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

Last week
23-6, 79.31 percent
For the season
89-35, 71.77 percent
Within 7 of the spread
11 out of 29; Season: 25 of 95, 20.2 percent; Perfect spread: None
Maximum spread to use is 39 points; Rankings are from Georgia HS Football Daily’s composite polls

Games of Note

No. 8 7A Westlake, 4-0, at No 13T Houston County, 2-1
The feeling here is that the Bears will tighten up on defense. They better, and take better control of the tempo. Central-Carrollton putting up 73 is kind of unforgivable and stunning. At this point, Houston County is the more tested team. The more one thinks about this game, coming after last week, an upset feels more likely.
TSR pick: Houston County by 7 (Upset special)

CENTRAL GEORGIA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE

This week
🏈 Central Georgia state composite rankings
🏈 Central Georgia rankings
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
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

Jones County, 1-3, at Locust Grove, 1-3
Two teams looking for that jumpstart to the season and jumpstart to region play. Odds are Jones County will have a few more folks in the stands, and with the momentum of a big win last week, that’ll make a difference.
TSR pick: Jones County by 13

Edmund Burke, 4-0, at Mount de Sales, 5-0
Despite scheduling to get some wins, a 5-0 mark is a surprise for Mount de Sales. Alas, this particular Class AA opponent is mighty good, and has had some good trips to Macon, like when Edmund Burke won the 2023 and 2024 state titles at Mercer.
TSR pick: Edmund Burke by 20

Westfield, 3-2, at Stratford, 3-1
The battle of old-school coaches pits teams off losses. Stratford had some to-itself (players, anyway) thoughts of an undefeated season evaporate last week, and Westfield is still searching for consistency. The Eagles better not let the Hornets start finding any.
TSR pick: Stratford by 16

Brentwood, 3-2, at GHSA A Lake Oconee, 4-0
A 4-0 GHSA team hosting the War Eagles is just the kind of scenario Brentwood likes, a chance to make another statement and start gearing things up. This is the toughest opponent for the War Eagles since Bulloch, and yes, the three-game win streak is in jeopardy.
TSR pick: Brentwood by 3

Class 6A

Veterans, 2-1, at 3A Sumter County, 1-3
TSR pick: Veterans by 3

Class 5A

No. 8T Ola, 3-1, at Perry, 1-3
TSR pick: Ola by 15

Warner Robins, 2-2, at Union Grove, 1-3
TSR pick: Warner Robins by 9

Class 4A

No. 9 Baldwin, 3-0, at Howard, 1-2
TSR pick: Baldwin by 17

No. 5 Monroe Area, 4-0, at West Laurens, 1-2
TSR pick: Monroe Area by 18 (Upset watch)

Upson-Lee, 0-3, at No. 3 Peach County, 3-0
TSR pick: Peach County by 33

Westside, 2-1, at No. 10T Mary Persons, 2-1
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 23

Class 3A

Jackson, 1-2, at No. 6 Northeast, 2-1, Thursday
TSR pick: Northeast by 25

Central, 2-1, at No. 13 Lamar County, 2-1
TSR pick: Lamar County by 37

Rutland, 2-1, at Pike County, 1-2
TSR pick: Rutland by 6

Callaway, 1-2, at Southwest, 0-3 (Ed DeFore)
TSR pick: Callaway by 24

Class AA

No. 11T Dodge County, 1-2, at A Dooly County, 1-2
TSR pick: Dodge County by 19

East Laurens, 0-3, at Metter, 0-4
TSR pick: Metter by 6

Jasper County, 1-2, at Glenn Hills, 2-1
TSR pick: Jasper County by 27

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

Class A

Hancock Central, 1-2, at Washington-Wilkes, 3-1
TSR pick: Washington-Wilkes by 31

No. 4 Macon County, 3-0, at Hawkinsville, 1-2
TSR pick: Macon County by

Wheeler County, 1-2, at No. 5 Taylor County, 3-0
TSR pick: Taylor County by 13

GIAA

GHSA A Crawford County, 0-3, at Tattnall Square, 2-3
TSR pick: Tattnall by 19

FPD, 4-1, at Frederica, 1-4
TSR pick: FPD by 25

Brookstone, 1-4, at John Milledge, 5-0
TSR pick: John Milledge by 31

Riverside Prep, 2-3, at Gatewood, 1-3
TSR pick: Gatewood by 20

Windsor, 3-1, at Westminster, 0-4
TSR pick: Windsor by 18

Idle: Northside, Washington County, ACE Charter, Bleckley County, Dublin, GMC Prep, Twiggs County, Wilkinson County, Piedmont, Trinity Christian, Central Fellowship