Last week: 19-10, 65.5 percent

This season: 54-28, 65.9 percent

Within 7 points of margin: 3, 11 for the season

You just can’t trust the young ‘ns on Thursday and Friday this year.

There’s still some figuring out to do, and there’ll again be some head scratching. Again, though, some quality matchups and some potentially quality matchups.

Can ACE avoid a letdown? Can Northeast rebound? Will either Baldwin or Washington County look good at all in getting the first win? Can GMC get going at all to prove last year wasn’t a fluke? Which Dublin will we see? Will Lamar County get back in gear and avoid a letdown against Manchester?

That 80 percent goal would be a miracle. Hitting 75 percent would be pretty sporty, the way things are going.

Games of the Week

Class 5A

7A/No. 10 Valdosta, 3-0, at 5A/No. 2 Warner Robins, 1-1

Warner Robins is still a little tough to figure out, but the call here has been that the Demons of 2022 are down – and “down” isn’t much – compared to the past couple seasons. They were mighty fortunate to survive Northside last week. The edge is because of better competition so far.

TSR pick: Warner Robins by 4

Class 4A

Veterans, 6A/2-0, at 4A/4 Perry, 1-1

Perry is getting a whole lotta love – including as the Georgia High School Football Daily state team of the week – and yet still cringing at the Houston County loss. Veterans gets its first real test, and Perry has to guard against overconfidence. The Panthers will really hear it if they go through the motions and lose. This should be a decent game for a bit.

TSR pick: Perry by 29

Class AAA

5A/No. 9 Jones County, 5A/2-1, at No. 8T Peach County, 1-1

Two funky teams. The Trojans didn’t have it against Northside, and the Greyhounds didn’t have it against Perry. Defendable losses on paper, no doubt, but execution and/or effort wasn’t up to par for either in those losses. We’ll get more of an idea about Peach County in this one. Jones County best be ready to be physical and handle physical.

TSR pick: Jones County by 11

Class A

No. 5 Bleckley County, 2-0 at A-II/No. 5 Schley County, 1-1

A battle of different divisions in Class A, not that it really means anything. Both would be ranked in a single Class A poll. But the Royals would be higher. Don’t be surprised of Bleckley County romps as it gets the offense in gear.

TSR pick: Bleckley County by 14

Games to note

Class 6A

Locust Grove, 5A/0-2, at Houston County, 3-0

Can Houston County keep this offensive fireworks show going? Yes, against a team giving up 44 points a game. But the Bears better enjoy it and work on some things, because it gets real in a week.

TSR pick: Houston County by 23

Class AAA

Mary Persons, 2-1, at Haralson County, AA/1-1

Haralson County runs more than 90 percent of the time, and can eat up a clock. A different week for the Mary Persons’ defense. Third-down stops will be particularly huge for the Bulldogs.

TSR pick: Mary Persons by 4

Class AA

3A/No. 2T Carver-Columbus, 2-0, at No. 13T Northeast, 0-2, Thompson

The Raiders have another big-time opponent, and the tough loss to Fitzgerald may linger. Too bad there’s unlikely to be many people on hand for another quality local matchup. A Northeast win here is a solid upset, and can get some momentum going.

TSR pick: Carver by 19

Class A

ECI, 1-1, at Dublin, 1-1

Speaking of losses that can linger, Dublin’s one-point OT defeat last week at Lamar County can easily be one of those. Or Dublin could Dublin ECI.
TSR pick: Dublin by 11

GIAA

GHSA A-II/No. 4 Bowdon, 2-1, at Tattnall, 2-1

High five to Tattnall for again stepping back out into GHSA – and good GHSA – competition. The Trojans can compete.

TSR pick: Bowdon by 10

Mount de Sales, 2-0, at St. Anne-Pacelli, 2-1

It’s the Cavs’ first game in awhile without two-way standout Fernando Washington, and Pacelli battled Tattnall well.

TSR pick: Pacelli by 7

The Schedule

Class 4A

Howard, 2-0, at Harris County, 5A/1-2

TSR pick: Harris County by 3

Rutland, 2A/2-0, at Westside, 3-0, Ed DeFore

TSR pick: Westside by 23

Vidalia, 2A/3-0, at West Laurens, 0-2

TSR pick: Vidalia by 8

Class AAA

Upson-Lee, 3A/0-3, at LaGrange, 4A/2-0, Thursday

TSR pick: LaGrange by 18

Class AA

ACE Charter, 3-0, at Jordan, 0-2

TSR pick: ACE by 24

Baldwin, 4A/0-3 at Washington County, 0-2

TSR pick: Baldwin by 4

Central, 0-2, at No. 15 Worth County, 3-0

TSR pick: Worth County by 28

Dodge County, 1-1 at A-I/No. 3 Swainsboro A-I/3-0

TSR pick: Swainsboro by 19

Class A

Central, Talbotton, 0-2, at Twiggs County, 1-1

TSR pick: Twiggs County by 3

East Laurens, 0-2 at Richmond Academy, 3A/2-1

TSR pick: Richmond Academy by 18

GMC Prep, 0-3, at Washington-Wilkes, 2-0

TSR pick: Washington-Wilkes by 19

Manchester, 1-1, at No. 8 Lamar County, 3-0

TSR pick: Lamar County by 13

Marion County, 0-2, at Hawkinsville, 0-3

TSR pick: Marion County by 2

AA/No. 11 Putnam County, 1-1 at Jasper County, 1-2

TSR pick: Putnam County by 32

Wilkinson County, 1-1, at Greene County, 2-1

TSR pick: Greene County by 21

GIAA

Class AAA

FPD, 1-1, at Laney, GHSA AA/2-0

TSR pick: Laney by 9

George Walton, 1-2, at John Milledge, 2-0

TSR pick: John Milledge by 31

Mount de Sales, 2-0, at St. Anne-Pacelli, 2-1

TSR pick: Pacelli by 12

Stratford, 2-0, at Brookwood, 2-1

TSR pick: Stratford by 12

Westfield, 1-2, at Tiftarea, 0-3

TSR pick: Westfield by 13

Class AA/A

Augusta Prep, 0-2, at Piedmont, 0-2

TSR pick: Piedmont by 1

Brentwood, 1-2, at Thomas Jefferson, 2-0

TSR pick: Brentwood by 11

Bulloch, 1-1, at Trinity Christian, 1-2

TSR pick: Bulloch by 9

Crawford County GHSA A/0-3, at Central Fellowship, 3-0

TSR pick: Crawford County by 2

Southland, 2-1, at Gatewood, 2-0

TSR pick: Gatewood by 10