Central Georgia Sports ReportComment

Central Georgia HS football scouting reports

Central Georgia Sports ReportComment
Central Georgia HS football scouting reports

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

           Rankings are from the Georgia High School Football Daily Composite poll. Stats are mostly based on what teams report to MaxPreps.

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Class 6A
Houston County, 5-4/3-2, at No. 3 Lee County, 8-1/4-1

          Lee County gets 203 rushing yards and 202 passing yards a game, a little less than Houston County’s 208 and 232.6. But the Trojans give up almost half as many points 16.8 to 32.8) points a game as the Bears, whose Austin Stinson has 1,685 yards rushing. Houston County pulled off a 34-28 upset last year, but trails 11-1 in the series.

No. 8 Coffee, 7-2/3-2, at Veterans, 4-5/1-4
          The Warhawks are on a 4-game losing streak that includes two shutouts, but they’ve won more games than in the past three seasons. Coffee leads the series 4-0 after last year’s 35-25 win at Freedom Field.

Editor’s note: Thanks to FPD, John Milledge, and Dublin for sending game information Friday night to The Central Georgia Sports Report., and Perry on Saturday.

Class 5A

Perry, 5-4/4-1, at Warner Robins, 5-4/3-2
          Two teams seemingly going in different directions face for the 15th time. Perry is tied for second in the region and solidly in the playoffs while Warner Robins is fourth and on the bubble. Mardi Cobb completes 63.8 percent of his passes, for 1,416 yards with 12 TDs and 3 INTs. J.D. Arnette has 27 catches for 786 yards and 9 TDs. Kyle Jones’ 8.3 tackles tops the Perry defense. Warner Robins is not posting public stats. The Panthers outscore opponents by 13.3 points a game to 1.8 for the Demons. This is the third meeting in three years after a gap dating back to 1965. The Demons have won the recent meetings 33-26 and 27-24.

Class 4A

No. 11 Baldwin, 6-3/3-3, at Spalding, 5-4/2-4
          Spalding faces one of the top passing games in the state, led by Baldwin QB Kam Patterson, who is 101 yards from 3,000 yards for the season, and has 33 touchdowns to 3 interceptions. Justin Burton (50-802/7) is the top target. The Braves are off a 52-24 loss at Peach County while Spalding lost 38-14 to Mary Persons. The series is tied at 2, Spalding winning 34-0 in 2023, the last meeting.

Westside, 2-7/0-6, at Howard, 4-5/3-3 (Ed DeFore)
          Howard is a big favorite against the city rival it’s 2-12 against, with the last 4 losses by 7, 6 (in OT), 6, and 1. The Huskies have lost six straight to the Seminoles, who are trying to avoid their first winless region record and worst season in program history. Howard averages nearly 300 yards a game and Westside gets a little more than 200.

No. 2 Peach County, 9-0/6-0, at No. 3 Troup, 9-0-/6-0
          One of a large number in the “game of the year” category, thanks to ranking-oriented scheduling, features one team with 15 region titles this century and one team with only one. The teams have among the toughest schedules in 4A, the Trojans winning by 31.3 points a game and the Tigers by 31.6. Defenses will be challenged, by Peach County RB Ashton Barton (1,239 yards, 19 TDs) and Troup’s Javarris Warner (1,717 and 17). Peach County is 3-1 at Callaway Stadium, winning the last visit 24-7 over LaGrange in the 2006 playoffs.

Upson-Lee, 1-8/1-5, at No. 12 Mary Persons, 5-4/3-3
          The Knights finally broke through in the win column last week against Westside, and now get a team one game over .500 that’s lost only close games against quality competition. The Knights have won the last two meetings, the last two years, after losing the first 10 games. Mary Persons QB Jordan Singleton has passed for 18 touchdowns with only 2 picks, to go with 1,579 yards, completing 68.9 percent of his passes.

Windsor Forest, 5-4/2-3, at West Laurens, 5-4/4-1
          The visitors bring a balanced offense – 175.1 yards and 180.9 yards – and a 2-game winning streak to Dexter in the first meeting between the teams. West Laurens outscores opponents by 3.4 points while Windsor Forest gets 1.6 points less. The Raiders defense will get a test from QB Jayden Martin, who passes for 180.9 yards a game.

Class AAA

Callaway, 6-3/5-1, at No. 4 Northeast, 8-1/5-1
          The Raiders are outright region champs with a win over a program that hasn’t had a losing season since 2006, the second year under Pete Wiggins, who is 201-68 in his 22nd year with the program. Callaway brings some offense to Thompson, averaging 183.7 yards on the ground and 198.7 through the air, Northeast countering with 153.3 and 275.2. The Raiders are back to full health. The defenses are close in points allowed, Northeast 11.7 a game and Callaway 11.8 a game. The Raiders are going after the first outright region title, after tying for the first two championships and winning tiebreakers.

Jackson, 4-5/3-3, at Lamar County, 6-3/4-2
          Lamar County has won three of its last four, and has held five opponents to under 10 points. Jackson is currently on the outside of the playoff field, but has a shot to squeeze in with the upset. The Red Devils lead the series 25-15, but the Trojans have won the last five, including 13-6 in 2025. Lamar County outscores opponents by 15.9 points a game to 5.4 for Jackson.

Southwest, 0-9/0-6, at Pike County, 5-4/4-2
          Pike County appears solidly in the playoff field, but a loss to the winless Patriots could put that in jeopardy. Southwest is trying to avoid its sixth winless season in program history, and first since 2013.

Class AA

Dodge County, 4-5/2-3, at ACE Charter, 5-4/1-4
          The teams are ranked next to each other in the PSRs, and are in the field, but looking to move up and carry momentum into the playoffs. They’ve split the series, ACE winning 20-15 on the road and Dodge County winning 33-28 on the road. The Gryphons get 38 more rushing yards a game, the Indians 78 more through the air. ACE is on a 4-game losing streak, while Dodge County has lost three straight.

East Laurens, 3-6/2-3, at No. 3 Dublin, 8-1/5-0
          The Irish clinched their 11th region title under head coach Roger Holmes last week, and may initiate a broader substitution pattern for some rest and improved health. The Falcons are playing for their playoff lives, needing an upset – their second win in the 32-game series - and perhaps some help to squeeze in. Dublin gets almost 350 yards a game on the ground, led by Jamarcus Knight’s 103.8 yards.

Jefferson County, 3-6/2-4, at Jasper County, 5-4/4-2
          Jasper County is playing to get a home game with a win and some help and clinch its third straight winning regular season. The latter hasn’t happened wince 1994-96. Wailer Sands passes for 149.1 yards a game and Chance Ross powers for 76.3 yards on the ground for Jasper County, in a four-way tie for second in the region. This is the first meeting.

No. 11T Putnam County, 7-2/4-2, at Social Circle, 7-2/4-2
          The War Eagles rebounded well from the 42-9 loss to Jasper County by hammering Josey 57-6. Social Circle boasts Kayden Fears and his 177 rushing yards a game, countered by 123.2 yards from Kumari Thomas. The War Eagles and Redskins are in a four-way tie for second in the region and are among five teams entering the final weekend with a winning record. Putnam County leads the series 8-4.

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Class A

Crawford County, 2-7/2-3, at No. 4 Taylor County, 8-1/4-1
          Taylor County leads the series 32-8 and has won 13 straight, with only game by single digits. The Vikings are going for their best record since going 10-2 in 2016.

Glascock County, 4-5/2-3, at GMC Prep, 4-5/1-4
          The host Bulldogs lead the series 28-5-1, winning 36-18 after losing two straight, which broke a run of 14 straight in the series. Glascock County is going after its first 5-win season since 2008. Head coach Chris Kelley has been at Glascock County since 2002.

Hawkinsville, 4-5/3-2, at Telfair County, 5-4/3-2
          The Red Devils look to be in the playoff field, while Telfair County needs a win to avoid sweating out the computations. Hawkinsville is on a 2-game losing streak, by 13 to Turner County and by 34 to Treutlen. Telfair County matches that, but with closer losses, by 7 to Dooly County and 17 to region champ Wheeler County. The Red Devils lead the series 16-7-2, including a 19-0 win last year.

No 5T Macon County, 8-1/4-1, at Chattahoochee County, 4-5/1-4
          Noah Parker is in the top 20 in the state in rushing with 1,399 yards, while Chattahoochee County’s Demond Slaughter has passed for 1,561 yards. Macon County leads the series 7-2 and has won 6 straight, including 42-0 last year.

Hancock Central, 2-7/1-4, at Twiggs County, 1-8/0-5
          The visitors have a 10-5 edge in the series and have won 5 straight. Last year’s 36-16 win was the closest game in that streak.

Regular-season done: Jones County, Bleckley County, Wilkinson County

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Playoffs

Class AAAA

No. 8 George Walton, 6-4, at No. 1. Stratford, 8-2
          The Eagles are two weeks removed from their second loss, 28-20 to John Milledge in the battle of defending state champs. That likely refocused the Eagles, who have battled unforced mistakes all season. Stratford is more balanced, with 165.2 rushing and 171.9 passing yards a game, to 232.7 and 66.7 for George Walton. Stratford leads the series 17-7-1, 4-2 in the postseason, including 33-6 in last year’s semifinals.

No. 5 St. Anne-Pacelli, 6-4, at No. 4 FPD, 6-4
          Some revenge and advancing are on FPD’s agenda, St. Anne-Pacelli topping the Vikings 22-21 at George S. Johnson Memorial Stadium in the season opener, one of FPD’s rougher outings in awhile. FPD has won two straight after a rare 3-game losing streak, while St. Anne-Pacelli lost 42-0 to undefeated Montgomery (Ala.) Academy last week. St. Anne-Pacelli leads the series 2-1

Class AAA

No. 8 Lakeview, 4-5, at No. 1 John Milledge, 10-0
          Defending champ John Milledge was off last week after topping Stratford 28-20. John Milledge averages 102 more yards a game, and outscores opponents by 29.4 points a game. Lakeview, coached by former Baldwin head coach Lee Coleman, is outscored by 13.7 points. This is the first meeting.

No. 7 Terrell, 6-4, at No. 2 Westfield, 7-3
          These two just played two weeks ago, the Hornets rolling to a 46-26 home, part of a 4-game winning streak. Terrell scores 2 more points a game than Westfield, but the Hornets give up 9 fewer points. Terrell QB Bryse Peachey runs for 236.2 yards a game and passes for 83.2, while Westfield QB Brock Johnson counters with 64.9 and 167.

Class AA

No. 7 Southland, 4-6 at No. 2 Brentwood, 7-3
          Southland has struggled after a decent start, losing 5 of their last 7, and the last 2 by 40 and 55 points. The Raiders broke the slump with a 49-22 win at Sherwood Christian. Brentwood got back on track with 2 straight wins after a heartbreaking 37-36 overtime loss at Edmund Burke. The War Eagles have a 2-1 edge in yardage, 324.6-150.6, and won the only meeting, 40-20 in the 2024 postseason.

No. 6 Gatewood, 5-4, at No. 3 Southwest Georgia, 9-1
          Gatewood has won 5 of its last 6 games while Southwest Georgia’s lone loss was 40-8 to Westfield in early September. The Lions’ lone challenge since then was last week, a 28-26 win over top seed Valwood. The series is tied at 5-5-1, but SW Georgia has won the last 2, including 30-18 in last year’s postseason.

No. 8 Piedmont, 3-7, at No. 1 Valwood, 8-2
          The Cougars eked into the playoffs despite last week’s 35-7 loss to Gatewood. The teams haven’t played since 2010, a 45-14 Piedmont win in the playoffs. Valwood won the state title in 2023, and went 15-8 the last two seasons.

Class A

No. 4 Robert Toombs, 0-10, at No. 1 Windsor, 9-1
          The Knights storm into the 4-team Class A playoffs on a 9-game winning streak, outscoring opponents by 21.9 points a game. Robert Toombs is giving up 39.5 points a game, and has lost by 39, 41, and 36 since giving Edmund Burke a battle in a 48-27 loss.