Friday night's Central Georgia football scouting reports
Teams: Please email game information – stats (offense and defense), names, big plays, etc. – to centralgasports@gmail.com by midnight Friday or by 10:30 a.m. Saturday for inclusion in Central Georgia’s only roundup.
Class 5A
Houston County (4-2/6A) at No. 7 Veterans (4-1)
Some numbers standout, like the numbers racked up by Veterans QB Blake Etheridge (1,067 yards passing, 60.3 pct.) and athlete Lebron Fields (611 yards rushing, 198 receiving), compared to Houston County’s total offense of 1,026 yards. Veterans has won two straight in the series, 35-33 and 7-2.
Camden County (4-2/7A) at No. 3 Warner Robins (4-1)
Warner Robins is coming off its most frustrating game of the season, by far, and yet again takes on a higher-classification opponent. The visiting Wildcats are off a 37-13 loss to Coffee, which Houston County beat. Demon QB Jalen Addie is 173 passing yards from 1,000 for the season.
Class 4A
Baldwin (1-0/1-0) at Rutland (1-3/0-1), Ed DeFore
Baldwin’s opener was better than expected (35-28 over Westside), and Rutland’s meeting with Perry (49-12 loss) was worse than expected.
Spalding (0-4/0-1) at Perry (1-3/1-0)
The Panthers got what they needed in the win over Rutland: confidence. Spalding gave a rebuilding West Laurens a major tussle last week before losing by a touchdown, which should get Perry’s attention. The Panthers and Jags have split the last four meetings, Perry winning 38-0 last year.
Howard (2-1/0-0) at West Laurens (2-2/1-0)
It’s a 4-4A showdown, so to speak. The rebuilding Raiders are anybody’s guess each week, and the Huskies are more well-rested than they’d like to be, especially coming off a nice road win over 6A Effingham County. Both teams are pretty balanced on offense.
Class 3A
Upson-Lee (3-2/1-1) at Americus-Sumter (0-4/0-2)
Upset hopes lived for a little bit last week against Crisp County before the Knights starting give up plays. Detravuious Mathis going out early with an injury didn’t help, so the Knights’ ability to adjust and diversify gets something of a test.
Jackson (2-1/1-0) at Central (3-1/2-0), Henderson
Maurice Elder’s huge 300-yard, multiple-touchdown game against Mary Persons was a confidence-builder for Central in a variety of ways. The Chargers will need it: Jackson is 13-0 against Central in a series that started in 2000.
Mary Persons (2-3/0-2) at No. 2 Crisp County (4-0/1-0)
The Bulldogs are still looking for consistency and an identity, and trying to rebound from a double-digit home loss to Central at Crisp County is quite a task. The Cougars have given up 14 points.
No. 4 Peach County (3-1/2-0) at Pike County (0-3/0-2)
It was a little more than two years ago in this game that Pike County’s Dylan Thomas suffered a head and neck injury that claimed his life two days later.
Class AA
No. 6 Bleckley County (4-1/1-0) at Jasper County/Monticello (2-3/1-0)
The Hurricanes have the momentum of two straight wins, one over a Southwest team that lost a very impactful quarterback the week before. Bleckley County has the momentum of three straight wins that have tested the Royals in all sorts of football ways, and they’ve passed.
East Laurens (2-1) at Swainsboro (2-3)
The visitors have been off since a win over Oglethorpe County, and the Tigers have coughed up 117 points, albeit 42 two weeks ago to Dublin. Swainsboro leads the series 15-4, but the teams haven’t played since 2015, a 41-12 Tiger win.
Oglethorpe County (1-3/1-0) at Putnam County (5-0/2-0)
The War Eagles wouldn’t mind some state poll attention, which is unlikely to come with a win over Oglethorpe County. The War Eagles
Southwest (1-2/0-1) at Lamar County (2-3/0-1)
The Patriots are in a struggling mode without quarterback Travion Searcy, out with an injury. Lamar County offers some weapons in QB Devin Bateman (521 yards passing, 389 rushing) and CJ Allen, 342 yards rushing, 7 TDs).
Class A
No. 9 Aquinas (6-0) at Mount de Sales (2-2)
The Fighting Irish have scored three times as many points as they’ve given up through six games, 258-87, and are off a 47-7 thumping of Tattnall, which came two weeks after barely surviving FPD 28-27.
Brookwood (2-2/GISA 3A) at Tattnall (3-2)
Tattnall dips into the GISA scheduling pool, and gets an opponent that has a 42-13 win over A/Public Seminole County, but is off a 24-17 loss to GISA AA Terrell Academy.
Calvary Day (4-2) at Stratford (2-1)
The Eagles’ secondary has a challenge with QB Jake Merklinger, who has 922 yards passing and 10 TDs to only three INTs. The Cavs have two wins over GISA AAA teams, as well as a 42-17 romp over FPD.
Dooly County (0-1/0-1) at Montgomery County (3-1/2-1)
The Bobcats started their season with Dublin, and that was rough. The Eagles’ three-game winning streak was broken last week by Wilcox County 56-21. Montgomery County has yet to beat Dooly County in seven meetings all-time, but they haven’t played since 2007.
Hawkinsville (2-3/1-2) at No. 5 Dublin (2-1/1-0), Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
Dublin played last Friday and on Tuesday, and won by a composite 113-12. The series started in 1924, and is tied at 4. The last meeting between programs only about 40 miles apart? 1971. The Red Devils’ losses are by 4, 2, and 10, and oddly, all are at home.
Savannah Christian (5-1) at FPD (2-2)
The Vikings have a task in trying to slow down QB Spencer Robicheaux, who has passed for 1,207 yards and 15 TDs to two INTs. He was 6 for 16 for 159 yards and four scores against Mount de Sales. FPD’s Parker Ingram is 11th in Class A/Private with 625 yards and has eight scores to two picks.
No. 6 Macon County (3-1/2-0) at No. 7 Taylor County (4-0/3-0)
Taylor County’s Jabin Ford is second in Class A/Public with 589 rushing yards, and 13 TDs, with versatile teammate Nathan Patterson 25th with 252 yards, and two scores. Macon County’s Davion Clark is 33rd with 233 yards, while QB Jakelin Williams is ninth with 484 yards on 53.8-percent completions, four TDs and no interceptions. DBs Shelquavius Byse of Macon County and Delonte Davis of Taylor County have two picks each. The teams are mighty even. Last time this game was this big? No. 4 Macon County beat visiting No. 3 Taylor County 27-22 in 2017. Macon County has won this game that last four years, with two close games and two blowouts.
Hancock Central (2-0/1-0) at Warren County (4-1/1-0)
Qeontavious Ivey has 312 yards in two games and Kevon Robbins 238 for Hancock Central, which hasn’t been 3-0 since, well, ever. The Screaming Devils lead the series 22-14-2, but Hancock Central has won six of the last eight.
GISA/GAPPS
Brentwood (3-1) at Augusta Prep (3-2)
It’s the first meeting between the teams. The War Eagles have outscored their last two opponents 93-6.
Briarwood (2-2) at Gatewood (3-1)
Gatewood leads the series 22-15, and won 49-7 last year after a five-year break.
Creekside Christian (4-0) at Piedmont (4-1)
Creekside Christian has two shutouts, and hammered GHSA Class A/Public Wilkinson County 40-14. Piedmont is off a 57-22 loss to AAA Westfield.
Tiftarea (3-1) at Trinity Christian (0-4)
The teams have split the last eight meetings, albeit dating back to the early 1990s. Tiftarea won 49-7 in 2018.
Valwood (2-2) at John Milledge (4-0)
It’s a rematch of last year’s AAA title game. John Milledge did what John Milledge does, and won 62-19. The Valiants have scored 51 and 42 in wins, given up 36 and 54 in losses. John Milledge hasn’t given up more than 20 points since the 2018 season finale.
Westfield (3-0) at Terrell (4-1)
The Hornets had a surprisingly easy time in thumping AA Piedmont 57-22, their highest point total since beating Pinewood Christian 57-16 on Nov. 2, 2018.
Flint River vs. CFCA
Rock Springs vs. John Hancock