By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
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Let the region rumbles begin.

Here we are, and Veterans might be the second-best team in Houston County, which hasn’t been the case in, well, that might take some time.

Northside let Friday get away, and Perry got handled for a good while at Northeast.

Warner Robins? We’ll not revisit Friday’s remarkable score.

There aren’t many shaker-uppers this week, but there are a number of upset watches, and a games where we’re still not sure – nor are some of the coaches – who some teams are.

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

5. Mary Persons
Treading water at No. 5 after being idle last week. 4. Veterans
A double-digit road win against a 7A team, albeit a not-too-good team, is a big step up.

3. Baldwin
The test about handling success and avoid overconfidence is a stronger one this week after a week off, and against a team itching for an upset.

CENTRAL GEORGIA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE

Last week
🏈 Roundup: Houston County loses wild shootout; Veterans gets road W, Warner Robins with epic L; shutouts for Jones County, Putnam County, FPD; Northeast pops Perry, cruises for Dublin, John Milledge
🏈Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
🏈Maxwell Predictions
🏈Who’s going to win this week’s games?
🏈 Central Georgia state composite/GHSFBDaily CGA rankings
🏈 Central Georgia rankings
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
Two weeks ago
🏈Roundup: The Mac hosts Northside's exorcism, Baldwin stuns Dublin late, West Laurens storms back to shock Dodge County, Mary Persons rebounds, Lamar County pops Bowdon, Bleckley County cruises, more
🏈Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
🏈Maxwell Predictions
🏈 Who’s going to win this week’s games?
🏈Central Georgia Maxwell/state composite rankings
🏈Central Georgia rankings

2. Peach County
And now, region play beckons. A week off doesn’t bode too well for Upson-Lee.

1. Houston County
Granted, Central-Carrollton had scored 56 and 49 in its last two games, but the Lions’ last 70-point game came in 2024 against an 0-10 team, so now we wonder about possible defensive issues. So the gap with No. 2 is tighter.

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

10. Putnam County
Three games, and who’s given up only eight points? A team working its way to legit sleeper status, and likely to roll this week.

9. Taylor County
Off last week, pretty big one this week.

8. Dodge County
Fitzgerald is a quality opponent, and that’s a loss that might be a little wakeup call, which may not be good news for Dooly County.

7. Macon County
The Bulldogs turned in another TCOB – taking care of business – game, and are about ready to perhaps jump a team or two here.

6. ACE Charter
A win on the road over Vidalia would be a pretty good one, but it’s also a game to be wary of.

5. Lamar County
Idle last week, big one this week.

4. Dublin
A score in the final minute made last week’s game look a little more lopsided, but a 376-143 total offense advantage and more than twice as many first downs sort of legitimized a 26-point margin more than a 26-7 one.

3. John Milledge
The Trojans have outscored opponents 202-44. Did Brookstone wake up with its hammering of Central? Can the Cougars wake up enough to do much in Milledgeville?

1 (tie). Bleckley County, Northeast
Bleckley County didn’t do anything to deserve being dropped, but Northeast did enough to warrant a move up. It’s unlikely to change after this Friday, but in two weeks? When Bleckley County gets Dublin and Northeast hosts Lamar County? Hmmm.

9. Stratford
Yes, it’s too early to start wondering where this team ranks or will rank in program history. But – sorry Paul Carroll – there’s a good shot for the conversation down the road.

8. Macon County
The Bulldogs can rack up a third straight shutout this week, first time since 2021. Granted, it’s highly unlikely, and a third straight win - which happened last October – would suffice.

7. ACE Charter
The table is set for a 6-0 start – the young program’s first - entering a showdown at Bleckley County if the Gryphons stay focused and avoid any stumbles of overconfidence.

6. Dodge County
Losing to West Laurens is no surprise, no big deal. Losing a pretty solid lead at home? Eh, a bit of a surprise. Good chance for a quality rebound against top-5 Fitzgerald is next.

5. Lamar County
So now we’re left to figure out the Trojans a little, from getting thumped by Dodge County to thumping Bowdon. Nice battle at Northeast on Sept. 25 shaping up.

4. Dublin
See “Baldwin” above, and reverse some of the words. Some rare things happened Friday night in Dublin. Granted, Baldwin’s a decent higher-class team, but an opponents’ 20-0 run and holding down the offense like that sure doesn’t happen often.

3. John Milledge
As mostly expected, John Milledge had to sweat some against Bulloch. Back to normal this week.

2. Northeast
From the jaws of victory will predictable mistakes snatch defeat, and a mighty good win against a decent higher-class team was right there two Fridays ago. A week off afterward, will that game fester or tighten things up? Another chance comes this week.

1. Bleckley County
The Royals are rolling. And if the defense keeps up with the offense, and this week will be something of a test, that Dublin-Swainsboro-ACE-Dodge County stretch will be fairly fascinating to watch.