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
8-4, 66.7 percent
Season
302-74, 80.37 percent
Within 7 of the spread
3; 124 for the season, 32.9 percent
Upset specials/perfect spread
Houston County by 2 over Rome, Rome won 38-28; Peach County by 3 over Jenkins, Jenkins won 38-28/None
Upset watches
Bleckley County vs. Worth County, Worth County won 38-35 at the buzzer.
CENTRAL GEORGIA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE
Last week
🏈 Stratford makes a prophet of Carroll with a win on special teams and defense
🏈 Brentwood brings out the can of whoop, well, after halftime, rolls to defense of state title
🏈 GIAA AAAA championship preview Stratford lost a standout running back, but responded in all phases to make the run others didn't expect
🏈 GIAA AA championship preview: Brentwood started the season atop the mountain, and is prepared to stay there
🏈 HS roundup: West Laurens, Northeast keep the Central Georgia flag flying; heartbreakers for Houston County, Peach County, Bleckley County; Dublin, Jasper County fall at home
🏈 Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
🏈 GIAA AAA championship: John Milledge back where it expects to be, going for another trophy
🏈 Maxwell Predictions
🏈 Who’s going to win this week’s gamez?
🏈 Monday Morning Quarterback: There’s a plug or 10 at Flowery Branch that need to be pulled, including in the executive office; Surprises, Loughdmouthings
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week: Northeast trio
The seed precedes the regular-season composite ranking by the Georgia High School Football Daily.
🏈 🏈 🏈GHSA 🏈 🏈 🏈
Class AAA
5. No. 9 Jenkins, 11-1, at 4. No. 8 West Laurens, 12-0
The question continues: When will somebody execute what they’ve figure out in terms of slowing down, and often, West Laurens’ Ty Cummings? Kicking to him is certainly unwise, as per last week’s 89-yard return for a score, for starters. The Warriors having given up 45 and 28 points in the last two weeks, and can be scored on, but their passing game has picked up the last two games.. It’s still likely highly West Laurens will need yards through the air. The Raiders are rolling along a little better on defense, but better be ready for some decent passing. If it comes down to a field goal, flip a coin. That’s where the home-field advantage may be the most important. There’s still the nagging feeling about somebody finally figuring out a way to keep Cummings from back-breaking long runs.
TSR pick: West Laurens by 3
Class A/Division I
5. No. 4 Northeast, 10-2, at 4. No. 2 Toombs County, 11-1
Both teams are pretty different than those who met for last year’s state championship, and they’re probably more even. Northeast has spent the year attack more through the air, but had to adjust with quarterback Jordan Wiggins’ injury. In steps last year’s championship quarterback, Bam Glover. His throwing ability and QB IQ is underrated, and he’s a playmaker. Him at QB, though, takes another weapon away. But Northeast’s defense is elite. If Northeast plays with discipline and intelligence – an issue off and on all season – to go with basic fundamentals, it’ll avenge the loss. Knucklehead decisions will lead to another double-digit loss. Northeast’s defense can overcome the change in offensive schemes and personnel - the unit is, yes, that good - but it can’t overcome a Raider team that can’t maintain its composure. A Raider team that does do that, however, moves on.
TSR pick: Toombs County by 7 (Upset watch)
