Last week
18-9, 66.7 percent
This season
52-26, 66.7 percent
Within 7 points of margin
5, 15 for the season
Upset specials/Perfect spread
0-0; picked Westside by 20

Classification listing based on home team when both are Central Georgia teams. Next week, records and rankings will be added

Games of the week

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          One more week of this sub-70 percent garbage, and somebody will have to spend more time in the film room.

          Yessir, same lead sentence as last week, because unfortunately, the same performance followed.

          Warner Robins is still interesting, even if most think things will have calmed down and be smoother. This week might not be as sharp as expected, but that doesn’t mean the Demons can’t win. They have multiple playmakers.

          Who knows who will be hungrier – and more importantly, sharper – when Peach County and Jones County meet? Two teams that need to get in gear or – yes, gasp – be done after 10 games.

          For real.

          And can Northeast bow up two weeks in a row on the road? Can the Raiders play smarter, a habit that needs to start pretty soon?

Is Veterans set for its biggest win since 2019 when the Warhawks beat two ranked teams, and ground out a 13-3 win over unranked Perry?

          As always, expect to be surprised by games that we didn’t expect to be a surprise. 

Games of the Week

No. 2 Warner Robins, 1-1, at 7A Valdosta, 2-1
          It’s actually tougher to figure out this week, to a point, with Warner Robins and transfer QB Judd Anderson, and the health of incumbent QB Chase Reese. The shine is off last week’s win and Anderson’s performance, and avoiding a happy hangover for a practice might be an issue. Valdosta’s top game is against a Ohio team, powerful Massillon Washington.
TSR pick: Valdosta by 2

No. 4 4A Perry, 1-1, at Veterans, 2-0
          The latest in the county championship round-robin, and it should be as tight – probably - as the others have been. A week off after two solid wins for a program trying to build doesn’t help the Warhawks, except with the scouting report. Perry’s secondary is better prepared for this battle of upper-level quarterback.
TSR pick: Perry by 9

3A Peach County, 0-2, at Jones County, 1-2
          Why is this a game of the week? Because both teams aren’t what most expected, in record or in execution. Both desperately need at least a good Friday night of physicality, chemistry, teamwork, and enthusiasm to get some level of momentum. The Trojans could easily reach 0-4, the Greyhounds 1-3. A loss puts a major dent in confidence, so one would expect both teams to come  out swinging, figuratively speaking.
TSR pick: Jones County by 3

No. 2 A/1 Swainsboro, 3-0, at Dodge County, 1-2
          Dodge County is a pretty good 1-2 team, but this is a funky series: Dodge County won 35-0 in 2020, Swainsboro won 35-0 last year. If the Indians get a good home upset-smelling crowd and get through the half without huge mistakes, this will be interesting. But if not, Swainsboro can bruise.
TSR pick: Swainsboro by 17

No. 5 Northeast, 1-1, at No. 9 3A Carver-Columbus, 2-0
          No, figuring out Northeast isn’t any clearer. Bottom line: The Raiders can’t keep making dumb mistakes – and 5-yard pre-snap penalties from JV on up are dumb mistakes – and stumbling on special teams (PATs mainly) and hoping Nick Woodford and a nice defense can bail them out. Good football teams play better football. Carver has probably spent the week seeing “26-8” around the locker room and practice, last year’s score in a surprising loss.
TSR pick: Carver by 9

No. 1/II Schley County, 2-0, at No. 4/I Bleckley County, 2-0
          The Royals aren’t quite as strong as last year, and the Wildcats appear to be stronger. They got hammered the last time they played No. 1, but that won’t happen this time around.
TSR pick: Bleckley County by 13

GHSA AA Laney, 1-1, at FPD, 1-1
          The Vikings looked a bit more like they were supposed to last week, and should have some solid confidence and momentum against a decent GHSA AA team. There are levels of bragging in these games.
TSR pick: FPD by 5

The Schedule

Class 6A
No. 3 Houston County, 3-0, at 5A Locust Grove, 1-1
TSR pick: Houston County by 35

Class 4A
AA Washington County, 1-1, at No. 10 Baldwin, 2-1
TSR pick: Baldwin by 9

Howard, 2-0, at 5A Harris County, 2-1
TSR pick: Howard by 10

West Laurens, 0-2, at AA Vidalia, 2-1
TSR pick: Vidalia by 3

AA Rutland, 1-1, at Westside, 3-0, Ed DeFore
TSR pick: Westside by 27

Class 3A
AA Haralson County, 0-2, at  No. 10 Mary Persons, 2-1
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 23

4A LaGrange, 1-1, at Upson-Lee, 3-0
TSR pick: Upson-Lee by 5

Class AA
Jordan, 0-2, at ACE, 3-0
TSR pick: ACE by 35

AA Worth County, 1-2, at Central, 0-2
TSR pick: Worth County by 22

A/1 Jasper County, 2-1, at Putnam County, 0-2
TSR pick: Putnam County by 10

Class A
No. 7 Dublin, 2-0, at ECI, 0-2
TSR pick: Dublin by 31

3A Richmond Academy, 2-1, at East Laurens, 1-1
TSR pick: East Laurens by 5

GIAA Central Fellowship, 2-0-1, at Crawford County, 0-3
TSR pick: CFCA by 13

Lamar County, 1-2, at No. 2/II Manchester, 2-0
TSR pick: Manchester by 12

Marion County, 2-0 at Hawkinsville, 2-1
TSR pick: Hawkinsville by 2 (mild upset special)

Washington-Wilkes, 1-1, at GMC Prep, 0-3
TSR pick: Washington-Wilkes by 16

Central-Talbotton, 0-2, at Twiggs County, 0-1
TSR pick: Twiggs County by 20

No. 9/II Greene County, 3-0, at Wilkinson County, 1-1
TSR pick: Greene County by 27

GIAA
Class AAA
Brookwood, 2-1, at Stratford 2-0
TSR pick: Stratford by 21

Westfield, 1-2, at Tiftarea, 1-0-1
TSR pick: Westfield by 1

John Milledge, 2-0, at George Walton, 2-1
TSR pick: John Milledge by 35

St. Anne-Pacelli, 2-1, at Mount de Sales, 0-2
TSR pick: St. Anne-Pacelli by 29

Tattnall, 1-2, at GHSA A/II No. 5 Bowdon, 1-2
TSR pick: Bowdon by 18

Class AA
Thomas Jefferson at Brentwood, 1-1
TSR pick: Brentwood by 24

Gatewood, 2-0, at 3A Southland, 2-1
TSR pick: Southland by 12

Piedmont, 1-1, at Augusta Prep, 0-2
TSR pick: Piedmont by 5

Trinity Christian, 0-3, at Bulloch, 2-0
TSR pick: Bulloch by 31