By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
***centralgasports@gmail.com***

Last week: 22-9, 71 percent
This season: 103-46, 69.13 percent
Within 7 points of margin: 14, 25 for the season

There are 33 games this week, and not a huge collection of marquee matchups.

Which means we’ll have nailbiters, overtime, and eyebrow-raisers.

Should mean a chance to improve the record a bit. Should.

Games of the Week

No. 7T Crisp County, 3A/3-1, at No. 12T Northside, 2-2

It’s almost a trap game for Northside, off a nifty upset of 7A North Cobb on the road in overtime. But Crisp County is no lower-classification slouch, by any stretch. And if the Eagles walk into McConnell-Talbert thinking otherwise, they could easily walk out with a stunning L.
TSR pick: Northside by 13

No. 8 Warner Robins, 5A/1-3 at No. 8 Houston County, 4-0

COVERAGE

This week

Maxwell Ratings predictions and rankings

Who’s going to win this week’s games?

Macon Touchdown Club players of the week: Westside, Howard, Northeast

Monday Morning Quarterback: Predictable – and misguided – handwringing about Atlanta; Loughdmouthings; Central Georgia polls

Last week

Roundup: Warner Robins surprised, Perry and Houston County cruise, Northeast with upset, big wins for Peach County, Mary Persons, ACE, Bleckley County, and more

Friday night’s scouting reports

Maxwell Ratings predictions and rankings

Who’s going to win this week’s games?

Notebook: Washington from Mount de Sales to ACE; still no sign of Zavion Hardy; GHSA decides on Mary Persons-Northeast

Early-season Macon Touchdown Club players of the week: ACE, Howard, Jones County, Mount de Sales, Northeast, Tattnall

Monday Morning Quarterback: Enjoy those Saturdays, for college football's greed will eliminate them, which should anger you; surprises, upsets, Loughdmouthings, Central Georgia's polls.

For the past several years, these records are reversed, but 2022 is bringing funk to Central Georgia football. A reported change in offensive staff duties for one of these teams will make more of a difference down the line. Warner Robins is again tight on defense, but the Bears – in a transition and rebuilding year – haven’t been slowed down yet, albeit against lower-classification competition.

TSR pick: Houston County by 8

GIAA

Stratford, 3-1, at Brookstone, 3-0

Brookstone – with former Peach County boss Rance Gillespie and ex-Veterans boss David Bruce – is playing steady, and is at home. Look for Stratford to make adjustments from last week’s loss.

TSR pick: Stratford by 4

Games to note

Class 4A

Howard, 4-0, at No. 3 Perry, 3-1

The Huskies desperately need to get rolling on offense, and undefeated or not, this is a tough week to be in that situation. Howard’s defense will have to keep this close for at least a half, a tough week to be in that situation.

TSR pick: Perry by 29

Class AA

Rutland, 3-1, at Spencer, 2-2

In another battle of metro Macon and metro Columbus and teams hungry for any success, this is a big game, the winner improving to 2-0 in region play. Every team behind Northeast needs wins against equal teams for the playoff hunt.
TSR pick: Rutland by 13

Class A

No. 8 Lamar County, 5-0, at Social Circle, 3-1

Look for a score – big – similar to last week against a team with two wins over GIAA teams with two wins total.

TSR pick: Lamar County by 29

No. 6 Schley County, 2-2, at Macon County, 1-3

Can Macon County right the ship with a win over a ranked team that wants to avenge last year’s 54-38 home loss?

TSR pick: Macon County by 9

The Schedule

Class 6A

Veterans, 3-1 at Northgate, 5A/1-4

TSR pick: Veterans by 19

Class 4A

Spalding, 2-2, at Baldwin, 1-3

TSR pick: Baldwin by 3

West Laurens, 1-3, at Griffin, 0-4

TSR pick: Griffin by 3

Class 3A

Columbus, 2-2, at No. 10 Mary Persons, 3-1

TSR pick: Mary Persons by 25

Hardaway, 4A/1-4, at No. 7T Peach County, 2-2, 8 p.m.

TSR pick: Peach County by 31

Mt. Zion, Jonesboro, 4A/0-4, at Upson-Lee, 1-4

TSR pick: Upson-Lee by 27

Class AA

Dodge County, 1-3, at No. 1 Fitzgerald, 4-0

TSR pick: Fitzgerald by 28

Josey, 2-2, at No. 10 Putnam County, 3-1

TSR pick: Putnam County by 32

Kendrick, 0-4, at Central, 0-4, Thompson

TSR pick: Central by 22

Southwest, 1-3, at No. 8 Northeast, 2-2, Henderson, 5:30 p.m.

TSR pick: Northeast by 32

Washington County, 1-3, at Thomson, 2-1

TSR pick: Thomson by 25

Class A

I

No. 5 Bleckley County, 4-0, at Pelham, 2-3

TSR pick: Bleckley County by 29

Crawford County, 1-4, at Twiggs County, 2-2

TSR pick: Crawford County by 19

Jasper County, 2-3, at No. 12T Mt. Zion, Carroll, 3-1

TSR pick: Mt.Zion by 10

II

Taylor County, 1-3, at Central, Talbotton, 0-4

TSR pick: Taylor County by 28

Turner County, 1-4, at No. 8T Dooly County, 1-2

TSR pick: Dooly County by 15

No. 7 Washington-Wilkes, 3-1, at Hancock Central, 1-3

TSR pick: Washington-Wilkes by 30

Wilkinson County, 1-2, at Portal, 3-1

TSR pick: Portal by 23

GIAA

Class AAA

John Milledge, 4-0, at Brookwood, 2-2

TSR pick: John Milledge by 33

Mt. Pisgah Christian GHSA A/3-1, at FPD, 1-3

TSR pick: Mt. Pisgah by 12

Pinewood Christian, 2-2, at Mount de Sales, 2-2

TSR pick: Pinewood by 12

Class AA/A

Brentwood, 1-3, at George Walton, 1-4

TSR pick: Brentwood by 6

Piedmont, 0-4, at CFCA, 4-0

TSR pick: CFCA by 34

St. Anne-Pacelli, 4-1, at Gatewood, 2-2

TSR pick: Pacelli by 28

Trinity Christian, 2-3, at Briarwood, 2-2

TSR pick: Briarwood by 15

Southwest Georgia, 2-3, at Fullington, 3-1

TSR pick: Fullington by 2