This week's scouting reports and Sports Report predictions
For this unique week, The Sports Report is combing the regular scouting reports with the regular predictions. Next week, the normal routine as part of Central Georgia’s most comprehensive high school coverage resumes.
John Milledge at Brentwood
Scouting report: The battle of the Villes – Sanders and Milledge – takes place for the 53rd time, and pits the 3A champ and the 2A champ. The War Eagles had a shot last year in a 31-28 loss, a year after taking a 33-6 win. The Trojans got a pair of third-down conversion with now-gone Lewis Cheney and Bryce McDonel to win it with 52 seconds left after Brentwood went up with 2:28 left. John Milledge leads the series 35-16-1, the 2024 loss breaking a 10-game winning streak, with mostly dominant wins. The gap has closed, and if John Milledge has taken Brentwood lightly, last year took care of that for this year.
Last year
306-74, 80.53 percent
Within 7 of the spread
126 for the season, 33.2 percent
The Sports Report pick: A game similar to last year is something of a safe bet, but the Trojans might be able to ease away a little bit in the fourth quarter. Might. John Milledge by 9
St. Anne-Pacelli at FPD
Scouting report: This is the third meeting, Pacelli winning 18-6 in 2024 and FPD getting revenge 34-14 last year. FPD lost some huge two-way pieces from last year’s team and will make a few tweaks on offense. Both teams have a mix of seniors and underclass returnees, but newcomers at key spots, so there’ll be some unpredictability.
TSR pick: FPD by 14
Gatewood at Tattnall
Scouting report: Tattnall grad and former Tattnall assistant and athletics director Jeff Ratliff brings his Gators to his alma mater, and it’s amazingly the first time the two teams have played, and thus it’s the first time Ratliff has gone against Barney Hester. The Gators are amid a rare slump under Ratliff with two straight losing seasons, and the Trojans are off a stunning 0-10 record in Hester’s first year back.
TSR pick: Even with the losing record a year ago, this batch of Gators knows more success than this batch of Trojans. Gatewood by 4
Stratford at Windsor
Scouting report: The notable note about this involves the adults. Windor head coach Dylan Bass is engaged to one Mackenzie Carroll, who happens to be the daughter of Stratford head coach Paul Carroll. The defending state champs have plenty of experience back, while Windsor is working on progress since returning to 11-man football last year.
TSR pick: Stratford by 37
Central Fellowship at Mount de Sales
Scouting report: Two new head coaches with about 70 years of coaching experience will be on the sidelines. Of course, Mount de Sales’ Robert Slocum is back with the Cavs after “retiring” 13 years ago, and veteran assistant Ted Belflower is making his head coaching debut. Numbers are great on either sidelines. While MdS may have an athletic advantage, a faction of Lancers are more familiar with winning.
TSR pick: Central Fellowship by 3
Briarwood at Trinity Christian
Scouting report: The Crusaders are looking for their first season-opening win since 2022, when things failed to develop and they finished 3-8. Briarwood went 10-3 last year and returns a 2,000-yard quarterback.
TSR pick: Briarwood by 13
Brookstone at Westfield
Scouting Report: The defending state 4A runner-up visits Perry, and will have to deal with a team ready to improve on last year’s 8-4 record, thanks to a good mix of returnees in all areas. Westfield will focus on slowing down standout QB Broughton Branch.
TSR pick: A mild upset special says Westfield by 5.
Edmund Burke at Piedmont
Scouting report: Edmund Burke has won five straight in the series, including 35-0 in a 2023 playoff game. Piedmont eyes the upset of a team that went 7-5 after winning two straight AA state titles.
TSR pick: Edmund Burke by 14