Games of the Week

(Stat rankings based on information reported by teams to MaxPreps)

Class 5A

Veterans (7-1/2-0) at Thomas County Central (5-3/0-2)

          TCC brings three of the top five tacklers in Region 1 and the leader in all-purpose yards and passing yards per game to an almost must-win game. Veterans counters with two of the top five rushers in Labron Fields (682 yards, 6 TDs) and Julian Barnes (582/3) in the region. The Warhawks can’t look ahead to a region title matchup with Warner Robins because the Yellow Jackets are very capable.

Ola (6-2/3-2) at Jones County (8-0/5-0)

          DBs and LBs, get ready. The game features two of the top 13 passers by total yards in Class 5A, No. 1 Hunter Costlow of Jones County with 2,020 yards (and 24 TDs to only 1 INT) and Ola’s Hunter Kautz (1,204 yards, 15 TDs, 3 INTs). Kautz is also 14th in rushing with 730 yards and Karl Kennedy 17th with 695, behind Jones County’s Andrew Carner (eighth, 788 yards). Ola’s two losses have been in region play, 13-7 to Dutchtown and 27-22 to Stockbridge, so expect another battle.

Class 4A

Mary Persons (4-4/2-1) at Perry 5-3/3-0)

          Perry’s improving defense faces a two-QB system in Malikk Harris and Logan Hickman, who have combined for 904 yards, 10 TDs and 6 INTs on 52.1 percent completions. William Stewart and Enrico Harden have Mary Persons’ lone rushing TDs, 6 each. Perry QB Lane Rucker is throwing less, but more accurately, and is up to 60.4 percent. Mary Persons, a 40-3 winner last year, leads the series 27-8.

Class AA

Dodge County (4-5/3-2) at Bleckley County (6-2/3-1)

          The Royals are on pace to set a program mark for average points per game, the 34.5 a hair better than the 32.27 of 2012, an 8-3 season. Dodge County and Daylon Gordon, 27th in the state and second in Central Georgia with 1,015 yards plus 11 TDs), are trying to avoid the first non-winning regular season since 2013, which was still a playoff year. The Royals haven’t won since 34-13 that season.

Class A

No. 25 FPD (4-4/3-1) at No. 29 Tattnall (4-4/2-2)

          It’s a must-win night for FPD, on the outside of the playoff bubble by a spot. The Vikings’ Parker Ingram is 11th in Class A with 1,222 yards, completing 59.6 percent of his passes. That can be an issue in a non-passing sub-region for a defense to deal with. The Trojans have lost two straight region games by 59-20.

The Matchups

Class 3A

Jackson (6-2/4-0) at Peach County (7-1/4-0), 8 p.m.

          The Trojans won 42-3 last year, and clinch the top seed for the third straight year and eighth time in Chad Campbell’s 13 seasons. Jackson’s only win in the series was 3-2 in 2015, giving the Red Devils the top seed. This will likely be Peach County’s first four-quarter game since the Sept. 13 loss at Houston County.

Pike County (3-5/1-3) at Westside (5-3/3-1), Ed DeFore

          Tempo will be big in game between one team that has scored 127 more points than the team that has given up 30 fewer points. Victor Dixon Jr. has completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 1,826 yards and 21 TDs to only 5 INTs.

Class AA
Heard County (3-5/3-1) at Lamar County (6-2/2-2)

          The Trojans face a team with a fair number of college prospects that rolled 40-14 last year en route to the region title and a state championship. Lamar County’s lone win this century was 14-11 in 2016, breaking a seven-game losing streak. A loss pretty much means next week’s game with Temple – which is off this week – is for the final playoff spot.

Elbert County (4-4/3-2) at Putnam County (4-4/3-2)

          Elbert County won 37-2 last year, but the gap between the teams is clearly much closer. Putnam County’s Cedrion Brundage has passed the 1,000-yard mark in rushing. A win locks in Putnam County’s first postseason trip since 2015, the War Eagles winning a tiebreaker with Banks County if needed. And Banks County plays Elbert County next week, with a possibility of three teams being tied.

Class A

No. 24 Hancock Central (4-4/3-2) at No. 8 Lincoln County (6-2/4-1)

          A nice showdown awaits with Lincoln County’s Kolbi Ferguson, 49 yards from 1,000 on the ground, and Hancock Central’s Keveon Robbins, second in the region with 608 yards. The Bulldogs are off a surprising 50-8 spanking by Warren County, the first of three straight road games to end the regular season. Lincoln County lost for the first time in the series last year, 38-21.

 

The Games

Class 6A

Lee County (7-1/2-0) at Houston County (4-4/0-2)

          Lee County was on point in a 45-0 win.

Valdosta (7-2/2-1) at Northside (3-5/0-2)

          The Eagles battled in a 46-44 loss.

Class 4A

Spalding (1-7/0-3) at Howard (4-4/0-3)

          The Huskies cruised 35-13 behind 84 yards and two rushing touchdowns from Javarsia Meadows.

Upson-Lee (3-5/1-2) at West Laurens (7-1/3-0)

          The Knights won a 34-24 shootout, overcoming a 17-0 deficit with a 21-7 fourth quarter, sparked by Demeke Colbert and Thad Webb.

Class AA

Suwannee, Fla. (5-4) at Dublin (5-0)

          The Irish had to pick up the game when a scheduling issue led Tattnall to pull out of their early-season matchup. The Bulldogs are eighth in 5A’s RPI in Florida.

Southwest (2-6/0-4) at East Laurens (1-7/0-4)

          Southwest put up a half a hundred in a 50-13 win.

Northeast (3-5/1-3) at Washington County (6-2/3-1)

          The Golden Hawks won 48-14 at Thompson.

Monticello (1-7/1-4) at Banks County (3-5/2-3)

          It was a thrilling 36-33 win for Monticello, which survived a third-quarter kickoff return for a TD.

Class A

No. 28 Dooly County (3-5/3-2) at No. 16 Brookstone (6-2/4-1)

          Dooly County won 63-36 in a different week.

No. 44 Hawkinsville (1-7/1-4) at No. 43 Central Talbotton (1-7/0-5)

          The Red Devils rolled 47-22.

No. 48 Crawford County (2-6/1-4) at No. 36 Greenville (2-6/1-4)

          Greenville won 30-13.

No. 25 Taylor County (4-4/2-3) at No. 5 Marion County (6-2/4-1)

          Sub-region champ Marion County threw a 24-0 shutout.

No. 21 Macon County (5-3/4-1) at No. 24 Pacelli (5-3, 2-3)

          The two didn’t play last year.

No. 41 Wilkinson County (1-7/1-3) at No. 13 Mount de Sales (8-0/4-0)

          The Cavs had a season high in scoring with a 57-12 win.

No. 47 Twiggs County (0-8/0-4) at No. 21 Stratford (3-5/2-2)

          Stratford flexed some muscles in a 36-0 romp.

Pataula Charter (2-6) at ACE (1-6)

          ACE won 35-12 in a game played earlier in the season

GISA

Frederica (4-3) at John Milledge (8-0)

          It was a nail-biting 14-13 overtime win for John Milledge, for whom Amaad Foston has 1,192 yards rushing with 18 touchdowns.

Trinity Christian (2-6/0-3) at Pinewood Christian (6-1/3-0)

          TCS won 27-8 at home.

Gatewood (7-2) at Flint River (1-7/0-1)

          The 48-0 win was Gatewood’s second shutout and second-most points scored of the season.

Brentwood (7-2/2-0) at Edmund Burke (6-2/2-0)

          The War Eagles lost a 28-26 heartbreaker at home.

GAPPS Playoffs

AAA

CFCA, bye

AA

Fullington at Georgia Christian

John Hancock at Central Christian