Central Georgia Sports ReportComment

Central Georgia high school football scouting reports

Central Georgia Sports ReportComment
Central Georgia high school football scouting reports

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

           The rankings are from the Georgia High School Football Daily composite.
Come back tonight for Central Georgiaā€™s only live running scoreboard, and Saturday morning for Central Georgiaā€™s most complete - names, stats, details - game-night coverage.

Class 5A

6A Tift County, 3-1, at No. 6 Houston County, 4-0
          The Bears are balanced, and the defense ā€“ other than the Effingham County game ā€“ is off to a nice start, led by Western Ard, Jordan Smith, and Jase Jordan. Tift County has some balance, and Kamari Holloman gets 151.3 yards a game on the ground. The Blue Devilsā€™ lone loss is 41-33 to Lee County, so this is a nice region measuring stick for Houston County, which ends the regular season hosting the Trojans.

AA No. 7 Burke County, 3-1, at Northside, 0-3
          Northsideā€™s record is worse than a year ago, but the Eagles have been outscored by 20 points in three games, compared to by one point a year ago. Burke Countyā€™s schedule hasnā€™t been overly strong, the loss by 41-0 to Benedictine. The Bears, who won 14-6 last year, are a run-heavy team, getting 192.5 rushing yards a game. Northside is not posting public stats this year.

Class 4A

5A Veterans, 2-1, at Perry, 1-2
          The last time Veterans was 2-1 in 2023 after three games, including a 49-41 loss to Perry. Last year, the Panthers rolled 38-0. Both teams are harder to figure out. Perry is young on offense, and Veterans has a new staff, and both teams are still figuring out this yearā€™s identity. The panthers are passing for 196 yards a game this year behind Reid Ginn. Veterans is not posting public stats again this year.

Jones County, 2-2/1-2, at Union Grove, 0-4/0-3
          Head coach Justin Montgomery faces a second challenge in his short stint at Jones County, following up a big upset loss a few weeks ago to a 20-point fourth-quarter lead evaporating in a home loss in the final minute. Jones County needs to get the run game going and make some defensive adjustments, but Union Grove is getting outscored by only 11 points a game, fairly respectable for a winless team. Jones County QB Cason Taylor is good for 144.8 passing yards a game in his first year as a starter.

Class 3A

Mary Persons, 3-0/1-0, at No. 6T Troup, 3-0/1-0, Saturday
          The Bulldogs continue their version of a revenge tour, even against teams they didnā€™t have to forfeit to last year. Troup won 24-17 to end Mary Personsā€™ three-game winning streak, a week before the forfeits started, getting the game-winning score inside the final two minutes. Troup racks up 437 yards a game, almost 300 on the ground. Mary Persons isnā€™t updating stats on Max Preps.

No. 3 Sandy Creek, 3-0/1-0, at No. 12T Upson-Lee, 3-0/1-0
          Expect plenty of action, with one team getting 419 yards a game and the other 332.7. Upson-Lee has to keep up its end after losing 31-0 last year. The Knights will need a huge defensive night and a boost in the running game to go 4-0 for the first time since 2015. Amari Latimer gets 183.7 yards on the ground for Sandy Creek and Caleb Hell throws for 171 yards> Niko Wells leads Upson-Leeā€™s offense with 131.7 yards passing.

Harlem, 2-0, at Baldwin, 2-1
          Baldwin appears to have righted the ship after losing 46-18 to Perry to start the season. The Braves got a weather-shortened 18-13 win over Northside, then rolled Cross Creek 52-6. A year ago, the 1-2 Braves were edged 17-14 by Harlem, which went on to a 10-2 season. Kamden Patterson has stormed out to getting 186 yards a game passing, countered by 136.5 yards by Mercer Barton for Harlem. Nakarroen Walls and Jazz Lamar top the Bravesā€™ defense.

Howard, 1-2/0-1, at Richmond Academy, 0-3/0-1
          The Musketeers have almost a 2-1 advantage in total offense, but are giving up 38 points a game. Howard will have had a week with new quarterback Zavion DeShazier (Mount de Sales transfer), who was the victim of several drops last week in the thumping by West Laurens. The Huskiesā€™ effort dropped off during the game, and they need to fix that and get some momentum going.

Cross Creek, 1-2/0-1, at West Laurens, 3-0/1-0
          Cross Creek is facing perhaps the fastest team its seen this year, and one the fastest itā€™ll see all year. Ty Cummings and Branden Brooks team for 257.4 yards on the ground, averaging 11.9 and 20.5 yards a carry out of the Raidersā€™ single-wing type offense. West Laurens has a swarming defense led by Hunter Castellaw and Shannon Adkins, both with double-digit tackles per game. The Raiders are going for their second straight 4-0 start, which hasnā€™t happened in program history.

Class AA

A/II No. 11 Hawkinsville, 3-0, at Rutland, 0-3
          The improving Hurricanes get 162 passing yards a game from the duo of Tyson White and Zamerien Johnson, but need more from the run game. Jakayden Hill leads the defense with 6.3 tackles a game. Hawkinsville is riding the 124.3 yards a game on the ground by Martin McDonald, who has 5 rushing TDs. QB Sebastian Clark has a 5-2 TD-INT ratio, but is completing only 51.3 percent of his passes. Nakivius Releford and Landon Johnson get 9.7 tackles a game for the Red Devilsā€™ defense. Hawkinsville has scored more points each week than the last.

Class A/Division I

Dodge County, 2-1, at Vidalia, 1-3
          Dodge County looks to rebound from a wakeup-call loss at home to ACE Charter, against another set of Indians that broke a 3-game losing streak with a 35-0 win over Brantley County. Dodge County QB Kain Mincey is rolling to a 1,000-yard season, completing 54.2 percent of his passes for 697 yards. The last three games have been decided by 11 points.

No. 9 Dublin, 2-1/2-0, at East Laurens 1-2/1-1
          This a game rescheduled for weather that never came. Dublin leads the series 30-1, the lone loss coming in 2012.  The closest game since then was 56-34 in 2015, the Falcons suffering six shutouts in the 10-game span since the win. East Laurens battled Johnson County in a 27-21 loss, then fell 40-0 to Bleckley County before hammering Central 58-0. The Irish have a QB issue (injury) and barely got past Washington County 14-7 last year, hurting themselves with penalties.

AA Jackson, 1-3, at Jasper County, 3-0
          The Purple Hurricanes are racking up 377.7 yards on offense, led by Chance Rossā€™s 138.7 on the ground. Cope Durand is good for 8 tackles a game. Jasper County hasnā€™t started 4-0 since 1996, when it opened up 5-0 en route to an 8-3 season. Jackson has two quality losses, by 13 to Mary Persons and by 7 to Lamar County.

Wilkinson County, 0-4, at ACE Charter, 3-0
          The ACE defense will get quite the workout against quarterback Quenterrion Stanford, who passes for 305.7 yards a game, completing 58 percent of his passes with 8 TDs and 2 INTs. Makhi Johnson has 18 catches for 118.7 yards and 4 TDs. William Winters tops the ACE defense with 12.7 tackles a game. The Gryphons are off the biggest win in program history, 20-15 at Dodge County. Wilkinson County has three losses by single digits, so avoiding a happy hangover is key for ACE.

Visit ā€˜how to contributeā€™ on any page for ways to chip in.

Class A/Division II

Crawford County, 2-1, at Macon County, 0-4
          Itā€™s been awhile since Crawford County had a better record than Macon County through at least three games. The Eagles are going for their first 3-1 start since 2016, but will need to break an 8-game losing streak to Macon County to do it. The Bulldogs had five shutouts and four 50-point games in that span. Noah Parker gets 147.5 yards a game rushing for Macon County, with 7 TDs.

GIAA AA Creekside Christian, 3-1, at GMC Prep, 0-4
          GMC is getting more points and giving up fewer points a game than last year, and look to avenge a 43-6 loss.

Taylor County, 1-2, at Montgomery County, 1-2
          The Vikingsā€™ 2 losses have been by 18 points, compared to the Eaglesā€™ by 45 points. Taylor County won 36-6 last year.

Twiggs County, 0-3, at AA Josey, 0-3
          Twiggs County is off to a better start than a year ago, already with more than a third of last yearā€™s points total. The Cobras won 42-14 last year.

Warren County, 0-4, at Hancock Central, 2-2
          Hancock Central broke a 2-game losing streak with a 38-13 win over Josey. Warren County leads the series 25-16-2, and has won 3 of the last 4.

GIAA

Class 4A/3A

John Milledge, 2-1, at Bulloch, 3-0
          Both teams have a chunk of playmakers. Danye Garvin gets 115 rushing yards a game for Bulloch, which knocked off FPD for the 4A title last year. Jamel Cooper counters with 91.7 yards, but Lewis Cheney passes for 85 more yards than Sam Hubbard. Asa Wall leads the Trojan defense with 9.8 tackles a game.

Frederica, 2-2, at Stratford, 3-0
          Tyler Stephens is almost halfway to 1,000 yards after 3 games, getting 162.7 each week for 488 yards, scoring 6 times. QB Tucker Johnston hasnā€™t thrown an interception on 47 attempts. Jalon Smith, Maddox Whitehead, and Tate Johnston team for almost 24 tackles a game. The Eagles outgain the Frederica by 195 yards a game.

Loganville Christian, 2-1, at Piedmont, 2-1/0-1
          Piedmont had a week off after blanking Baconton Charter 19-0 for its second straight shutout of the Blazers. The Cougars won 14-13 last year, the Lionsā€™ closest loss in a 2-8 season.

Pinewood Christian, 2-2, at FPD, 3-1
          Itā€™s something of a battle of the gritty quarterbacks who lead their teams in passing and rushing, Major Simmons (172.8 yards) for FPD and Sam Wasson (113) for Pinewood. The Vikings struggled with the passing game last week, held to an 11-of 21 night, while giving up 164 rushing yards to Brookstone in a 31-22 loss. Pinewood Christian lost 40-5 to Stratford two weeks ago, a week after falling 36-10 to Brentwood. The Vikings lead the series 10-14, winning 47-0 last year.

Strong Rock, 3-1, at Tattnall, 0-4
          Strong Rockā€™s Jake Johnson averages 150.8 yards a game. Tattnall has a battle to avoid its first 0-5 start since 1981, Barney Hesterā€™s first season. The Trojans lost their first eight games that year, breaking the streak with a 12-6 win over now-defunct Monroe Academy.

Westfield, 2-1, at Tiftarea, 1-2
          Brock Johnson is off to a nice start for Westfield, passing for 180.3 yards a game, Jackson Hair good for 102.7 on the ground. Thatcher Reddick gets 8.5 stops a game for the Hornets, who get almost 60 more yards a game.

Class AA/A

4A Mount de Sales, 0-4, at Gatewood, 0-4
          The Cavs are off a good night in a loss last week in their first game without quarterback Zavion DeShazier (transferred to Howard). Gatewood  is improving each week, its margins of defeat dropping from 18 to 12 to 3 in the last three weeks. The Gators won 46-20 last year.

North Georgia Tribe at Central Fellowship, 1-3

North Georgia Tribe is a homeschool team in the GAPPS. CFCA lost 6-0 to Flint River last week.

Thomas Jefferson, 1-3, at Brentwood, 4-0
          The War Eagles are efficient on both sides, Tristan Robinson averages 81.5 yards a game on the ground, and four runners have at least 2 touchdowns. QB Baylor Cobb has 6 TDs and 1 INT on 24 attempts, with 375 yards.

Windsor, 1-3, at Trinity Christian, 3-1
          The Knights are getting the yards, the Crusaders are getting the wins. Windsor has a total offense advantage of 119 yards ā€“ keyed by Heath Woodardā€™s 146-yards a game passing average ā€“ but turnovers have hurt the Knights. Wade Register leads the Crusaders with 74 rushing yards and 9.8 tackles a game.

8-man

Citizens Christian at Covenant

David Emanuel at John Hancock

Idle: Warner Robins, Peach County, Westside, Northeast, Bleckley County, Washington County, Southwest, Central, Jefferson, Lamar County, Putnam County