Who's going to win this week's Central Georgia high school football games?
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
Games of the Week
No. 4 Houston County, 8-0/3-0, at No. 1 Thomas County Central, 8-0/3-0
The Yellow Jackets should finally be rested after running up and down for 70 points last week. This is Houston County’s biggest game in awhile, the Bears ranked so close to No. 1. Houston County’s chance lies in how well it plays fundamentally, more than anything, especially on the road. TCC won’t counter mistakes with mistakes. One break at the wrong time in the second half, and the Yellow Jackets can start pulling away a little bit. But this should be pretty much a battle into the fourth quarter.
TSR pick: Thomas County Central by 22
No. 2 Peach County, 8-0/3-0, at Cairo, 6-2/3-0
Losing wideout Zion Hudson for the year pulls the Trojans back to the field some, and Cairo at home will smell it. If Peach County veers too far from old-school Peach County football, the Syrupmakers are good enough to take advantage of any slipups or breakdowns.
TSR pick: Peach County by 3 (Upset watch)
No. 8 West Laurens, 8-0/6-0, at Aquinas, 6-2/4-2
Aquinas has a respectable defense, and has shown an ability to put up points on occasion. The Irish are off two battles, a 21-14 loss to Harlem (West Laurens won 26-21) and a 27-20 win at Baldwin (West Laurens won 70-55). This will be a battle for West Laurens, similar to Harlem and Richmond Academy (21-7).
TSR pick: West Laurens by 13
No. 11 Bleckley County, 6-2/5-2, at ACE Charter, 5-3/4-3
Going from a 14-13 halftime game to a 42-19 loss will anger a team, and is not what the next opponent wants to see. ACE gets a miffed Bleckley County team that is still in the hunt for a top seed, but wants to improve its chances for a second home playoff game. ACE can go a long way toward a shot at a home game with a win. ACE has a speed disadvantage, but it’s used to that.
TSR pick: Bleckley County by 5 (Upset watch)
CENTRAL GEORGIA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE
Last week
🏈 Roundup: Houston County handles Coffee, Dublin pulls away from Bleckley County in second half, Jasper County & Lamar County stay perfect, Westfield wins showdown, Windsor upends CFCA
🏈 Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
🏈 Maxwell Predictions
🏈 Who’s going to win this week’s games
🏈 Breaking down the GHSA, GIAA playoff picture
🏈 Central Georgia state composite rankings
🏈 Central Georgia rankings
🏈 Monday Morning Quarterback: Sit down for more Palooza on the Plains; surprises, Loughdmouthings
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
Two weeks ago
🏈 Roundup : West Laurens, Lamar County stay perfect; Thrillers with Baldwin, Mary Persons, Westfield; Streak-breakers for Westside, Hawkinsville, John Milledge outlasts FPD, CFCA rollsp
🏈 Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
🏈 Maxwell Predictions
🏈 Who’s going to win this week’s games
🏈 Central Georgia state composite rankings
🏈 Central Georgia rankings
🏈 Monday Morning Quarterback: Nobody knows who’s in the CFP, nobody, so get ready; Surprises, Loughdmouthings (are loaded up, from ball dropping, high schools, fibbing …)
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
Three weeks ago
🏈 Roundup: HS FB roundup: Northeast nipped at Bleckley County; funky night for County of Houston teams; Jones County win in OT, Westfield in the final seconds; FPD wins showdown, Mount de Sales blanks Tattnall
🏈 Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
🏈 Maxwell Predictions
🏈 Who’s going to win this week’s games
🏈 Central Georgia state composite rankings
🏈 Central Georgia rankings
🏈 Monday Morning Quarterback: Notes, reviews, Loughdmouthings
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
No. 5 Northeast, 6-2/6-1, at No. 10 Dodge County, 7-1/6-1
Those driving by John Peacock Field/Memorial Stadium on Oak Street will hear pads popping in the latest Region 2-A/Division I “tournament” showdown of leaders. Defense wins this one: whoever can unsettle the opposing quarterback and passing game – because Northeast’s Jordan Wiggins and Dodge County’s Kain Mincey can sling it - the best wins. Unless that team gets its run game going better than average and the other team (both need to bolster the ground attack for the postseason).
TSR pick: Northeast by 5
Hawkinsville, 6-2/2-2, at Treutlen, 6-2/4-0
Treutlen knows how to finish, with four wins by single digits. Hawkinsville has only one such close game. The Red Devils lock in a playoff spot, and need a quality performance against a playoff-caliber team to build momentum toward the postseason. – barely – in the race for a home game, a win clinching a playoff spot. The Red Devils’ run game is the difference.
TSR pick: Hawkinsville by 3
The Schedule
Class 5A
Northside, 0-8/0-3, at No. 7 Lee County, 6-2/2-1
TSR pick: Lee County by 36
Coffee, 3-5/1-2, at Veterans, 2-6/0-3
TSR pick: Coffee by 16 (Upset watch)
Class 4A
No. 4 Benedictine, 5-2/3-0, at Perry, 4-4/2-1
TSR pick: Benedictine by 20
Jones County, 6-2/5-2, at Eagle’s Landing, 4-4/3-4
TSR pick: Jones County by 16
No. 5T Ware County, 7-1/2-1, at Warner Robins, 4-4/1-2
TSR pick: Ware County by 25
Class 3A
Baldwin, 3-5/2-4, at No. 11T Westside-Augusta, 8-0/6-0
TSR pick: Westside by 18
Harlem, 6-2/4-2, at Howard, 2-6/1-5
TSR pick: Harlem by 21
Mary Persons, 5-3/3-3, at No. 1 Sandy Creek, 8-0/6-0
TSR pick: Sandy Creek by 24
Upson-Lee, 5-3/3-3, at Trinity Christian, 2-6/1-5
TSR pick: Upson-Lee by 16
Class AA
Rutland, 0-8/0-3, at Westside, 2-6/1-2
TSR pick: Westside by 9 (Upset watch)
Class A/Division I
No. 7 Dublin, 6-2/6-1, at Central, 0-8/0-7
TSR pick: Dublin by 38
No. 12T Jasper County, 8-0/4-0, at Putnam County, 5-4/3-2
TSR pick: Jasper County by 20
Jefferson County, 1-7/1-6, at East Laurens, 3-5/3-4
TSR pick: East Laurens by 18
Social Circle, 5-3/3-1, at No. 9 Lamar County, 8-0/4-0
TSR pick: Lamar County by 17
Washington County, 3-5/3-4, at Southwest, 2-6/1-6
TSR pick: Washington County by 16
Class A/Division II
GMC Prep, 4-4/3-0,at Wilkinson County, 2-6/2-1
TSR pick: Wilkinson County by 12
Hancock Central, 2-6/0-3, at Twiggs County, 0-8/0-3
TSR pick: Hancock Central by 20
Macon County, 3-5/3-1, at Central-Talbotton, 0-6/0-4
TSR pick: Macon County by 31
Taylor County, 6-2/4-0, at Crawford County, 4-4/2-2
TSR pick: Taylor County by 18
GIAA
Class 4A/3A
FPD, 6-3/2-1, at Tattnall, 0-9/0-3
TSR pick: FPD by 32
John Milledge, 7-1/3-0, at Mount de Sales, 2-7/1-2
TSR pick: John Milledge by 34
Piedmont, 5-4/2-4, at Athens Christian, 4-5/2-4
TSR pick: Piedmont by 5
Stratford 7-2, at Calvary Christian, 5-4
TSR pick: Stratford by 23
Westfield, 7-2/3-0,at St. Anne-Pacelli, 4-5/1-2
TSR pick: Westfield by 15
Class AA
Brentwood, 8-1/4-0, at Gatewood, 3-6/2-2
TSR pick: Brentwood by 31
GAPPS Cherokee Christian, 3-4, at Central Fellowship, 4-5
TSR pick: CFCA by 7
Heritage-Newnan, 1-7/0-1, at Windsor, 3-6/1-1
TSR pick: Windsor by 18
Robert Toombs, 4-5/1-1, at Trinity Christian 5-4/0-2
TSR pick: Trinity Christian by 3 (Upset special)