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

Last week
22-6, 78.57 percent
For the season
111-41, 73.03 percent
Within 7 of the spread
5 of 28; Season: 30 of 152, 19.74 percent; Perfect spread: None
Maximum spread to use is 39 points; Rankings are from Georgia HS Football Daily’s composite polls

Games of note

Northside, 2-2 at Veterans, 3-1
Here are two clearly improved teams who need a win for momentum, more confidence, and playoff points. Because losses are coming. Odds are a big-play in the third quarter ends up being the difference, and both have some playmakers. Composure – i.e. few dumb 5-yarders and no dumb 15-yarders – is something to watch.
TSR pick: Northside by 8

Jones County, 2-3/1-0, at No. 8 Ola, 4-1/1-0
The Greyhounds appear to be rounding into form, as some expected, after a tough early-season schedule. If Hound Nation shows up, it gives Jones County an edge. But Ola is mighty good, and knows how to win.
TSR pick: Ola by 4 (Upset watch)

CENTRAL GEORGIA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE

This week
🏈 Notebook: A look at some polls, Houston County’s O, who ranks where in state stats?
🏈 Howard’s Poole takes state honor
🏈 Central Georgia rankings
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week

Last week
🏈 Roundup: Houston County loses wild shootout (again), Warner Robins, Peach County, Lamar County, Dodge County, Jasper County, Taylor County go off; Howard stuns Baldwin; battle for 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 rankings
🏈 Central Georgia rankings
🏈 Macon Touchdown Club players of the week

No. 2 Troup, 4-0/1-0, at No. 8 Mary Persons, 3-1/1-0
Are we looking at the largest home crowd in years at The Pitt? What with expanded visitors stands, and assorted interruptions the past few years, a shot at a top-3 team is tasty for the Bulldogs, a solid underdog.
TSR pick: Troup by 15

No. 12 Lamar County, 3-1/1-0, at No. 5 Northeast, 3-1/1-0
Both teams are good, and bring different schemes. But this comes down to Northeast again surviving so many avoidable penalties. Lamar County can – and needs to - control the ball, and Northeast needs its running game – excluding QB Jordan Wiggins – to get going. This won’t be a pretty game, but it’ll be pretty dang good.
TSR pick: Northeast by 12 (Upset watch)

No. 6 Dublin, 3-1, at No. 3 Bleckley County, 4-0
Here’s a burly showdown among rivals who have played 20 times, 18 times since 2004. Dublin was stunned at home – and outgained – by Baldwin, but is 2-0 on the road. Can Bleckley County avoid, well, laying an egg, which it’s done in this game in recent years? If the Royals get a lead, can they hold it? Can Dublin come back? Composure in what should be a sizzling atmosphere is huge, as is special teams.
TSR pick: Bleckley County by 11

Stratford, 4-1, at FPD, 4-2
FPD has veered into the “still tough to figure out” category, after seemingly escaped that folder after the Westfield win. The Frederica loss was a little baffling. Stratford, meanwhile, shrugged off the Westfield loss and got right back on track. And it’s a pretty good track the Eagles are on.
TSR pick: Stratford by 17

The schedule

Class 5A

Perry, 1-4/0-1, at Locust Grove, 1-4/0-1
TSR pick: Perry by 9

Warner Robins, 3-2/1-0, at Eagle’s Landing, 0-4
TSR pick: Warner Robins by 28

Class 4A

Baldwin, 3-1/0-1, at Westside, 2-2/0-1
TSR pick: Baldwin by 20

Howard, 2-2/1-0, at Upson-Lee, 0-4/1-0
TSR pick: Howard by 23

No. 3 Peach County, 4-0/1-0, at Spalding, 3-1/0-1
TSR pick: Peach County by 23

Southeast Bulloch, 2-2, at West Laurens, 1-3
TSR pick: West Laurens by 17

Class 3A

Southwest 0-4/0-1, at Central, 2-2/0-1, Thursday, Thompson
TSR pick: Southwest by 19

Rutland, 2-2/0-1, at Jackson, 1-3/0-1
TSR pick: Jackson by 9

Washington County, 1-3, at Westside-Augusta, 2-2
TSR pick: Westside by 3

Class AA

No. 16 ACE, 4-0, at Vidalia, 2-2
TSR pick: ACE by 9

Aquinas, 3-1/1-0 at Putnam County, 3-1/0-1
TSR pick: Aquinas by 10

Jasper County, 2-2/1-0, at Laney, 2-2/1-0
TSR pick: Laney by 2

Swainsboro, 1-3 at East Laurens, 1-3
TSR pick: Swainsboro by 21

Class A

Chattahoochee County, 3-1, at No. 5 Taylor County, 4-0
TSR pick: Taylor County by 30

Crawford County, 0-4, at Marion County, 0-4
TSR pick: Marion County by 11

Dooly County, 1-3, at Hawkinsville, 1-3
TSR pick: Hawkinsville by 10

GMC Prep, 3-1, at Jenkins County, 0-4
TSR pick: Jenkins County by 13

Twiggs County, 1-3, at Wilkinson County, 1-3
TSR pick: Wilkinson County by 14

GIAA

Tattnall, 3-3, at Mount de Sales, 5-1
TSR pick: Tattnall by 8

Trinity Christian, 2-3, at Gatewood, 2-3
TSR pick: Gatewood by 16

Flint River, 3-1, at Piedmont, 0-4
TSR pick: Flint River by 11

Pinewood, 0-5, at Brentwood, 4-2/1-0
TSR pick: Brentwood by 31

Westminster, 0-5, at Central Fellowship, 0-4
TSR pick: Westminster by 12

Idle: Houston County, Dodge County, Hancock Central, Macon County, Westfield, John Milledge, Windsor