By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com

Last week
15-10, 60 percent
Season
265-66, 80.1 percent
Within 7 of the spread
7; 111 for the season, 33.5 percent
Upset specials/perfect spread
None/none
Upset watches
Jones County -10, lost by 16; Rutland -8, lost by 12 ; Macon County -7, won by 2

CENTRAL GEORGIA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE

This week
🏈 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
🏈 GHSA GIAA playoff master schedule/results
🏈 Central Georgia rankings
🏈 First HS football coaching casualty of 2025: Central's Laws on-field successes minimal, but off-field progress notable
🏈 Monday Morning Quarterback: Whoopdeo do, the first college rankings are out, which means a big “soooo what”; Good stat stuff/surprises; Loughdmouthings
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week

Last week
🏈 Roundup: Houston County gets home game, Northside awakens; Clutch night for Warner Robins; Washington County holds on, Dublin survives Dodge County, Lamar County wins battle of unbeatens
🏈 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: Will this Atlanta turkey of a season have a coaching change by Thanksgiving?; Bears are ballin’ at Mercer; Loughdmouthings
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
🏈 Stratford, Brentwood get top seeds for GIAA playoffs (pairings, rankings)

Maximum spread prediction of 39 points. Goals: 80 percent picks, 25 percent within 7 points of margin

GIAA
Class 4A
9. Calvary Christian, 6-5, at 1. Stratford, 8-2
The teams played a few weeks ago. Please ignore the “tough to beat a team twice” silliness. Stratford is the better team, and has adjusted to a squirrelly final month of the season, from a key injury to staff changes to the return from injury. Keep an eye on freshman RB/DB Aaron Jefferson the rest of the season.
TSR pick: Stratford by 27
6. Strong Rock, 6-4, at 3. FPD, 7-3
The Vikings are a little more banged up than most of the other banged-up teams still playing, courtesy of some nice “next man up” performances. FPD has developed some depth, as well as confidence from players who didn’t start the year expecting to start at the end of the year. Strong Rock has less momentum after a 2-3 finish.
TSR pick: FPD by 13

Class AAA
9. Piedmont, 7-4 at 1. John Milledge, 9-1
The reward for a first-round win is playing the best GIAA team, rested and at home. It may be a little sluggish at first for the Trojans, for a team can be too well-rested in its first playoff game. The second half may be more Trojan-like.
TSR pick: John Milledge by 38

6. Tiftarea, 4-5, at 3. Westfield, 7-3
Look for a battle into the fourth quarter. The Hornets have been a little off the last month, and Tiftrea has a one-point win over Westfield that was followed by a three-game losing streak and strong finish.
TSR pick: Westfield by 9 (Upset watch)

Class AA
8. Windsor, 5-6, at 1. Brentwood, 9-1
The Knights are having a memorable season in Year 2 of the return to the 11-man game. But Brentwood has become a machine, and the War Eagles are unlikely to take a scrappy team lightly.
TSR pick: Brentwood by 35
5. Trinity Christian, 5-5, at 4. Briarwood, 7-3
A season of promise for Trinity Christian was sidetracked by some injuries, including versatile Wade Register, who has played in seven games, according to MaxPreps, and not since Sept. 26.
TSR pick: Briarwood by 13

6. Central Fellowship, 5-5, at 3. Southland, 6-4
Figuring out which Lancers team runs through the banner has been a task. Southland and former Tattnall and Stratford head coach Chance Jones are on a two-game losing streak.
TSR pick: Southland by 13.
7. Gatewood, 4-7, at 2. Southwest Georgia, 7-3
The Gators will battle, but the Warriors are on a 5-1 run with the only loss coming to GHSA Class A/II Atkinson County (8-1, not playing a region schedule).

TSR pick: Southwest Georgia by 27