By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

GHSA

Class 6A
5A Jones County, 0-2, at No. 8 Houston County, 1-0
Austin Stinson went for 311 yards and 3 TDs on 23 carries two weeks ago in the Bears’ opener. And QB Ryan Maxwell is among the best in the area. Jones County’s defense has a challenge to get off the field after giving up 94 points in two games, and the offense has to help out better.

No. 7/5A Warner Robins, 2-0, at Northside, 1-1
The 79th edition should be as interesting as usual, albeit not the sharpest the teams will be. Keirion Tate completes 66.7 percent of his passes so far for Northside, with Jereion Wims catching 9 for 179 and a score. The Eagles will need the run game to pick up to break the 9-game losing streak to the Demons. They’ve been close. Warner Robins isn’t posting public stats.

Class 5A
4A Howard, 1-1, at Perry, 0-2
The last time Perry was 0-3? Back in 2020, leading to an 8-5 season, the run sparked by a win over another Bibb County team, 49-12 over Rutland. Expect a more competitive battle this time. Perry QB Jhamard Cobb averages 211 yards passing but only 2 touchdowns. Howard’s Ta’Shawn Poole is doing work on both sides of the ball. Perry leads the series 10-4, Howard last winning 35-16 in 2018.

Class 4A
No. 6/5A Jefferson, 1-1, at No. 4 Peach County, 2-0
Something of a “make a statement” game for both teams in their first meeting. The Class 3A runner-up from 2025 and 2024 hasn’t had a losing season 2005. Since then, the Dragons have had 13 seasons of at least 10 wins, with one state title and three runner-up finishes. They’re 7-7 the past two years against ranked teams. The Trojans’ Ashton Barton is good for 172 rushing yards a game, and Caiden Ivory is passing for 231 a week so far. Boone Horn averages 199 passing yards for Jefferson.

No.9/3A Rockmart, 1-1, at Mary Persons, 1-1
The Bulldogs follow one of their more stunning losses in recent years with a ranked opponent that’s passing for 146.5 yards a game. On the field – excluding the forfeits of two years ago – the Bulldogs haven’t been 1-2 since 2010. Mary Persons isn’t posting public stats.

5A Winder-Barrow, 1-1, at Upson-Lee, 0-2
The Knights, as per information posted by the team on MaxPreps, are struggling on offense, failing to crack 200 yards in almost two games. Winder-Barrow is rushing for 213 yards a game. Upson-Lee is trying to avoid the first 0-4 start since 2022 (4-7).

Class 3A
No. 2T/A Bowdon, 1-1, at Lamar County, 1-1
The winner of the last four Class A/Division II state championships comes to town. The last unranked team that beat Bowdon was 4A Central-Carrollton 34-14 in 2023, en route to a 12-1 record. Bowdon head coach Jamie Abrams went 15-7-1 at Lamar County in 2014-15. The teams have split, playing in 1972-73.

Class AA

4A Baldwin, 2-0, at No. 3 Dublin, 2-0
The balanced team takes on the running team in a matchup that puts some pressure on the defense. Baldwin’s Kam Patterson is among the state leaders early with 320 yards a game, a 7-1 TD-INT ratio, completing 73.9 percent of his passes. But he has to get on the field to do that, and Dublin keeps offenses off the field. The Irish already have 854 yards rushing, led by Jamarcus Knight’s 312.

CENTRAL GEORGIA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE

This week
🏈 Maxwell Predictions
🏈 Who’s going to win this week’s games?
🏈 Central Georgia Maxwell/state composite rankings
🏈 Central Georgia rankings
Last week
HS FB: Jasper County stuns Mary Persons, Dublin handles Perry, Warner Robins survives thriller with Northeast, Veterans comes back and holds on, ACE storms back
🏈 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. 15 Jasper County, 1-1 at No. 4 Bleckley County, 2-0
Some quality running backs will tests defenses in the sisxth meeting (the Royals lead the series 5-1, winning the last two by a 76-26 margin, in 2020-21. Zyion Love gets 131 yards a game for the Royals, while Brody Fleming has passed for 123 each week. Chance Ross came back from first-week injury to go for 163 in the stunner over Mary Persons. Cope Durand gets 11 tackles a game for Jasper County, Cody Register with 7.5 for Bleckley County.

3A Southwest, 0-1, at ACE, 2-0
The Gryphons look to avoid a letdown after a rousing comeback last week, sparked by Ace Hatcher throwing for 221 yards and 2 scores and rushing for another one and 82 yards. Jack Perry racked up 22 tackles with a sack and interception, also forcing a fumble. ACE leads the series 3-1, winning 35-21 last year.

A Washington County, 0-2, at East Laurens, 0-2
The Golden Hawks are getting 60 more yards a game than the Falcons, who will try to get the ball a little more to power-4 prospect Major Floyd. Washington County leads the series 6-0, winning 26-14 last year.

4A West Laurens, 0-1, at No. 6T Dodge County, 1-0
This will be a quality night of football, even with a lopsided 21-7 series lead for Dodge County. The Raiders had a week off after falling to Bleckley County to get some things straight, but Dodge County is off a superb first-game win at Lamar County. Kain Mincey threw for 161 yards and Jordan Johnson ran for 113. West Laurens has not posted stats.

Class A
Hawkinsville, 1-1, at Schley County, 1-1
Hawkinsville’s defense will get pushed hard by an offense getting 361 yards a game so far, with 212 through the air from QB Clay Hicks, to a variety of receivers. The Red Devils gave up 221 yards passing last week in the loss to Mitchell Baker. Hawkinsville won 34-23 last year for an 8-4 lead in the series.

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Putnam County, 1-0, at Hancock Central, 1-0

It’s the 43rd meeting between the neighbors, with Putnam County leading 33-9. They haven’t played since 2017, a 14-8 Putnam County win a year after Hancock Central’s 14-7 victory. The Bulldogs are trying to go 2-0 for the first time since 2020. Putnam County got 109 rushing yards from Kumari Thomas last week.

Class A

GMC Prep at Crawford County, 0-1
The Bulldogs will try to avoid losing their fifth straight opener, while the Eagles fell for the ninth consecutive time in Game 1. Crawford County leads the series 6-4, winning 28-7 last year.

No. 8T Macon County, 1-0, at Wilcox County, 0-1
The Spoon Risper era got off to a rousing start with Macon County’s 36-0 win over Dooly County. The Patriots have had seven straight winning seasons, including a 7-5 mark after starting the 2024 season 0-2. They’ve lost six straight to Macon County, but the teams haven’t played since 1995. The Patriots fell from top 10s while the Bulldogs crept in. Georgia commit Jakeyveon Parker went for 161 yards on the ground for Macon County, while Kha’madj Mitchell passed for 174.

Mitchell County at No. 14 Hawkinsville, 1-0
The Red Devils were efficient in beating Marion County 25-6, Samir Whitehead leading the ground game with 77 yards and a TD rush and catch. The teams haven’t played since the Red Devils’ 17-12 win in the 203 playoffs.

Taylor County, 1-0 at Mt. Zion-Carroll
The transition to new head coach – promoted from assistant – Jess DeVoursney was a good one with the Vikings’ 28-17 win over 3A Pike County. It’s the Vikings’ first win over a higher-classification team since beating AA Crawford County 19-6 in 2009. The Eagles are off an 8-4 season.

AA Jefferson County, 1-1 at Wilkinson County, 0-2
It’s been a rough start out of the gate for Wilkinson County, winless and outscored 69-31. The Warriors will try to get QB Quenterrion Stanford going against a team that has been outscored by only 7 points, including an easy win over one of the lowest-ranked programs in the state. This is the first meeting.

Crawford County, 0-2, at Lake Oconee, 2-0
The six-year-old Titans won 42-14 in 2023 en route to their first winning season. Crawford County, which had to make a mid-summer coaching hire, is 0-2 for the first time since 2023 and stung by a whopping 37-point loss to GMC Prep.

McIntosh County Academy, 0-2, at GMC Prep, 1-0
After the opener was eliminated, GMC came out strong with a 49-12 romp over Crawford County, the Bulldogs’ biggest win since 54-12 over Riverside Military in 2022. Christopher Alexander ran for 163 yards in the rout. They’re looking for their first 2-0 start since 2021’s dream 10-1 season.

Taylor County, 2-0, at Manchester, 1-1
The Vikings are showing nice balance early on with RB Da’Kobie Henry and QB Leland Holder. As expected, Zayquan Dozier leads the defense, with 10 tackles a game. Manchester, which leads the series 15-2, is in rebuilding mode for a second year after a 21-5 2-year run.

GIAA

Brookstone, 0-3, at Stratford, 2-0
At least they won’t play twice this year. Stratford won 14-7 and 41-14 last season, the Cougars taking 33-28 and 33-27 wins in 2024. Stratford leads the series 4-3, and had last week off while Brookstone was losing 49-19 to Glenwood, Ala. Aaron Jefferson on the ground and Tucker Johnston through the air are teaming for 206.5 yards a game. Davis Rue gets 12.7 tackles a game for Brookstone, which is run-heavy. Stratford isn’t posting defensive stats.

George Walton, 0-2 at FPD, 2-1
The Vikings had the run game and defense working pretty well in stopping Westfield last week. That doesn’t bode well for George Walton, but the Bulldogs opened with GHSA 6A Loganville and GIAA state contender Valwood. Neither team is posting updated stats.

GHSA A Twiggs County, 1-1, at Mount de Sales, 3-0
The Cobras face a QB with a 42.6-percent completion rate, but no interceptions, in Benjamin Burney. Bryson Harrell has emerged as an all-around impact player for the Cavs, playing their first GHSA opponent since a 49-7 GHSA playoff loss to Calvary Day in 2021, and first public school since beating Southwest 38-16 early that season.

Tattnall Square, 2-1, at Athens Christian, 1-2
The Trojans lead the series 8-0, with the closest game a 42-21 win in 1999. Athens Christian is coached by former Atlanta Falcon wide receiver Terance Mathis, who was at Morehouse for 2 seasons. The Eagles seek their first winning season since 2021, when they went 7-5 under former Louisiana-Lafayette head coach and longtime college assistant Ricky Bustle.

Bulloch, 3-0, at John Milledge, 3-0
Asa Wall has rushed 23 times in 3 games. Has scored 8 times. But the Trojans are more than that, like Jamel Cooper and his 85 rushing yards a game, and will likely need it for awhile against the 2024 defending 4A champs, off a big comeback win last week. Bulloch isn’t posting stats.JMA leads the series 7-1.

Southwest Georgia, 2-0, at Westfield, 2-1
The Hornets are looking for the emergence of a running game and some patience and consistency in the passing game. The lack of both was in issue in the loss to FPD. Johnson is good for 191.3 yards a game but has an even TD-INT ratio.

GAPPS Creekside Christian, 0-2, at CFCA, 0-3
The teams have a common opponent already. Mount de Sales opened the season with a 33-14 win over CFCA, while the Cavs handled the Cougars 28-0.

Robert Toombs, 0-2, at Brentwood, 1-2
Baylor Cobb is almost halfway to 1,000 yards passing for the season. Tristan Robinson ran for 122 yards and 2 score in the romp over Gatewood. The War Eagles are getting nearly 300 yards a game on offense, to less than 100 for RTCA. Brentwood has won five straight in the series for an 8-2 lead.

Trinity Christian, 1-2, at Augusta Prep, 1-2
Jude Evans ran for 107 yards on 14 carries to lead the Crusaders to last week’s 14-6 win, with 7-tackle games from WillJ Harris and Jackson Jones. This is the first meeting.

Idle:Veterans, Westside, Central, Northeast, Hancock Central, Putnam County, Macon County, Piedmont, Gatewood, Windsor