Friday night's Central Georgia high school football scouting reports
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
Class 6A
Houston County (4-4/0-1) at Valdosta (3-5/0-1)
The Bears are on the road to rebound from a decent night against Lee County, and face A Valdosta team stung by a final-seconds field goal by Northside. The Wildcats are playing for a winning record, the Bears and RB Simeon Askew for momentum.
No.. 9 Northside (6-2/1-0) at No. 2 Lee County (7-1/1-0)
Lee County trailed Houston County at halftime last week, but took control in the second half. The Eagles gutted out a quality win over Valdosta, coming up clutch with fourth-quarter points from kicker Ashton Paredes. Northside has some balance on offense, and survived a 100-yard rushing game by Valdosta’s Terrell Denson. Northside will need its best game of the year to pull off the upset.
Class 5A
No. 7 Coffee (7-1/1-1) at Veterans (2-5/1-0)
The Warhawks broke a four-game losing streak with the 24-7 win two weeks ago at Wayne County, which lost 48-0 a week later to Coffee. The Trojans have shut out three of the last five opponents, and gave up seven in one. The other: a 35-33 loss to Ware County.
Wayne County (0-7, 0-2) at No. 5 Warner Robins (6-1/0-1)
The Demons haven’t had to deal with a region loss in awhile, and winless Wayne County is their first opponent. The Yellow Jackets are getting outscored by 26.4 points a game, the Demons are outscoring opponents by 26.7 points a game.
Eagle’s Landing (3-4/1-3) at Jones County (5-2/4-0)
Eagle’s Landing has lost two straight, to teams just ahead in the region, 20-18 to Dutchtown and 16-13 to Union Grove. The Eagles beat Locust Grove 56-7, the Greyhounds won 56-0. All of Eagle’s Landings losses have been to teams with winnng records.
Class 4A
No. 9 Baldwin (5-2/4-0) at No. 6 Spalding (5-1/2-0)
Spalding hasn’t played since its 31-26 upset of Perry on Oct. 1, while Baldwin has beaten Rutland (48-6), West Laurens (21-14), and Howard (20-7) since Oct. 1. Baldwin hasn’t dominated those last two opponents, who are currently on the outside of the playoff picture. But this is a big region showdown, the winner in the driver’s seat, and the Braves looking for a perfect region record heading into the finale against Perry in two weeks.
Westside (4-3/2-1) at No. 7 Perry (6-1/2-1)
The Seminoles’ wins have come over teams with a combined record of 4-23. The Panthers’ closest win was by 13 over No. 10/AA Washington County, and they’re still a little stung by the Oct. 1 loss to Spalding. Perry is eyeing a regular-season finale with Baldwin, and can’t slip up for that game to mean something.
Rutland (1-6/0-3) at Howard (2-5/0-3), Ed DeFore
Rutland has some momentum from a quality night against Westside last week, the Seminoles barely avoiding the upset. Howard is on a four-game losing streak (excluding the forfeit to Northside), and the Huskies have cracked 20 points only once this season.
Class AAA
Jackson (4-3/3-1) at Peach County (3-3/3-1)
The Trojans’ streak of five straight region titles is all but history, with Crisp County’s final three games against Sumter County (0-6), Central (1-6), and Pike County (2-5). So Peach County is playing to avoid opening the playoffs on the road for the first time since 2007, Chad Campbell’s first year as head coach. Since the Red Devils’ 3-2 win in 2015, Peach County has won 24-21, 52-7, 42-3, 49-14, and 44-10.
Pike County (2-5/1-3) at Central (1-6/1-3), Henderson
The Chargers broke a six-game losing streak with a 21-14 win over Sumter County last week. Central has won two straight in the series, which Pike County leads 5-2.
Upson-Lee (4-3/2-2) at Mary Persons (4-3/2-2)
The records may not be dazzling, but this is a huge game for both teams. Basically, the winner is in prime position for the final playoff spot in the region. It’s more of a must-win for Upson-Lee, which has Peach County and Jackson next while Mary Persons finishes up with Jackson and Sumter County. The Bulldogs have won all seven meetings, and four by two possessions or less.
Class AA
East Laurens (4-3/0-2) at Bacon County (0-7/0-3)
The Falcons need a win and some help to get the fourth playoff spot, and they’re currently a half game behind Toombs County and Vidalia. Bacon County has lost its last three games by 52-0, 56-3, and 54-0. East Laurens lost 50-0 and 50-21 to two of those teams.
No. 4 Bleckley County (8-0/4-0) at No. 10 Washington County (5-2/2-1)
Just another huge 3-AA showdown. Washington County won 42-20 last year, a week after the Royals lost 37-34 to Northeast. Bleckley County basically wraps up its first region title in program history, and basically wraps up its first perfect regular season since 1978 with a win. A Washington County win means three teams would go to bed with one region loss.
Jasper County (0-7/0-3) at Lamar County (4-4/1-3)
The Trojans are out of the playoff hunt, but can still clinch a non-losing season with a win (they finish with Northeast) and perhaps manage their second winning season in three years.
No. 6 Dodge County (5-2/2-1) at No. 8 Northeast (5-2/2-1)
Just another huge 3-AA showdown, in a region with four ranked teams. Dodge County took first last year, but isn’t going to repeat, and Northeast is pretty much out of that hunt, both losing tiebreakers to Bleckley County. The race for second? Now you’re talking, and the winner here gets at least a temporary head’s up. Both teams have playmakers on both sides of the ball, and the points may not equal how much action takes place.
No. 7 Putnam County (7-0/4-0) at Jefferson County (5-2/4-0)
Both teams were off last week, ample time to get amped up for the region championship, won 50-12 last year by Jefferson County. The Warriors graduated a fair number from that team, while the War Eagles have an experience advantage, led by Gerald Kilgore, Michael Crumbly, and Zac Mitchell, to name a few. Putnam County finishes with Josey and Butler, a combing 1-13, while Jefferson County has Westside-Augusta and Laney, a combined 11-5.
Class A Public
Dooly County (4-3/3-2) at Treutlen (2-5/1-4)
Treutlen is out of the playoff hunt, and Dooly County is square in the middle of the race for the fourth spot in the region, with Wheeler County (3-3) and Johnson County (2-3), the Bobcats just behind 4-1 Dublin. Dooly County gave co-leader Wilcox County a battle in Rochelle last week before losing 25-14.
Johnson County (4-3/2-3) at Dublin (4-3/4-1)
Dublin is playing some Dublin football lately, scoring 56, 49, and 54 in its last three games, including a thumping of co-leader Wilcox County. The Irish are still on target for a region title with two wins, and then by beating co-leader Montgomery County in the regular-season finale.
Wilcox County (5-3/5-1) at Hawkinsville (1-6/0-5)
The Red Devils have struggled, giving up at least 30 points in four losses and more than 50 in two. They were competitive against Montgomery County in an eight-point loss, but have been popped by Dublin and Dooly County.
No. 10 Manchester (4-2/3-1) at No. 3 Macon County (7-0/5-0)
Manchester’s two losses are to teams with winning records, including undefeated Chattahoochee County by 10 points. Macon County hasn’t really been challenged since the 35-14 win over Dooly County back on Aug. 28, other than the 54-38 win over then-No. 5 Schley County on Oct. 8.
Warren County (5-2/3-0) at GMC (8-0/4-0)
A win, and GMC pretty much gets its first region title since 1960 when it won the 1-C championship with a 7-1 record and trip to the semifinals. A win, and GMC passes the eight-win mark for the first time since beginning GHSA competition in 1958 (as per the Georgia High School Football Historians Association website). The Screaming Devils, led by former GMC head coach Steven Simpson, are going for their first region title since 2007. Warren County has won the last four meetings, last year by 44-0, and leads the series 24-8. GMC’s last win was 14-13 in OT in 2014.
Hancock Central (0-6/0-3) at Twiggs County (1-6/0-4)
Will Hancock Central follow a region title season with a winless season? The Bulldogs broke a three-game shutout streak in last week’s 24-20 loss to ACE. Twiggs County did win the last meeting, 24-6 in 2015.
Crawford County (1-6/1-3) at Wilkinson County (3-4/2-2)
The Eagles showed positives in losses to ACE (30-14) and GMC (38-12) by hammering Twiggs County 48-0 last week. The Warriors beat Twiggs County 28-20 two weeks ago.
Class A Private
Deerfield-Windsor (3-4/1-1) at FPD (5-2/2-0)
Deerfield-Windsor is on a two-game winning streak, albeit over teams that are 2-11. Led by the trio of Coleman Cauley, Griffin Green, and Jahkari Williams, the Vikings have outscored Tattnall and Mount de Sales 53-14 the last two games, but can’t look ahead to next week’s showdown at Stratford.
Tattnall (5-1/1-1) at Stratford (6-1/2-0)
These teams have played 54 times, with Tattnall leading 29-25. The Eagles have won three of the last four, and are 6-4 in the last 10. A Tattnall win puts it in a tie with Stratford in a region that’s currently a three-way round-robin showdown each week, with FPD the third team.
Mount de Sales (3-4/0-2) at Strong Rock (0-6/0-2)
Mount de Sales is on a 1-4 slide, the lone win a thumping of Aquinas on the road. The Cavs have scored only 21 points in the two games since, while trying to get healthy. QB A’Khori Jones is banged up, and ran only twice against FPD last week.
GISA
Bethlehem Christian (6-2) at John Milledge (6-0)
JMA head coach J.T. Wall goes against one of his former head coaches, Bruce Lane. Lane spent five seasons at John Milledge, from 1995-99, and had Wall plowing down opponents. Wall has gotten revenge for too much running, with 43-0 and 48-0 wins over Lane, one at Bethlehem Christian and one at Westfield.
Trinity Christian (2-6/1-1) at Pinewood (6-1/1-0)
TCS faces a team that has failed to score 37 points only once this year, in a 41-6 loss to John Milledge. The Crusaders were competitive for awhile in last week’s 28-6 loss at Bulloch.
Westfield (5-1) at Creekside Christian (0-6)
After scored six points in its first three games, Creekside has scored 28 in the last two (while giving up 72). The Hornets’ only loss is to GHSA 1-A Private Stratford, back on Sept. 3. The four wins since then have been by at least 14 points, Westfield spreading the offensive wealth around.
Brentwood (6-1) at Piedmont (6-2)
Piedmont has to deal with QB Robert Jackson, who was 10 of 15 for 287 yards and four TDs last week, two to Will Wright, who caught four passes for 127 yards. The Cougars rebounded from a 29-0 loss at Thomas Jefferson with a 24-21 road win over Augusta Prep.
King’s Academy (3-3/GAPPS) at Gatewood (3-4)
The Gators are on a rare 1-4 slide, two of the losses by seven and one, and two to AAA powers John Milledge and Westfield.
Georgia Christian (2-3/1-0) at Fullington (1-6)
Fullington just missed breaking its three-game losing streak, falling 21-19 at Robert Toombs two weeks ago, serving as the Crusaders’ first victim. Georgia Christian is on a two-game winning streak.
Central Christian (3-3/GAPPS)) at John Hancock (0-7/0-1)
The Rebels are trying to avoid their first full winless season since 2014.