Last week: 26-6, 81.25
This season: 156-56, 73.58
Within 7 points of margin: 10, 45 for the season

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

Ever so slowly, steps forward, and last week, there were some just-misses, especially with picking by seven points or closer.

Won’t be surprised to be wrong on Northside-Houston County or Dublin-Bleckley County, among the more notable games. And, let’s be honest, this isn’t the sexiest week of the season, but there are still a chunk of relevant games for teams trying to muscle into a better playoff position.

Games of the week

Class 6A

Thursday’s Scouting Reports
Class 6A
No. 11 Northside, 4-2/1-0, at No. 8 Houston County, 5-1/0-1
There are similarities stat-wise with two teams different in offensive approach and execution. The major gap: Houston County averages 370 yards passing, Northside has 590 yards passing for the season. Northside averages 239 yards rushing to 143.8. But Houston County QB Antwann Hill Jr. is surrounded by more weapons, including RB Ryan Taleb, who averages 114 yards a game and has 12 catches for 131 yards, and the Eagles haven’t played a pass offense this good. A key for both is the defenses being fundamental and not making third-down mistakes.

Class AA
Rutland, 3-3/1-2, at Jordan, 0-6/0-3
The battle of Macon and Columbus pits a team trying to stay alive in the playoff hunt and get over a double-digit region loss and a team that has scored six points all season. Can Rutland be the latest to shut out Jordan?

Glenn Hills, 2-4/1-2, at No. 10 Putnam County, 5-1/3-0, 7:30 p.m.
Putnam County freshman QB Branan Griffin is 15th in AA with 533 yards passing, completing 71.4 percent, but only two touchdowns to two interceptions. Tamarion Peters is ninth with 586 yards, and 10 touchdowns. Glenn Hills has scored 13 fewer points all season than Putnam County has in its last two games.

No. 11 Northside, 4-2/1-0, at No. 8 Houston County, 5-1/0-1, Thursday

The Eagles have played the tougher schedule, and have found some consistency. The Bears have played more consistently, but against smaller-classification competition. The timing is better for Houston County, coming off a 50-21 loss to Lee County, all the better to figure out exactly what kind of team it is. Of course, Northside is on a three-game win streak and its first shutout since 2018. But the Bears’ multi-dimension offense is the difference.
TSR pick: Houston County by 9

Class A-I

Dublin, 2-2, at No. 6 Bleckley County, 6-0

Not playing last week hurts Dublin, because you want to be in a groove at this point. So the Irish haven’t played since Sept. 16. That’s a long time, especially for a team still figuring out what it is. And that was a 12-0 loss, all the quicker you want to get that taste out. The Royals are balanced and consistent, not in search of an identity, and at home.
TSR pick: Bleckley County by 17 (upset watch)

GIAA

Class AAA

Stratford, 5-1, at Tattnall, 3-3

Hats off to Tattnall for playing GHSA completion, and hats off to GHSA teams for manning up and playing good GIAA teams. That’s what can propel Tattnall to a title. Stratford has transitioned well to Chance Jones as boss, and that can propel the Eagles to a state title. Yeah, they might playing again. This meeting has a slew of playmakers. But who makes the play on defense to win it or seal it?
TSR pick: Tattnall by 5

This week’s coverage
MMQB: Monday Morning Quarterback: So, you want to start planning for the HS playoffs? Go ahead/not so fast; Surprises, upsets, Loughdmouthings (Tech, colleges, stat leaders …)
Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
Notebook: ACE, Washington win appeal; Hardy still in active; Westside's Risper on cusp of 100th win/milestone watch; GHSA football finals back to the Benz?

Last week’s coverage
Roundup: Houston County pops Warner Robins, Perry rolls, Lamar County stunned, heartbreaker for Mount de Sales, thriller for Stratford
This week’s Scouting Reports
Maxwell Ratings predictions and rankings
Who’s going to win this week’s games?
Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
Monday Morning Quarterback: Surprises, upsets, Loughdmouthings, Central Georgia’s polls

Games of note

Class 5A

Union Grove, 3-3/1-1, at No. 10 Warner Robins, 2-4/1-1

At least the Demons’ latest must-win game is at home, and against a team they should be able to handle. The “if” is if Warner Robins of 2022 is the one that rolled 38-0 last week. Need a second similar week to determine that.
TSR pick: Warner Robins by 17

Class 4A

Howard, 4-2/0-2, at Spalding, 4-2/2-0

One team has momentum, and one doesn’t. Can Howard – battling health issues lately – bow up and pull off the upset and get back into the playoff hunt? The Huskies need at least a much better performance than the last two weeks.
TSR pick: Spalding by 14

Class AAA

Mary Persons, 4-2, at Jackson, 3-3

Nice way to start off the month with a burly ol’ rivalry. The Bulldogs are off a humbling 4-14 loss at Class A-I No. 1 Prince Avenue, so they should be tested and ready.
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 18

The Schedule

Class 6A

No.2 Lee County, 5-1/1-0, at Veterans, 4-2/0-1

TSR pick: Lee County by 38

Class 5A

Ola, 2-3/0-1, at No. 12 Jones County, 4-2/2-0

TSR pick: Jones County by 28

Class 4A

West Laurens, 1-4/0-1, at Westside, 4-1/0-1, Ed DeFore

TSR pick: Westside by 20

No. 3 Perry, 5-1/2-0, at Griffin, 1-5/1-1, Saturday

TSR pick: Perry by 34

Class AAA

Upson-Lee, 2-4, at Pike County, 2-4

TSR pick: Upson-Lee by 17

Class AA

Rutland, 3-3/1-2, at Jordan, 0-6/0-3, Thursday

TSR pick: Rutland by 15

Central, 1-5/1-2, at ACE, 5-1/2-1

TSR pick: ACE by 33

Dodge County, 1-5/0-2, at Jeff Davis, 0-6/0-2

TSR pick: Dodge County by 25

Glenn Hills, 2-4/1-2, at No. 10 Putnam County, 5-1/3-0

TSR pick: Putnam County by 35

Kendrick, 0-6/0-3, at No. 7 Northeast, 4-2/3-0

TSR pick: Northeast by 39

Spencer, 4-2/3-0, at Southwest, 2-4/2-1

TSR pick: Spencer by 24

Westside-Augusta, 1-5/1-2, at Washington County, 1-5/1-2

TSR pick: Washington County by 14

Class A

I

Crawford County, 2-4, at Heard County, 2-4

TSR pick: Heard County by 19

Jasper County, 2-4, at East Laurens, 1-4

TSR pick: Jasper County by 8

II

No.8 Dooly County, 3-2/1-0, at Treutlen, 0-6/0-1

TSR pick: Dooly County by 29

Glascock County, 1-5/0-1, at Twiggs County, 2-4/0-1

TSR pick: Twiggs County by 1 (upset pick)

Hawkinsville, 2-4/0-1, at Wheeler County, 3-3/0-1

TSR pick: Wheeler County by 12

Wilkinson County, 3-2/1-0, at GMC, 1-5/0-1

TSR pick: GMC by 4 (upset pick)

GIAA

Class AAA

FPD, 1-5, at Mount de Sales, 2-3

TSR pick: FPD by 16

Westfield, 3-3, at Strong Rock, 3-3

TSR pick: Westfield by 8

AA/A

Edmund Burke, 4-1, at Brentwood, 3-3

TSR pick: Brentwood by 4

Fullington, 3-3, at Harvester Christian, 1-4

TSR pick: Fullington by 10

SW Georgia, 3-3, at Piedmont, 0-5

TSR pick: SW Georgia by 23

Trinity Christian, 3-4, at St. Andrew’s, 3A/3-2

TSR pick: St. Andrew’s by 13