By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

Class 5A
Houston County 56, Effingham County 42
The Bears rolled past the 50-point mark for the 13th time in head coach Jeremy Edwards’ 40 games, and participated in the seventh 90-point game with Edwards in charge.

🏈 Any update will be around 11 a.m. Saturday, based on new information contributions from teams over night. Unfortunately, only two teams - Jasper County and CFCA - submitted any information on its game Friday night.

🏈 Teams: Please email game information – stats (offense and defense), names, big plays, etc. – to centralgasports@gmail.com by 2 a.m. Saturday morning for inclusion into Central Georgia’s only comprehensive roundup, or by 10:30 a.m. Saturday for addition to the roundup.

Baldwin 18, Northside 13
Northside led 6-0 at the half, and then lost 12 points in short order after Baldwin scored, then snagged and returned an uncovered kickoff. The Eagles took the lead late in the third quarter, and Baldwin got it back three minutes into the fourth on a pick 6. With just less than six minutes left, lightning started and didn’t let up, the game finally called a little after midnight.

Veterans 29, Statesboro 22
The Warhawks led more than they trailed in getting the first win for new head coach Steve DeVoursney. It was Veterans’ highest point total since beating Lakeside-Evans 38-15 in mid-September of 2023.

Class 4A
Woodland 20, Jones County 16
The Greyhounds led 16-14 at halftime, one score set up by Hunter Hardwick long interception return. Weather intervened, and Woodland scored the game-winner in the final two minutes.

Class 3A
Peach County 27, Perry 6 (Click here for more)
Perry knew that a 6-0 lead at halftime was perilous, at best. Peach County put a dent in it early in the third quarter on Ashton Barton’s short TD run, and then the Trojans took the lead midway through the quarter after a defensive stand on another Barton score. The homestanding Trojans broke a three-game losing streak to the Panthers.

High school football games postponed, new dates set
          ACE Charter and Central got through a quarter on Thursday. That game will be finished Monday at 5:30 p.m. at Ed DeFore.
          The Dublin-East Laurens game was postponed before any weather hit, around lunchtime on Friday, and is now set for Sept. 12.
          Twiggs County’s visit to Greene County is now Sept. 19. Rutland will now make its trip to Jeff Davis on Oct. 17.

GoFan tickets will be in effect for makeup dates. Email centralgasports@gmail.com with any others.

Mary Persons 23, Jackson 10
The Bulldogs’ defense led Mary Persons to a 16-3 halftime lead, and held Jackson in check until the fourth-quarter touchdown after an interception midway through the final period.

Upson-Lee 27, Manchester 0
The Knights had bigger margins of victory in a shutout in 2023 agaisnt Mt. Zion, Pike County, and Jackson, but none of those there are as good as Manchester. The Blue Devils hadn’t been shut out since 32-0 to AA Haralson County to open the 2020 season. The Knights put it away with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, on a TD pass from Niko Wells and a run from Jy Garmon.
West Laurens 49, Groves 0
The Raiders rolled as expected, getting their biggest shutout since 42-0 over Rutland in 2020 and largest margin of victory since 53-0 to open the 2019 season. The lead was 42-0 at halftime.

Class AA
Rutland, 0-1, at A/I Jeff Davis, 1-0, ppd.

Prince Avenue 43, Westside 22
The Wolverines won their seventh straight at home, and improved to 10-1 against Central Georgia teams.

Class A/Division I
Dodge County 31, Bleckley County 29

One of Central Georgia’s best rivalries had almost everything, the 50th version covering so much. Dodge County led 24-7, only for Bleckley County to storm back on the road, getting within 24-22 on Brody Fleming’s pass t Josh Stanley late in the third. The Indians answered almost immediately on Kain Mincey’s long TD pss to Jauriel. Isaiah Simeton’s short run pulled the Royals within 31-29 with about three minutes left, but that was, and the game ended a little after midnight, thanks to weather delays.

Come get Central Georgia’s first full preseason football section in years. Click here or on picture.

No. 8 Dublin, 0-1, at East Laurens, 0-1, rescheduled Friday for Sept. 12
The game was postponed around lunchtime Friday because of expected bad weather.

Northeast 30, Southwest 8
The Raiders marched out to a 15-0 lead on Jordan Wiggins TD passes to Tavarus Tinsley and Keandre Jackson, the Patriots answering on a touchdown pass. Northeast increased control in an increasingly physical and chippy game that finally got out of hand when the teams lost control and began fighting. The game was finally called after about two minutes having elapsed in the third quarter.

Carlos Stephens of WGXA-TV posted Friday night that Bibb County had released a statement:

“The Bibb County School District Athletic Department is committed to the safety of its students, employees, officials and spectators, and due to such considerations, tonight’s game between Northeast and Southwest high schools was terminated in the third quarter. Any related on-field or off-field incidents will be examined and addressed within the rules of the Georgia High School Association.”

Washington County 29, Jefferson County 7
Jefferson County put a mighty scare into the host Golden Hawks, leading 7-0 at halftime. The Warriors opened the season amid a horrific 3-29 run, and has lost 11 of the last 12 meetings with Washington County. The Golden Hawks scored twice three third-quarter minutes for a 15-7 lead, and rolled from there.

Morgan County 46, Putnam County 14

Class A/Division II
Jasper County 28, Hancock Central 0
The Hurricanes won fourth straight over the Bulldogs, with three shutouts. Chance Ross rushed for 117 yards and a score, while Tyrin Epps scored three times for Jasper County, which rushed for more than 250 yards in a four-quarter rainstorm. The Hurricanes’ defense forced three fumbles. Hawkinsville 34, Schley County 23
The Red Devils outscored the Wildcast 21-9 in the second quarter for a one-score halftime lead, getting some third-quarter insurance.

Crawford County 28, GMC 7 (Click here for more)
Weather hit Davenport Field and stopped action, but that didn’t help the Bulldogs.

Bowdon 55, Macon County 22
Macon County came out strong and took a 14-7 first-quarter lead, but the hosts started taking control with two second-quarter scores, and then put it away with a 34-point explosion in the third quarter.
Taylor County at Wheeler County, ppd.

GIAA

Class AAAA/AAA
FPD 42, Marion County 7
The Vikings were dominant, leading 28-0 in the first quarter and giving up only a third-quarter touchdown. Brady McHugh scored FPD’s first 3 touchdowns, on runs of 1 and 15 yards, and a scoop and score off a botched punt snap. FPD won 49-21 last year.

Deerfield-Windsor 41, Mount de Sales 10 (Click here for more)
The Cavs took a 3-0 lead, but the defending AAA champs got going after that, taking advantage of some tackling issues. The Knights passed for nearly 275 yards with 5 touchdowns.

Lakeview 34, Piedmont 7
Lakeview took a 20-0 lead before Piedmont broke the shutout late in the second quarter

St. Anne-Pacelli 28, Tattnall 6
The Trojans tailed 14-6 after three quarters, only for the hosts to seal it in the fourth.

Westfield 28, Southland 0

Class AA/A

Brentwood 36, Pinewood 10
The defending AA champ were in control by halftime with a 36-3 lead.

Briarwood 32, CFCA 14
Briarwood marched out to a 24-0 first-quarter lead. The Lancers got a TD pass from Carter Welch to Judson Walls, who added a 10-yard touchdown run.

Trinity Christian 24, Gatewood 6

Thomas Jefferson 27, Windsor 18

8-man

Covenant 46, Crisp 6