’t imagine this one not going down to the final possession or two. If Dodge County has some full-throated folks in the stands, they’ll drive home happy.

TSR pick: Dodge County by 3 (upset special)

Washington County (R3/4, 6-4) at No. 2 Thomasville (R1/1, 9-1)

A cringe-worthy fourth seed is what Washington County is. “We’re playing Washington County in the first round?” Cringe. The Golden Hawks are an 8-2 or 9-1 team in a 6-4 uniform. If they can finish the fourth quarter. Thomasville has done well against a salty schedule.

TSR pick: Thomasville by 10 (upset watch)

East Laurens (R2/4, 6-4) at No. 5 Putnam County (R4/1, 10-0)

The Falcons get a high-five for coming up clutch last week, and can make it interesting for a bit, especially considering that those under 18 in a Putnam County uniform are likely looking ahead a little.

TSR pick: Putnam County by 37

Class A Public

Turner County (R2/3, 4-6) at Dublin (R4/2, 6-4)

Which Dublin team suits up has been something to watch each week. Mojo might be wearing some green.

TSR pick: Dublin by 20

ACE (R7/3, 4-4) at Schley County (R5/2, 9-1)

The Gryphons making the playoffs is big, even if what is likely to happen happens. Schley County is a top-1o team with a burly defense.

TSR pick: Schley County by 31

Crawford County (R7/4, 3-6) at No. 3 Macon County (R5/1, 9-0)

The Eagles are suddenly a pesky little team that bowed up and earned an 11th game. While it’s a brutal first-round game, it should be a building block.

TSR pick: Macon County by 38

Manchester (R5/4, 5-4) at No. 9 GMC (R7/1, 10-0)

GMC has been a nice and very surprising story. The Bulldogs aren’t a fluke, but they’re in – reality warning, reality warning – a middlin’ region and didn’t have a tough schedule. Manchester is by far the best opponent.

TSR pick: Manchester by 20

Class A Private

Aquinas (R3/4, 6-4) at No. 9 FPD (R1/1, 8-2), Saturday, 7 p.m.

Figuring out which Aquinas team shows up is part of the story. FPD wants the Irish, who beat the turnover-plagued Vikings 27-2 on WHEN. FPD seems to have found its identity, but can’t get too itchy for revenge.

TSR pick: FPD by 17

Savannah Christian (R3/3, 4-6) at Tattnall (R1/2, 8-1), Saturday, 7 p.m.

Tattnall is heating up. That 28-point fourth quarter to blow open a tie game against Mount de Sales was impressive. And the Trojans may have another such quarter.

TSR pick: Tattnall by 24

Stratford (R1/3, 7-3) at Savannah Country Day (R3/2, 3-6)

All drives on I-16 for a game serve as half an opponent. The Eagles may be groggy early, but that won’t last long.

TSR pick: Stratford by 20

Mount de Sales (R1/4, 5-5) at No. 2 Calvary Day (R3/1, 10-0)

Calvary Day has taken down FPD (28-21) and Stratford (42-6). And given up 13 points in th last four games.

TSR pick: Calvary Day by 32

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