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

Last week
26-7, 78.8 percent

Season

73-19, 79.4 percent
Within 7 of the spread
9; 19 for the season, 20.1 percent
Upset specials/perfect spread
None picked/none
Maximum spread prediction of 39 points

Rankings are from the Georgia High School Football Daily regular-season composite polls

Games of the Week

5A No. 7 Houston County, 3-0, at Warner Robins, 2-1
Warner Robins is a little harder to figure than Houston County, but the Bears having had to grind it out against Perry and win a game of only 19 points – Bear coaches had hives after that game – is a good long-term sign for Houston County.
TSR pick: Houston County by 17

Ola, 2-1/1-1, at Jones County, 2-1/1-1
A playoff-type game to start September at The Barking Lot? The smell of tailgating on Railroad Street should start early, before two teams pretty even lately kick off.
TSR pick: Jones County by 11

West Laurens, 2-0, at Howard, 1-1, Thompson
This has become quite the interesting little series, and hard to predict. For the second time in a row, Howard should probably be 2-0 for the meeting. Some crowd support would be nice for Howard, in need of its first really notable win since about 2022. The Huskies absolutely have to work on composure and quit giving away 15-yard chunks.
TSR pick: Howard by 4

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ACE Charter, 2-0/2-0, at No. 10 Dodge County, 2-0/2-0
Both teams are making some adjustments with new bodies, and they’re probably pretty evenly matched, thanks to the absence of Alabama freshman Duke Johnson for Dodge County. The Indians have been tested more so far, again, and ACE will need a big step up in the passing game.
TSR pick: Dodge County by 15

FPD, 3-0, at Brookstone, 3-0
The Vikings are a little different the most of their colleagues, more physical and gritty and old-school. That’ll be tested on the road against a team it nipped 6-3 last year. There will be a hunk more points this go round.
TSR pick: FPD by 16

GHSA
Class AAA
Baldwin, 1-1, at Cross Creek, 1-1
TSR pick: Baldwin by 24

AA Crisp County, 0-3, at No. 3 Peach County, 3-0
TSR pick: Peach County by 29

CENTRAL GEORGIA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE

This week
🏈 Who’s going to win this week’s games
🏈 Central Georgia state composite rankings
🏈 Central Georgia rankings
🏈 Monday Morning Quarterback: Saturdays will never be the same without Lee Corso; Loughdmouthings galore
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week

Last week

🏈 Roundup: Houston County, Warner Robins survive; Tattnall & Hester celebration spoiled; Romps for Mary Persons, Peach County, Dodge County, Bleckley County, Northeast, Stratford, Brentwood
🏈 Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
🏈 Maxwell Predictions
🏈 Sitting down with Barney Hester (story and video)
🏈 Who’s going to win this week’s games?
🏈 Central Georgia state composite rankings
🏈 Monday Morning Quarterback: Monday Morning Quarterback: Southwest and Northeast lost their cool, and then people done lost their minds; Surprises, Loughdmouthings
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week

🏈 Central Georgia high school football preseason guide

Mary Persons, 2-0, at Fayette County, 0-2
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 24

Spalding, 0-2, at Upson-Lee, 2-0
TSR pick: Upson-Lee by 24

Class AA
A/II No. 3 Bowdon, 2-1, at Westside, 1-2, Ed DeFore
TSR pick: Bowdon by 28

Class A/Division I
Bleckley County, 2-1/1-1, at Southwest, 1-2/0-2 (Thurs.)
TSR pick: Bleckley County by 21

Central, 0-3/0-2, at East Laurens, 0-2/0-1
TSR pick: East Laurens by 12

No. 9 Dublin, 1-1/1-0, at Washington County, 1-2/1-1
TSR pick: Dublin by 30

No. 5 Northeast, 2-1/2-0, at Jefferson County, 0-3/0-2
TSR pick: Northeast by 28

Putnam County, 1-2 at Haralson County, 3-0
TSR pick: Haralson County by 8

AA Rutland, 0-2, at No. 11 Lamar County, 2-0
TSR pick: Lamar County by 27

Class A/Division II
GMC Prep, 0-3, at Taylor County, 0-2
TSR pick: Taylor County by 17

Hancock Central, 1-2, at AA Josey, 0-3
TSR pick: Hancock Central by 12

Macon County, 0-3, at No. 6 Manchester, 0-2
TSR pick: Manchester by 15 (upset watch)

GIAA 4A Stratford, 2-0, at Wilkinson County, 0-3
TSR pick: Stratford by 15

Wheeler County, 2-0, at Twiggs County, 0-2
TSR pick: Wheeler County by 21

GIAA
Class 4A/3A
John Milledge, 2-0, at GHSA A/I Athens Academy, 2-1
TSR pick: Athens Academy by 15 (upset watch)

Tattnall, 0-3, at Calvary Christian, 2-0
TSR pick: Tattnall by 2

Terrell, 1-1, at Mount de Sales, 0-3
TSR pick: Terrell by 20

Class AA/A
Augusta Prep, 1-2, at Trinity Christian, 2-1
TSR pick: Trinity Christian by 24

Flint River, 2-0, at CFCA, 1-2
TSR pick: CFCA by 1 (upset special)

Gatewood, 0-4, at Southland, 1-2
TSR pick: Southland by 10

GHSA A/II Lake Oconee, 1-2, at Brentwood, 3-0
TSR pick: Brentwood by 22

4A Lakeview at Windsor, 1-2
TSR pick: Lakeview by 25