Central Georgia Sports ReportComment

Central Georgia HS football rankings

Central Georgia Sports ReportComment
Central Georgia HS football rankings

By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
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                 Ah, finally a week of possibly a little peace and quiet poll-wise.

          It’s a pretty light week – schedule that way, not rudely interrupted by Mother Nature – in Central Georgia after a pretty hectic week.

          This means we can be assured of one “Hooooly crap” and a couple “Yeah, that’s a surprise” scores.

          Perry beating Jones County wasn’t a shocker, but being in such control was. Callaway’s win over Lamar County was a bit of a surprise, but Schley County edging Macon County didn’t turn all that many heads.

          The gap in Division I is closer with 3-4-5 than with 2-3 or 1-2. Granted, Thomas County Central is in the dynasty stage, but Houston County being held to single digits doesn’t happen much at all.

          There’s not much difference between the top four teams in Division II, and we might be a week away from a tie for first, maybe a three-way tie. Or a few teams tied right after that.

          Northeast will win its region by probably two games, even while moving up to AAA. The region the Raiders left is more competitive, with three teams capable of winning it, and deserving to win it.

          This week, our  potential poll-shakers: Baldwin-Troup, Howard-Mary Persons, Dublin-ACE, Bleckley County-Dodge County.

Division I (Classes 6A, 5A, 4A, 13 teams)

5. Northside

          It’s worth noting that two of Northside’s three losses are by a total of 17 points, but the Eagles are still looking for the big offensive game against a quality opponent.

4. Warner Robins
          The Demons are amid an odd scheduling fluke, two weeks in a row off, then three burly battles. Might be good timing.

3. Baldwin
          It’s not like the first part of the schedule was a stroll down the cakewalk aisle, but some big boys await. Baldwin’s best football – i.e. fundamentals and skipping the dumb penalties – is needed to avoid going 0-3.

2. Houston County
          The sense of familiarity has arrive, of a great start and then running into the buzzsaws of an absurd region.

1. Peach County

          A challenge from Mary Persons and the predictable rout of Westside, and then a week off before upstart Howard, and then Baldwin and Troup. October will be more interesting than September.

 

Division II (Classes 3A, AA, A, GIAA, 33 teams

9. (tie) Jasper County, ACE Charter, Putnam County

          The Hurricanes and Gryphons are having a grinding week of practice, no doubt, while the sun keeps shining in Eatonton.

8. Macon County
          The Bulldogs are in for another battle, following a thrilling win with a heartbreaking loss.

7. Taylor County
          The Vikings were off after the heartbreaking loss to macon County, probably not a good thing. Maintaing focus early against Central-Talbotton might be a thing.

6. Dodge County
          The Indians are rolling, and are right along with Dublin and Bleckley County in 2-AA. The last three wins have been fairly complete ones.

5. Stratford
          An off week to adjust to some notable injury concerns comes at the right time, with John Milledge coming to town next week.

4.  John Milledge
          The Trojans keep on keepin’ on, as usual. But that Oct. 23 visit to Stratford awaits, and it might be the best GIAA game in the last year or two.

3. Bleckley County
          The Royals manhandled ACE, and now are slobbering for a shot at Dodge County to keep alive a shot at a region title.

2. Dublin
          The Irish keep on keepin’ on, as per usual

1. Northeast
          The challenge is more mental down the stretch, to stay focused and get better, and keep cutting down on mistakes not befitting a top-5 team.