Thursday

Jackson vs. Central, Henderson (7 p.m.)

          Central broke into the win column a week ago, and will try to get off to a good start in Region 4-AAA play when it hosts Jackson Thursday at Henderson Stadium.

          The Chargers pulled off something of a surprise with a 27-2 win over Northeast, which had a quality win a week earlier for its first W.

          Central (1-3) was close in two of its losses, by eight at Houston County and by eight to Southwest. The Chargers battled Howard before losing 46-26.

          That’s the common opponent for Central and Jackson.

          Howard went for nearly 400 yards in total offense, outgaining Jackson (2-2) by 27 but trailing 24-0 before two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

          Central quarterback Donald Lamb is tough to corrall, and Howard QB Quintan Sewell  managed only 38 yards on 13 tries. Lamb has passed for 361 yards and rushed for 182 this season.

          Last week, Central held Northeast to 119 yards in total offense.

          It’s the Region 4-AAA opener. Jackson won 35-28 last year.

Pataula Charter vs.  ACE, Ed DeFore (6:30 p.m.)

          ACE has played quite the unique and diversified schedule.

          Now the Gryphons (2-3) have a good shot at their first two-game winning streak in the young program’s history.

          Pataula Charter, like ACE, is a young program not playing a region schedule. It’s in its third year and on its third head coach. The Panthers are 3-17, and 0-4 this year.