Central Georgia Sports ReportComment

Who's going to win this week's Central Georgia high school football games?

Central Georgia Sports ReportComment
Who's going to win this week's Central Georgia high school football games?

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

Last week
21-4, 84 percent
Season
294-70, 80.8 percent
Within 7 of the spread
8; 121 for the season, 33.2 percent
Upset specials/perfect spread
Macon County over Charlton County, lost by 28/Jenkins County over Wilkinson County by 11, won 38-27
Upset watches
Cherokee Bluff vs. Peach County, Peach County won by 25; Wilkinson County vs. Jenkins County, Jenkins County won by 11; Westfield vs. Deerfield-Windsor, D-W won by 12

🏈 🏈 🏈GIAA 🏈 🏈 🏈

Championships

Friday

Class AAA: 1. John Milledge, 11-1 vs. 2. Deerfield-Windsor, 12-0
          There’s little debate that these are the two best teams in AAA and probably in all of GIAA. With balanced defenses and playmaking offenses with quality quarterbacks, it’ll be a stunner if this doesn’t come down to the final two minutes. Pass defense is the first key, and preventing big plays. You could flip a coin for awhile. JMA defending the pass determines a state title.
TSR pick: John Milledge by 3

Saturday

Class AA: 2. Southwest Georgia, 9-3, vs. 1. Brentwood, 11-1
          Can a team be overlooked in a championship? Can a second seed? Yes. But it’s unlikely Brentwood will do that with a team that, yes, has three losses. Considering one is to a 4A finalist and one is to a 3A finalist, yeah, Brentwood knows it better strap it up. As respectable as the run-heavy Warriors are, don’t be surprised if Brentwood approaches its average margin of plus-28 points. The Gators are on quite a program run, despite being mighty young.
TSR pick: Brentwood by 20

Class 4A: 1. Stratford, 10-2, vs. 2. Brookstone, 10-2
          No, the game played by the two in Macon on Sept. 19 will have little bearing on Saturday night. Stratford is a little different, and Brookstone got better. Plus, shoot, the Cougars are tired of coming up short in Macon and against Macon teams. Stratford’s facing one of the GIAA’s top quarterbacks, and the Eagles are down a major threat on offense. If somebody scores 41, the other team will be in the 30s and it’ll be close. The Eagles appeared to have solidified themselves in a few areas, and have been sharp on game nights.
TSR pick: Stratford by 8

🏈 🏈 🏈GHSA 🏈 🏈 🏈

Class 5A
2/2 No. 5 Houston County, 10-1, at 5/1 No. 7 Rome, 9-2
          The linebackers and defensive backs better be rested, facing QBs who threw for a combined 540 yards last week. The playoff stage comparison is pretty even, this region – aka Thomas County Central – knocking homestanding Rome out the last two years. Houston County isn’t Thomas County Central, but …
TSR pick: Houston County by 2 (Upset special)

Class 4A
1/2 Warner Robins, 7-4, at 7/1 No. 3 Cartersville, 11-0
          Cartersville has all three meetings with Warner Robins, all in the playoffs, starting with the 2020 championship, by 34 points. Twice, the Purple Hurricanes were the higher-ranked team. That’s the case again this year, and the team getting 400 yards a game will break the streak.

TSR pick: Cartersville by 21

Class AAA
20. Oconee County at 4. No. 8 West Laurens, 11-0
          The Raiders went and put the top on the convertible down last week and aired things out. Well, sorta. Cason Pollack threw and five different Raiders caught. What with Ty Cummings getting 131 yards and Branden Brooks 121, each on 6 carries, the Raiders would be wise to keep the top down for the next round, since it’s doubtful the Warriors will slow down Cummings and Brooks or manage a whole lot against an underrated defense.
TSR pick: West Laurens by 26

12. No. 6T Peach County, 10-1, at 5. No. 9 Jenkins, 10-1
          Trips to Savannah haven’t been good ones for Peach County, having been eliminated there two of the last three years. But Jenkins hasn’t done well at home recently in the few home playoff games. The teams are mighty even, and Peach County has battled some injuries down the stretch. Maybe a road game comes at the right time.
TSR pick: Peach County by 3 (Upset special)

Class A/Division I
12. No. 6 Swainsboro at 4. No. 4 Northeast, 9-2
          The Raiders have become a team that can adjust, and did a fine job last week with Bam Glover back at quarterback for Jordan Wiggins (clavicle surgery). Another week allows for some expansion on offense, and Northeast may have a surprise or two for Swainsboro. Don’t underestimate Northeast with Glover – last year’s starting quarterback – in charge and tweaks on offense, in part because the Raiders have a sporty defense.
TSR pick: Northeast by 6

10. Pepperell, 7-4, at 7. Jasper County, 10-1
          The Dragons might be a 9-2 team in a 7-4 record, with three winnable losses. The Hurricanes should be over any home playoff game nerves, and they’re a deserved favorite. But Pepperell – one of those teams posting no stats on MaxPreps - is a good 7-4 team that warrants a 10 seed. Jasper County’s defense might be a bit underrated.
TSR pick: Jasper County by 13

9. No. 7 Fitzgerald, 8-3, at 8. No. 9 Dublin, 9-2
          It was “Break Open the Passing Game Day” in Laurens County last week (See “West Laurens” above). Dublin’s Jeff Davis was 6 of 8 for 76 yards and two touchdowns, the team’s biggest passing day of the year. Fitzgerald bears no resemblance to Washington County, and the Irish will have to keep the visitors on their toes to keep going. This is a glorious old-school game between teams perennially in the hunt, and without fancy game plans. Straight up slobberknocker ball.
TSR pick: Dublin by 6

14. No. 10 Bleckley County, 9-2, at 3. No. 1 Worth County, 11-0
          The Royals have the receipts, so to speak from last year’s 5-7 year, as one of the best teams under .500 in the state. Bleckley County responded well from a second-half thumping by Dublin, a week after knocking off Northeast. The Rams have played four ranked teams, but the schedules are similar. Expect close to a 48-minute game, if not the upset.
TSR pick: Worth County by 13 (Upset watch)

Class A/Division II
4/2 Hawkinsville, 9-2, at 8/1 No. 1 Lincoln County, 11-0
          The Red Devils have won with offense and defense, and have scored at least three touchdowns in every game. Hawkinsville historically has been respectable against highly ranked teams, but not in awhile. Can Hawinsville survived the huge line-of-scrimmage game this will be?

TSR pick: Lincoln County by 22