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 6A

Tift County, 1-7, 0-3, at No. 10 Houston County, 6-2/1-2

          The Blue Devils have quite the task, facing QB Antwann Hill Jr. (2,206 yards, 22 TDs, 2 INTs, 73.0 percent), WR Ricky Johnson (44-722/9 TDs), and RB Ryan Taleb (134-880, 13 TDs). The teams last played in 2013, a 47-21 Tift County win, the seventh straight win after three Bear wins to start the series in 2002.

Veterans, 5-3/1-2, at No. 11 Northside, 5-3/2-1

          This is only the fourth meeting between the county neighbors, the Eagles up 3-1, including 48-7 last year. The Warhawks can be dangerous, with WR Damare Franklin, who leads 6A with 70 catches for 952 yards and 8 TDs, and QB Jake Maxwell (1,988 yards, 64.8 percent, 14-4 TD-INT). Northside is off a huge win over Lee County, sparked by its defense and some second-half QB play off the bench by DJ Hudson. 

Class 5A

No. 9 Warner Robins, 4-4/3-1, at No. 11 Jones County, 5-3/3-1

          It’s an odd year for both teams entering another big game, this one in the regular season with a home playoff game or two on the line. Both are still mathematically alive for the top seed, but odds are against that. Warner Robins has yet to pass 1,000 yards in either passing or rushing, a staggering note. Jones County has had major injury issues all season while amid a quarterback transition. How many of the banged-up Greyhounds are back and how healthy they are is a huge issue. The last two meetings have been in the playoffs, Warner Robins wins in 2021 (49-21) and 56-21 in 2020. The Greyhounds won two straight early in the Justin Rogers era, 31-21 in 2014 and 34-10 a year later.

This week
* So, you’re wondering about Central Georgia’s GHSA standings and playoff picture?
* Maxwell Ratings picks, Central Georgia state rankings
* MMQB: We all thought we’d seen most anything, and then Lee County … Loughdmouthngs, upsets/surprises, Central Georgia polls
* Macon Touchdown Club players of the week: CFCA, Howard, Rutland

Last week
* Roundup: Roundup: Night of a lifetime for Northside, forgettable one for Northeast & Dooly County, upset for Dodge County, scoreapalooza by Hawkinsville, John Milledge rolls
* Scouting Reports: all GHSA and GIAA games
* Maxwell Ratings picks, Central Georgia state rankings
* Who’s going to win this week’s Central Georgia high school football games
* Monday Morning Quarterback: Surprises, upsets, Loughdmouthings (Bama-Tennessee, Fromm, area 1,000-yard rushers, passers, more), Central Georgia polls
* Macon Touchdown Club players of the week: Jones County, Northeast

 Class 4A

Spalding, 6-3/4-1, at No. 3 Perry, 7-1/4-0

          The Jaguars should have some confidence, considering a year ago, they stunned Perry 31-26, breaking a three-game winning streak over Spalding. But the Panthers will have more as they focus on winning their third straight region title. Perry’s defense – led by Marcus Ragin, Jerrel Pinckney, and Camerin Marshall, teaming for 22.4 tackles a game – has given up 41 points since the 57-56 season-opening loss to Houston County. Spalding brings an offense averaging 194.3 passing yards and 150.9 rushing yards a game.

Baldwin, 3-5/2-2, at Westside, 5-3/1-3

          Both teams have weapons. Baldwin RB Micah Welch may be around 1,000 yards – no stats are publicly posted or updated – and Westside freshman QB James Neville has 1,485 passing yards on a 49.2-percent completion rate, with 15 TDs and 7 INTs, and he has four targets with at least 10 catches. The series is tied at 6, Baldwin winning the last two 45-0 and 35-28.

Class AAA

No. 6T Peach County, 5-3/2-0, at Pike County, 2-6/0-2

          The Pirates haven’t scored in the last three meetings, losing 62-0, 58-0, and 38-0, managing points in 2018’s 42-6 loss. The Trojans average 44.8 points in wins. Pike County is ona four-game losing streak, has scored more points in each game, up to 34 in last week’s 48-34 loss to Jackson.

Upson-Lee, 4-5/2-1, at Mary Persons, 4-4/0-2

          The Knights are still looking for their first win against the Bulldogs, who lead the series 8-0, with the last three decided by eight, five, and nine. The game features to head-turners in the backfield: Upson-Lee’s Ja’quan Bentley is second in AAA with 1,346 yards (and 15 TDs)  and Mary Persons’ Duke Watson is fourth with 1,308 (and 11 scores). Mary Persons has more balance, QB Logan Hickman,11th in AAA with 1,142 yards, 14 TDs and 6 INTs on 54.7 percent completions. Upson-Lee has a shot at second with a win. 

Class AA

Berrien, 5-3/2-2, at Dodge County, 4-5/3-2

          The first meeting since the Indians’ 24-6 win in 1969 is a big one, with a playoff spot on the line in Dodge County’s regular-season finale. Berrien barely beat Sumter County and lost to Cook, two teams the Indians defeated as part of their current three-game winning streak.

Southwest, 3-5/3-2, at ACE, 7-1/4-1

          The Patriots hope for the upset that will all but lock in their first playoff trip since 2017 and fifth this century. There are some playmakers on both sides. Southwest QB Chase Dupree is second in AA with 1,493 passing yards, completing 50 percent of his passes with 16 TDs and 11 INTs, while ACE’s Kaleb Scarbary is sixth at 1,192/60.0/15-3. The Gryphons are more balanced, led by Aaron Davis, fourth in AA with 1,194 yards and 14 touchdowns. This is the first meeting.

Spencer, 6-2/5-0, at Central, 2-6/2-3

          Spencer’s intent is to not overlook anybody in hopes of a region title, and Central is off a school-record scoring night in last week’s 63-0 win over Jordan. An upset keeps alive Central’s playoff hopes.

Rutland, 4-4/2-3, at Kendrick, 0-8/0-5

          The series is tied at 3, Kendrick winning 26-22 in 2019. Rutland needs a win to keep alive hopes for the first postseason since 2013.

Jordan, 0-8/0-5, at Northeast, 5-3/4-1

          It’ll be ugly early, with one of the state’s top two rushers – Nick Woodford has 1,865 yards and 27 rushing touchdowns – against a team that has six points this year and gives up 53.8 a game.

No. 13 Laney, 7-1/4-1, at No. 12 Putnam County, 6-2/4-1

          A playoff-caliber showdown with huge seeding implications for the playoffs. The winner is in the driver’s seat for second, although Laney’s final opponent Glenn Hills isn’t as tough as Putnam County’s, Washington County. Putnam County freshman QB Branan Griffin has 600 yards passing, but two more INTs than TDs. Tamarion Peters has 683 rushing yards and 13 TDs.

Washington County, 3-5/3-2, at Josey, 2-6/1-4

          Quarterback Morgan Jones has completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,381 yards, and two more TDs than INTs, while South Carolina commit DJ Braswell has 676 yards and 12 TDs on 104 carries. The teams haven’t played since 2015 when Washington County won 56-15, ending a four-year run including 73-67, 48-0, and 62-0.

Class A/I

No. 10 Dublin, 5-2/2-0, at East Laurens, 1-7/0-2

          The Irish have scored 77, 63, 53, 42, 45, 42, and 41 points in the meetings since East Laurens stunned Dublin 46-17 in 2012, the Falcons’ only win in the series that started in 1974. Demari Foster and Jaquarius Evans have teamed for 1,214 yards and nine TDs.

No 9. Bleckley County, 8-1/2-1, at No. 2 Swainsboro, 7-0/2-0

          It’s quite the clash, with Bleckley County giving up 10.3 points a game and the Tigers 2.7, with five shutouts, including 42-0 over then-No. 10/AA Washington County early. The Royals average 36.2 points a game, the Tigers 40.4. Swainsboro’s Qindarius Brown is seventh in AA with 860 yards, 11.9 a game with nine touchdowns in seven games. The Royals’ Jahvon Butler is right behind with 840 yards and 13 touchdowns. The series has been quiet wince 2011 when Bleckley County broke a five-game losing streak with a 39-34 win.

Crawford County, 2-6/0-1, at No. 12 Lamar County, 7-1/1-0

          Both are in the playoffs, so avoiding injuries is a priority. The Trojans are unlikely to overlook the Eagles much, with a top seed on the line.

Jasper County, 3-5/0-1, at 1 Prince Avenue, 7-0/1-0

          Both are in the playoffs, so avoiding injuries is a priority. The Wolverines are unlikely to overlook the Eagles much, with a top seed on the line. 

II

No. 13 Wilcox County, 5-3/3-0, at Hawkinsville, 3-5/1-2

          The Patriots have won five straight in the series, by 53-26, 55-6, and 48-14 in the last three meetings, 2019-21. The Red Devils, who dropped 77 on Treutlen last week, have four losses by a total of 25 points.

Dooly County, 4-4/2-1, at Telfair County, 6-2/2-1

          The winner is in the driver’s seat for second, but Dooly County’s final opponent Hawkinsville is tougher than Telfair County’s, winless Treutlen.

Wilkinson County, 4-4/1-2, at Hancock Central, 4-4/3-0

          The series is 15-9 in Wilkinson County’s favor, but Hancock Central has won the last two years, 28-14 and 32-8. The Bulldogs have won three straight and are in the hunt for their second region title in three years, and in program history.

Twiggs County, 2-6/0-3, at No. 3 Johnson County, 8-0/3-0

          The Cobras and Trojans haven’t played since 2013, a 43-0 Johnson County win for a 6-5 series lead.

Macon County, 3-5/3-2, at Taylor County, 2-6/1-4

          The Bulldogs are pretty safe in the playoff race, for the 11th straight time. They’ve won seven straight in the series, with only three (3-0 in 2013, 27-22 in 2017, and 34-28 in 2019) by single digits.

 

GIAA

Class AAA

Mount de Sales, 2-6/0-3, at John Milledge, 8-0/2-0

          John Milledge is a heavy favorite to win its 46th straight game, one short of Buford’s 47-game winning streak, the longest in school history. The Trojans turned in a statement 56-7 win over FPD last week after surviving Stratford 21-7 two weeks ago. The Cavs are on a six-game losing streak.

Tattnall, 5-3/2-0, at FPD, 2-6/1-1

          Two teams that had very different Friday nights a week ago meet. Tattnall rolled past Mount de Sales 41-13 while FPD was getting thumped at John Milledge. Outgoing FPD head coach Greg Moore is 5-4 against Tattnall since Barney Hester left after the 2009 season, and the Vikings have won two straight over the Trojans.

AA/A

Brentwood, 5-3, at Trinity Christian, 3-6

          The War Eagles got 215 yards and three TDs from Zach Denton in last week’s 48-14 win over Piedmont, Wes Muller adding 121 and Harlan Scott 106. It was all part of a 528-yard night of offense.

Piedmont, 1-7/0-1, at Gatewood, 4-4

          The Gators are hoping to keep alive a streak of at least five-win seasons dating back to 2014’s 3-9 season.

Fullington, 5-3/2-0, at Grace Christian, 1-5/1-1

          Fullington can clinch its first winning season since 2014, also the last time the Trojans scored more than 300 points.