Friday's Central Georgia high school football scouting reports
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
GHSA
Second Round
All games Friday at 7:30 p.m. unless noted
Class 6A
Douglas County (R5/4, 8-3) at Northside (R1/2, 8-3)
Maxwell Ratings/Georgia HS FB Daily predictions
Who's going to win this week's games?
The fourth seed was a 19-point underdog, and is still playing, and comes from a region with Carrollton and Rome, so the Tigers aren’t going to be too tight. They spent three weeks ranked until losing 28-6 to South Paulding, which finished third in the region and lost in the first round. Douglas County – led by Northside alum Jason Respert from 2012-15 - won 24-17 at No. 8 Riverwood, while Northside popped Lakeside-Evans. The Tigers haven’t gotten past this round since 1988, while the Eagles reached the 5A finale in 2018. They bring QB Sire Hardaway (130-218-11, 1,538 yards, 8 INTs) and RBs Latrelle Murrell (132-984/12) and Jirah Douglas (99-730/5).
Class 5A
No. 4 Warner Robins (R1/2, 10-1) at No. 1 Cartersville (R7/1, 10-0)
The rematch of last year’s state title game is unlikely to be repeated, rout-wise. The Demons outpass the Purple Hurricanes 222-133, and outrush them 248.7-211.9. Cartersville will be able to load up a little more on QB Christon Lane, who might be a better passer than predecessor Jalen Addie but is nowhere near the same dual threat. Which means he may run more this time. Losing RB Malcolm Brown for the year in the Veterans game didn’t matter last week, but depth becomes more important as the playoffs continue. Still, Brown has 49 percent of Warner Robins’ rushing yards. Fred Perry is a different kind of threat, and went for 132 yards on 20 carries last week as the primary back. Amari White leads Cartersville with 894 yards and 10 TDs on the ground, while QB Jake Parker has passed for 1,149 yards on 55.8 percent completions, a 16-3 TD-INT ratio.
Next: Eastside or Jones County
Eastside (R8/3, 8-3) at Jones County (R4/1, 9-2)
The Barking Lot will host a game of contrasts. Eastside runs the ball 80.3 percent of the time, and gets 7.6 yards a carry, led by Dallas Johnson (215-1,166919), who has eight 100-yard games. The Eagles have thrown 93 passes, 8.5 tries a game, only a little more than a fairly normal quarter for Jones County quarterback John Alan Richter. The senior is 200 for 275, with a whopping 28 touchdowns to only six interceptions, and eight different Greyhounds have caught touchdown passes, led by Zion Ragins with seven and Javious Bond with six. Both are versatile threats, Bond and Drew Jones each scoring 10 rushing touchdowns. Chandler Harris and Connor Bass lead a balanced defense, Harris with a team-leading 13 tackles for loss. The postseason is when a weapon like Jones County kicker Evan West tends to play a bigger role. Eastside’s Rodney Williams has hit 9 of 10 field goals with a long of 47.
Next: Warner Robins or Cartersville
Class 4A
Flowery Branch (R8/3, 8-3) at No. 7 Perry (R4/1, 10-1)
Perry QB Armar Gordon Jr. has passed for 2,573 yards. Flowery Branch has about 800 more yards in total offense. The Falcons, though, have almost twice as much rush yardage as the Panthers, 1,985-996. But Perry has only six fewer rush touchdowns, thanks to versatile receiver/wildcat Daequan Wright. Perry has 10 wins for the first time in school history, and hosts a team that was clutch at the end last week, converting a fourth and 11 as part of a two-minute, 70-yard drive that finished with the game-winner with 30 seconds left, the receiver catching only is second pass of the season. Perry’s defense has four shutouts, and two more games allowing less than 10 points. The Panthers haven’t been really challenged since topping AA Washington County 37-24 on Oct. 8.
Next: Cairo or Cedartown
Class AAA
Peach County (R2/2, 7-3) at No. 1 Monroe Area (R8/1, 11-0)
Both teams played a good non-region schedule, Monroe knocking off two 5A programs by a combined 53-7, and thumping a 4A team 38-10. Region 8 was stronger than Region 2, and has three teams still playing. The Trojans average about 300 yards a game (MaxPrep stats are only through, the Hurricanes 281.1 on the ground. Monroe’s Selation Straughter has passed for 18 touchdowns with only four interceptions, and is a stout two-way player. Colter Ginn, who shares QB duties with Christian Martin, passed for six TDs in the Trojans’ romp over Morgan County.
Next: Dawson County or Pierce County
Class AA
No. 7 Callaway (R5/2, 8-2) at No. 3 Bleckley County (R3/1, 11-0)
Callaway and Bleckley County are off opposite games, the Cavaliers marching out to a nice lead and having to hold on and the Royals falling into a 16-0 deficit only to storm back and win in the final minute. Deshun Coleman passed for nearly 150 yards in the defending state champs’ win, and Amario Truitt cracked 150 yards rushing. Kicker Blake Eubuanks has kicked the difference in two wins for the Cavs. The Royals have a 1,000-yard pair, with QB Eli Mullis (84-156-2,8 TDs, 1,176 yards) and RB Jahvon Butler (234-1,421/17),
Next: Westside-Augusta or South Atlanta
No. 8 Northeast (R3/2, 8-3) at No. 6 Haralson County (R5/1, 10-1)
A pair of relative playoff newcomers meet on the Georgia-Alabama border. Haralson County is two years older than Northeast, and didn’t make its first playoff trip until 2005, going winless in six straight openers until last week. The Raiders have made twice as many trips, but with no second-round wins. Haralson County’s wing-oriented offense will try to keep QB Travion Solomon off the field, the best way to keep him from doing damage. Northeast is without RB Kalik Evans (ACL), but D’icey Hopkins stepped in nicely last week.
Next: Columbia or Swainsboro
Lovett (R6/2, 8-3) at No. 5 Putnam County (R4/1, 11-0)
There will be playmakers on the field. Lovett QB Preston Lusink has passed for 995 yards on 61.6 percent completions, with 12 TDs and 4 INTs. Henry Stimmel has the bulk of the rushing yards with 944 yards, and 10 TDs. Steveie Bracey gets 8.2 tackles a game, and Christian Bell has seven sacks. Putnam County’s Gerald Kilgore is a dual menace, passing for 1,656 yards with 18 touchdowns and a staggering one pick, while running for 367 yards and 10 more touchdowns. Jalon Kilgore has caught 28 passes for 772 yards and 10 TDs. Cedrion Brundage leads a deep run game with 1,105 yards and 14 scores. Jalon Kilgore and Michael Crumbly lead a quality defense.
Next: Fitzgerald or Fannin County
Class A Public
No. 10 ECI (R3/2, 9-2) at No. 3 Macon County (R5, 10-0)
A pair of playoff-experienced and successful veterans lead the teams. Chris Kearson’s only head coaching job has been at ECI, and he’s 95-34 in 11 seasons with four region titles and a state championship. Macon County’s Dexter Copeland is 60-22 with the Bulldogs, owning four region titles and a state championship in seven season. He’s 161-80 in 21 seasons at Twiggs County, Baldwin, and Macon County. The Bulldogs have gotten 1,35 yards and 17 TDs passing from Landon Austin, and 1,446 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground from Marlon Mitchell. Austin adds 452 yards and 12 TDs rushing. Shelqavious Byse and Kenwan Felton top the defense.
Next: Lincoln County or Irwin County
Class A Private
Mount Vernon (R5/2, 6-4) at No. 9 FPD (R1/1, 9-2)
FPD’s pass defense will get a workout against Luke Barnes, who has passed for 1,928 yards on a 61 percent completion rate, with 20 TDs and 4 INTs. Jonathan Gallinaro has caught 46 for 943 and half of those touchdowns, twice as many catches as Jack Mette (24-324/4). The Mustangs have 33 more pass attempts than run attempts. FPD is more balanced, with 187 passes and 333 rushes, and only 41 yards difference in air and ground travel. Sophomore QB Jakhari Williams has passed for 13 touchdowns and rushed for 5, accounting for 1,764 yards. Griffin Green has 51.6 of FPD’s carries and 61.1 percent of its yards (1,002). LB Coleman Cauley gets 15.9 tackles a game, with William West, Blake Cohen, and Chandler Cawley teaming for 19. Garrett Veal has three picks.
Next: Brookstone or Prince Avenue Christian
Tattnall (R1/2, 9-1) at No. 8 Darlington (R7/1, 10-1)
The Trojans have won four straight since the 20-0 shutout by Tattnall, while the Tigers – having their best year since – haven’t lost since the season opener (14-13 to Whitefield Academy), and have had five games decided by 13 points or less. Darlington has beaten two Class AA team. Darlington head coach Tommy Atha is 167-64 at the school in 20 seasons. Tattnall has several weapons on offense, with three scorin at least five rushing touchdowns, led by Demario Wilmore’s 11 (and 8.6 yards a carry). QB Clay Rowland has completed 60.3 percent of his passes for 760 yards and 9 TDs with 5 INTs. Junior Zavion Hardy leads a senior-oriented defense with 46 tackles, while Cameron Person has 15 tackles for loss.
Next: Athens Christian or Trinity Christian
GISA
Class AAA
(Seeds)
Friday
No. 9 Bulloch (5-6) at No. 1 John Milledge (9-0)
Bulloch opened the season with four straight losses, three by double figures, and 3-2 in the second half of the season. The Gators won 20-14 at Bethlehem Christian last week while John Milledge had a bye after dispatching Westfield 49-16 in the regular-season finale, putting the Trojans over 400 points scored for the year.
Next:
No. 6 Brookwood (5-5) at No. 3 Westfield (7-2)
The Warriors have had an odd season, starting 0-5 and winning five straight, including 16-15 over Southland in the final game of the regular season. Westfield had a week off after falling to John Milledge, the Hornets taking an early lead. The loss broke a six-game winning streak, all by double figures.
Class AA
No. 8 Robert Toombs (2-9) at No. 1 Brentwood (8-1)
The first meeting, on Oct. 15, was a 47-6 rout by Brentwood, part of a five-game run in which the War Eagles scored at least 40 points and won by at least 21 points. They have a plus-23.8 scoring margin, while the Crusaders are minus-20.6.
No. 5. Southwest Georgia (4-5) at No. 4 Gatewood (4-6)
The host Gators have won a playoff game every year since 2012, but currently have the lowest win total since going 4-7 in 2004. The Warriors last failed to win a postseason game in 2013 (they missed the 2016 playoffs). Gatewood leads the series 4-3-1, winning 35-7 last year.
Class A
(There is no Class A in GISA. Class A playoffs consist of Class AA teams who choose Class A playoffs over Class AA before the season)
John Hancock 36, Memorial Day 8; Next: at Thomas Jefferson
Piedmont 49, Fullington 15; Next: at Georgia Christian