By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

For the first week, we’re combining the (abbreviated) scouting reports and predictions. See, it takes some time putting together 11,000 words for The Sports Report’s comprehensive preseason guide (the largest and most comprehensive in Central Georgia by far) as well as the best daily sports report – like the paper – in Central Georgia. Back to normal next week, including last year’s prediction record.

Reminder: The goal is 80 percent accuracy, a task with teen agers. There’s also picking a spread within 7 points of the final margin.

Attention coaches/teams:
          Please have somebody in place to take stats and send them to The Central Georgia Sports Report for the most comprehensive Saturday morning coverage around.
          Takes up almost three quarters of a newspaper page (Remember them). But help is required: names, stats, who scored. Same stuff as always.
          At a minimum, an email or text of some highlights and details sent are helpful.
          By 2 a.m. (The night at The Sports Report ends aroud 4 a.m. every Friday during football, so cutting any time off that is supremely appreciated).
          Email centralgasports@gmail.com for a copy of a blank box score sheet. Information emailed by 10 a.m. Saturday will be added to the roundup.

The rankings are from the Georgia High School Football Daily composite. Scores noted are from last year’s meeting.

GHSA
Jones County at Veterans
The battle of new coaches pits a veteran against a newbie. The newbie has more players. Jones County won 41-26 last year.
TSR pick: Jones County by 22

Baldwin at No. 12T/4A Perry
Perry won 37-6. It will be a good bit closer this time.
TSR pick: Perry by 11

No. 5/5A Lee County at No. 10/4A Warner Robins
Lee County won 45-28 last year. The Demons will be different in a few weeks.
TSR pick: Lee County by 20

Union Grove at No. 14 Upson-Lee
Upson-Lee won 28-14 last year.
TSR pick: Upson-Lee by 21

Westside vs. Howard, Thompson, 8 p.m.
Westside won 26-20 in overtime. The Huskies let that one get away. They won’t let this one get away.
TSR pick: Howard by 10

No. 14 Swainsboro at No. 6/A-1 Dublin
Dublin won 41-21 last year. It’s rare to have either team win by much. The teams are pretty even at this point.
TSR pick: Dublin by 10

East Laurens at No. 15T/A-II Johnson County
East Laurens won 13-8 last year.
TSR pick: Johnson County by 14

No. 3T/A-1 Northeast at No. 2/3A Peach County
Peach County won 40-21. The Raiders didn’t play standout RB Nick Woodford, and they were in a big hole early. Woodford would’ve helpd make it competitive, but Peach County was just better. What Northeast comes out with scheme-wise will be interesting, and the Raiders will be better prepare for this stage, a bigger program always in the top 10.
TSR pick: Peach County by 15

Southwest vs. Macon County, Thompson, 4 p.m.
Macon County won 26-19.
TSR pick: Macon County by 25

Washington County at Jeff Davis
Jeff Davis won 22-6.
TSR pick: Jeff Davis by 13

Taylor County at Jasper County
Taylor County won 21-7. Jasper County hasn’t need much discussion of this game, and the Purple Hurricanes are amped to get off to a good start.
TSR pick: Jasper County by 4

Telfair County at No. 10T/ A-1 Lamar County
Lamar County won 24-8.
TSR pick: Lamar County by 14
No. 14/A-II Greene County at Putnam County
Greene County won 28-20.
TSR pick: Greene County by 2

Marion County at Hawkinsville
Hawkinsville won 23-21.
TSR pick: Hawkinsville by 7

Atkinson County at GMC Prep
Atkinson County won 35-16 last year.
TSR pick: Atkinson County by 17

Hancock Central at Glenn Hills
Hancock Central won 66-0.
TSR pick: Hancock Central by 17

Treutlen at Twiggs County
Treutlen won 40-0.
TSR pick: Treutlen by 28

Wheeler County at Wilkinson County
Wilkinson County won 34-21.
TSR pick: Wheeler County by 9

Crawford County at Pike County
Pike County won 34-20.
TSR pick: Pike County by 17

GIAA
Eagles Landing Christian at FPD
FPD won 10-0. Vikings head coach Brett Collier will likely have less trouble with his last employer than he did in 2024.
TSR pick: FPD by 14

Bethlehem Christian at John Milledge
BC won 28-14. The Trojans are obviously better than last year, and they’ll remember what happened against nine teams.
TSR pick: John Milledge by 3

Mount de Sales at Loganville Christian
MdS won 40-27.
TSR pick: Mount de Sales by 8

Piedmont at Thomas Jefferson
Piedmont won 41-7.
TSR pick: Piedmont by 14

St. Anne-Pacelli at Stratford
Stratford won 27-7.
TSR pick: Stratford by 11

Tattnall at Brookstone
Brookstone won 26-15. Both teams have new head coaches, although one isn’t all that new. The Cougars, though, have more weapons.
TSR pick: Brookstone by 12

Central Fellowship at Tiftarea
Tiftarea won 48-0.
TSR pick: Tiftarea by 27

Westfield at Brookwood
Westfield won 55-6.
TSR pick: Westfield by 29

Trinity Christian at Brentwood
Brentwood won 44-21.
TSR pick: Brentwood by 24

Flint River at Gatewood
Flint River won 19-14.
TSR pick: Gatewood by 20

Windsor at Pataula Charter
Windsor won 26-12.
TSR pick: Pataula Charter by 14