Loughdmouthings

Not having at least a normal preseason and a scrimmage or two are showing how big those things are, because there’s a lot of inconsistency among Central Georgia teams.

And that makes for some ferocious region races in most of them. Nobody’s running away with any, and few are out of the running – realistically, if not necessarily mathematically – for a playoff spot.

Region 4-4A is a mess with no real favorite, even though Baldwin is 3-0 (and only 3-0 overall).

In the seven-team region, only Rutland is out of the picture. Howard is on the ledge, and needed to have the Baldwin game and win to start to turn things around.

The battle for the final spot in 2-3A is pretty tight, with Peach County, Central, and Crisp County pretty much in. Jackson, Upson-Lee, and Mary Persons all have issues, and there’s really no figuring out who has an edge.

Which private school in Macon from Region 1-A will be sitting out the playoffs? Flip a coin or three, but odds lean toward Tattnall. The Trojans are down in numbers and have lost four straight, with region favorite Strong Rock left, along with Stratford and Mount de Sales.

Throw in the equations being muddled by games being postponed or cancelled, and there’s more suspense than usual down to the wire. …

John Milledge is off. Baldwin’s game with Howard was dumped on Wednesday.

Any chance ol’ J.T. and Jesse got on the phone and – naaaahhh, never mind.

But, dangit, it’s quite a thought. …

Among the homecoming kings in recent weeks: Northside’s Jaylen Cephus, Warner Robins’ Demarcious Robinson, and Bleckley County’s Amarius Mims. …

Central Georgia’s 1,000-yard passers, as per MaxPreps (thus an incomplete list): FPD’s Parker Ingram, 1,173; Veterans’ Blake Ethridge, 1,171; Bleckley County’s Dominic Sasser, 1,059.

Central Georgia’s 1,000-yard rushers: Jessie Phelps Jr., Rutland, 1,329

Central Georgia’s 500-yard receivers: Jordan Jones, FPD, 678.

Taylor County’s Jabin Ford is first in scoring with 106 points.

Polls

Division I (6A, 5A, 4A)

1. Warner Robins

The week off comes at a good time, with a visit from top-ranked 5A Ware County, which has had success at The Mac, albeit against Northside.

2. Houston County

The Bears have done it fairly often with mirrors so far. They’re 5-2, and have given up more points than they’ve scored. Houston County needs to establish some quality balanced football.

3. Jones County

Gee, doesn’t some of that panic and bellyaching from the onlookers a month ago seem pretty silly now?

4. Baldwin

Finding a way to win despite mistakes is obviously good, but that becomes much harder as the season goes on. The Braves have some skills, and some frustrating-to-coaches tendencies.

5. Vacated

Veterans and Howard have fallen apart, West Laurens hit another hiccup and couldn’t finish.

Division II (3A, AA, A, GISA)

1. Peach County

The road win at Crisp County was a big one. Peach County probably should have won by more than one, but the Trojans are on track for another region championship.

2. Dublin

The road win at Wilcox County was a big one, putting the Irish on track for a region title, with only Johnson County likely to offer a challenge.

3. John Milledge

Two weeks off. Only gets the Trojans that much more amped when they finally get to play.

4. Macon County

The Bulldogs look to maintain and stay healthy for a few weeks before a showdown with Chattahoochee County.

5. Bleckley County

The Royals keep growing and improving and broadening their horizons, becoming quite a balanced team.

6. Central

Starting slow hasn’t been much of a problem. The Chargers are doing better this year of taking advantage of opponent mistakes, while making fewer.

7. Taylor County

The Vikings rebounded well from the loss to Macon County.

8. Northeast

The Raiders have been doing teams in with speed, but need to clean things up to keep this great start going.

9. Putnam County

No, the schedule hasn’t been brutal, but all of a sudden, Putnam County is a team capable of only giving up 30 points in seven games. Quite a jump, program-wise.

10. Washington County

The Golden Hawks are at .500, so it’s still hard to say if they can make that jump into a top-2 spot.