This week's Central Georgia high school football scouting reports
Games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted
Listing based on home team’s classification unless both are from Central Georgia.
Updated each Monday with AJC rankings.
Mid-week rankings are updated, compiled by the Georgia High School Football Daily, and are composite rankings from from AJC, GPB, ScoreAtlanta, 680 The Fan, Maxwell, and MaxPreps.
Stats: MaxPreps stats are based only on what is reported and posted by teams. If teams don’t put the information in or update in a timely manner, it makes for an incomplete and misleading list.
Coaches/teams: Please send postgame information by 2 a.m. to centralgasports@gmail.com. Pictures of stat sheets are acceptable.
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
Class 5A
Jones County, 4-3/2-1, at No. 2 Dutchtown, 6-0/2-0
Dutchtown is only outscoring opponents by 17 points, getting 25.2 points a game, the Bulldogs barely in the top 25 in 5A total points. On the other hand, they’ve given up the fewest points in the classification. The Greyhounds are outscoring opponents by 6.4 points. They followed a 35-3 loss to 3A Peach County with a 62-0 win over region rival Locust Grove. Jones County hasn’t been healthy with key players in awhile, and will need all hands on deck against the region team with by far the best overall record. Jones County leads the series 7-3 and has won three straight, twice by 21-13 and once by 27-22. A Dutchtown win all but clinches the region title, the Bulldogs having beaten Warner Robins. A Jones County win, well, doesn’t clarify much, with five teams in a logjam for the next three playoff spots.
Class 4A
No. 3 Perry, 6-1/3-0, at Baldwin, 2-4/1-1
These two have played for the region title two years in a row, Perry winning 40-8 last year and 23-20 in 2020, in the 10th game. Baldwin finally got things together for the first time all season two weeks ago in a 45-0 win over Howard, then had a week off. Perry hasn’t slowed a bit since the season-opening loss to Houston County, giving up 41 points in six games since then. Perry’s Armar Gordon Jr. is second in 4A with 1,443 passing yards, and 21 TDs to only 3 INTs, favorite target Dakarai Anderson leading the class with 657 yards, and 9 TDs. Demetrious Carter has 9 rushing TDs and 675 yards. Baldwin’s Micah Welch is one of the top RBs in the state. Perry leads the series 10-6-1,
Spalding (4-3/2-1) at West Laurens, 1-5/0-2
The Raiders are in a spoiler role, and Spalding has sights set on at least a second-place finish in Region 2. The Jaguars were surprised at home by Howard while the Raiders were giving Westside – another team eyeing second – some trouble in a 22-8 loss. The Jags’ 21-7 win last year broke a five-game losing streak to the Raiders.
Griffin, 1-6/1-2, at Westside, 5-1/1-1
The Seminoles clinch a winning season with a win over the Bears, who have been beaten 82-7 in their last two games, to Perry and Spalding. The teams haven’t played since 2004, a 41-13 Griffin win, after Seminoles wins in 2000-01. The game pits a pair of Upson-Lee graduates with the boss headsets, Westside’s Spoon Risper (Class of 1993) and Rusty Easom (Class of 1998). Risper is 2-0 against Easom, beating him at Rutland in 2019 and 2020.
Class AAA
Jackson, 4-3/1-0, at Upson-Lee, 3-4/1-0
The Knights hope Jackson is still thinking about last week’s big comeback win over top rival Mary Persons, but Upson-Lee has found a groove in winning three straight, all by double figures, the first such streak since 2018. Ja’Quan Bentley has been a beast running back for Upson-Lee, getting 119.8 yards a game. Amari Fletcher has been steady on defense with a team-leading 6.4 tackles a game. A Jackson win puts the Red Devils in decent shape to play their 10th game, against Peach County, for their first region title since 2015.
Mary Persons, 4-3/0-1, at No. 8 Peach County, 3-3
It is a battle of two of the top contenders in the region, but neither is lighting it up this season. Peach County’s scoring margin is only 5.5 points while Mary Persons’ is 1.86. The Bulldogs lost last week to Jackson, the only other team in the region with a winning overall record. Mary Persons needs a win to stay in contention for second place and a home playoff game.
Class AA
Sumter County, 1-5/0-2, at Dodge County, 2-5/1-2
Sumter County has lost four straight, but the last two by six and two points. Dodge County has losses of two, eight, and nine. But the Indians have Duke Johnson, who’s good for 100 yards a game rushing. The Panthers, though, are balanced, with 133.3 yards passing a game and 147.7 rushing. This is the first meeting. It’s a must-win for Dodge County to stay in the playoff hunt, with co-leader Cook and tied-for-third Berrien left.
Class A-I
No. 2 Swainsboro, 6-0/1-0, at East Laurens, 1-5
Swainsboro has two rushers teaming for nearly 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns, helping the Tigers to 334 rushing yards a game. It’s the region opener for East Laurens, off a 41-14 home loss to Jasper County.
No. 10T Bleckley County, 6-1/0-1, at Jefferson County, 1-6/0-1
Jefferson County gets a Bleckley County team no doubt angered by last week’s 31-13 loss at home to Dublin. Jahvon Butler is fifth in the classification with 798 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, and QB Eli Mullis is 51 yards from 1,000 passing for the season. The teams haven’t played since 2014, Jefferson County’s 52-37 win giving the Warriors a 5-0 series lead. Jefferson County head coach JB Arnold is among the state’s top active coaches, owner of a 167-86-3 record and seven region titles with the Warriors.
GIAA AAA Brookstone, 3-3, at Crawford County, 2-5
The Eagles welcome one of GIAA’s better teams, owner of one GHSA win, 33-10 over 7-A/II Mount Zion-Carroll plus a 24-7 loss to 6-A/I Whitefield Academy. Crawford County’s Terrel Ashley has 556 rushing yards and 4 TDs in five (reported to MaxPreps) games. QB Judd Puckett has 730 yards passing, with 8 TDs and 2 INTs.
Temple, 4-3, at No. 12 Lamar County, 6-1
The Trojans open Region 4 play after a week off following the 49-7 romp over 3A Pike County. Temple hammered 5A Midtown 56-0, its first shutout since 2019. Lamar County’s do-everything CJ Allen is 102 yards from 1,000 rushing for the year, to go with a team-leading 8.7 tackles. Temple’s Cam Vaughn has passed for 714 yards and rushed for 1,289, with 18 touchdowns.
II
No. 9/A-I Dublin, 3-2, at No.7 Dooly County, 4-2
The teams aren’t far apart, but have played only twice. Dublin won 50-0 two years ago and Dooly County took a 31-28 win last year, both road teams winning. It’s a non-region game, but is a playoff-type game. Dublin returns to region action next week against 1-6 Jefferson County while Dooly County hosts region co-leader Wilcox County.
GMC, 2-5/1-1, at Hancock Central, 2-4/1-0
GMC can put itself into a tie for second with Hancock Central with a win. GMC won 20-0 last year after Hancock Central took a 36-7 win a year earlier. GMC faces a pass game with three more INTs than TDs, and an offense getting 115 yards in the air and 214.7 on the ground, the latter led by Deonte Lowe’s 459 yards and 4 TDs. GMC QB Tyler Saunders has completed 52.7 percent of his passes for 678 yards, but has one more INT than TD.
GSIC, 0-7, at Wilkinson County, 3-3
The Warriors just missed out on going 2-0 in region play, and step out of region to host a team that’s scored just 22 points in five games, and has given up 53 or more points in five losses. One was a forfeit.
Central-Talbotton, 0-6/0-3, at Macon County, 1-5/1-2
The Bulldogs aren’t out of the playoff hunt, among four 1-2 teams in Region 6. Macon County has won the last four meetings by 51-0, 63-6, 59-6, and 62-0. The Bulldogs’ Marlon Mitchell is 11th in A-II with 650 yards. Central’s lone win was 33-13 in 2011.
No. 6 Schley County, 4-2/3-0, at Taylor County, 2-4/1-2
Taylor County is in a four-team logjam at 1-2, while Schley County is tied for first. The Vikings lost 55-0 last year, but lead the series 16-6.
GIAA
Class AAA
Heritage-Newnan, 6-0, at Westfield, 4-3/1-0
Heritage knows who to focus on. Westfield QB Hunter Kirkley has accounted for an average 295 yards a game, 138 through the air and 157 on the ground, accounting for 30 TDs in the combined modes of movement. Cameron Kalmback adds 6.5 yards a carry, and has 3 TDs, while Ryan Powers has 20 catches for 485 yards and 6 TDs. Heritage’s Dylan Barber has completed 70.8 percent of his passes for 1,149 yards, with three receivers catching more than 275 yards worth of passes. The teams have played once, a 42-10 Heritage win in 2012.
John Milledge, 6-0, at Stratford, 5-2/0-1
The pressure will be on the Stratford defense, which faces an offense with weapon and threat after weapon and threat. QB Briggs Eady is 38 of 56 (67.9 pct.) for 795 yards and 7 TDs with 1 INT, while leading the Trojans with 590 yards. He and Javian Butts (55-491 rushing) have 8 rushing TDs each, two more than Carsyn Baker (44-410). Jalan Butts adds 5 to the JMA rushing TD total of 35. Jalan Butts has 12 catches for 275 yards, he and Bud Veal each with 3 TD catches. The defense is led by Tanner Humphrey, Andrew Mullis, and Kolt McMichael. Stratford’s Keondre Glover is 116 rushing yards from 1,000 for the year, and he’s scored 15 times. He also leads the Eagles with seven catches for 136 yards and 3 TDs. The teams haven’t played since 2011, a 42-28 Stratford win. The Eagles lead the series 4-1.
Tattnall, 4-3/1-0, at Mount de Sales,2-4/0-1
The Cavs’ defense will have to slow down power back Cam Person (9 TDs on 45 carries) as well as more explosive Antone Johnson (8.3 ypc), plus QB Donovan Duncan (36-49-2, 538 yards). Tattnall won 61-33 last year, breaking a two-game win streak by the Cavs, who trail 34-10 in the series.
AA/A
Central Fellowship, 6-0, at Trinity Christian, 3-5
The Lancers got a game last week from Gatewood before winning by 10. They’re outscoring opponents by 25.2 points a game, while Trinity Christian is being outscored by 12 a game.
Gatewood, 2-4, at St. Mary’s, 1-5
The host Bobcats broke a five-game losing streak to start the season last week in a 33-15 win over Cross Keys. Gatewood was off after losing its fourth straight a week earlier, 31-21 to Central Fellowship.
Briarwood, 4-3, at Piedmont, 1-5
Briarwood has won the last three in the series, by 14, 22, and 26 points, including 26-0 last year. The Cougars got their first win of the season last week, 42-14 over Southwest Georgia.