By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

 Updated: 12 p.m., for Perry and Lamar County, 5:45 p.m. for Macon County

🏈 Any update will be around 11 a.m. Saturday, based on new information contributions from teams over night. Thanks to Northside for a box score, and Jasper County and ACE for information.

🏈 Dear coaches and teams: PLEASE UPDATE YOUR MAXPREPS ROSTERS, so kids can accurately be credited for doing good things. Ditto schedules, results, and stats.

🏈 Teams: Please email game information – stats (offense and defense), names, big plays, etc. – to centralgasports@gmail.com by 10:30 a.m. Saturday for addition in Central Georgia’s only roundup.

🏈 Thanks to FPD, John Milledge, and Northside for send box scores Friday night, and Jasper County for some game information.

GHSA

Class 6A
5A Northgate 35, Veterans 14
          The homestanding Warhawks (3-2) couldn’t get going and got no momentum after tying it at 7 early in the second quarter. The Vikings (4-2) pulled ahead for good four minutes later, and returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown and control, pulling away with a rushing score midway through the third. The lead grew to 35-7 about four minutes into the fourth quarter.

3A Crisp County 20, Northside 16
          A defensive stop in the red zone by Northside opened the door for the road upset by 3A Crisp County. The Eagles (2-3) intercepted a pass at their 1 with a little more than two minutes left and a four-point lead. But Northside’s attempt to pass turned into a safety on the first play, pulling the Cougars (3-2) to within two. Crisp County returned the free kick to inside the 40, and converted a third and long into a 13-yard TD pass from Hagen Slimp to Deshaun Fedd with 46 seconds left. They failed on the conversion for a six-point lead, then stuffed Northside in three plays. The Eagles, without starting quarterback Damien Dee for the first full game since he was injured, managed only 130 yards in total offense, 28 fewer than Crisp County, and only nine first downs. Northside’s defense held Crisp County to minus-1 yard rushing and only three completions, but the Eagles were but 3 of 17 for 18 yards passing, and were flagged 14 times for 150 yards, to eight for 70 for Crisp County. Da’veon Latimore had 107 yards on 21 carries for Northside.

Class 5A
6A Houston County 41, Warner Robins 7
          A running clock – among other things during the game, like a bomb pass in the final minute with the Bears’ starting skill players - made for an intense ending in a game that was 28-0 at halftime, the Bears (5-0) racking up their second-biggest win in series history (63-28 in 2016) with their second win in a row after breaking a five-game losing streak to the Demons (2-3). Jordan Smith’s interception deep in Warner Robins territory set up the Bears’ first score, an AJ Hill pass to Kale Woodburn from 13 yards out five minutes into the game. Woodburn went in from the 8 on a reverse a few minutes later for a two-score lead. Hill and Ricky Johnson hooked up for a 7-yarder early in the second quarter, Gavin Kurpis going in from a yard late in the half for a 28-0 lead. The Demons broke the shutout on Judd Anderson’s 45-yard pass to Isiah Canion 14 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Class 4A
Spalding 34, Baldwin 0
          A battle between top-10 teams never materialized, and Baldwin (3-2/0-1) suffered its worst region loss since 35-0 to Perry last October. Spalding has outscored Baldwin 74-14 in the last two years. The Jaguars (5-0/1-0) led 20-0 at halftime.

Griffin 44, West Laurens 27
          The Raiders suffered a bruising loss at home as the Bears’ first victim of the season after losses by 31-0, 35-0, 34-7, and 34-3. West Laurens led 7-6 late in the first, and held it until Griffin scored late in the second quarter, then converting a turnover into a field goal in the final seconds for a 17-7 halftime lead. Shannon Adkins’ 1-yard run pulled the Raiders within 17-14 early in the third, but Griffin scored quickly, and added two more scores only for the Raiders to pull within 37-27 through three. The Bears scored early in the fourth, and kept control the rest of the way.

Perry 41, Howard 0
          The Panthers needed only a few minutes to get going en route to their first shutout of the season and second straight over Howard. Colter Ginn had two first-quarter touchdown passes, Howard (3-2/0-1) missing a chance to break the shutout late in the first quarter with a missed field goal. Perry (4-1/1-0) added three at the end of the half, and added another field goal with about four minutes left in the third, following a blocked punt with another score soon after. Ginn was 16 of2 6 for 213 yards and three scores with no picks. Ahmad Gordon ran 22 times for 126 yards, while Corrion Daniels scored twice in the second half. Dakarai Anderson caught five passes for 101 yards and a score for the Panthers, who rolled up 390 yards on offense.

Class 3A
Mary Persons 55, Columbus 0
          The Bulldogs (4-1) led 52-0 at halftime en route to their biggest win since 59-0 over Richmond Academy in the first round of the 2018 AAAA playoffs, Mary Persons’ fifth of six 50-point games that season.

Peach County 47, Hardaway 6
          The Trojans cruised into the win column on homecoming, leading 20-0 at halftime and pulling away. They lost the shutout late in the third quarter, but scored more points than in their last two games.

Upson-Lee 55, Mt. Zion 0
          Ja’Quan Bentley had three touchdowns in the first quarter, en route to 190 rushing yards and five scores in the first half, helping the Knights to a 48-0 lead at intermission and ending his night. Upson-Lee held Mt. Zion to minus-2 through a half and less than 60 yards in the second half. The Knights came a point short of matching last year’s score.

Class AA
No. 7 Fitzgerald 56 Dodge County 32
          Fitzgerald stormed out to a 30-0 first-quarter lead, the Indians (1-4/0-1) scrapping with two second-quarter scores – on pick-6s from Brice McDuffie and Kain Mincey - to make it 33-15 at halftime. The Purple Hurricane returned the favor with an interception return for a score (3-2/1-0) , and stayed in control from then on.

Putnam County 42, Josey 0
          A crushing 35-point second quarter – more points than Putnam County (3-2/2-0) had scored in each of its first three games, and matched last week – put the War Eagles in control. They won by two more points with their second straight shutout of Josey (1-4/0-3).

Spencer 26, Rutland 7
          The defending 2-AA champ (3=2/2-0) got a battle from Rutland (2-3/1-1) for the second year a a row, the Hurricanes falling only 27-21 last year.

Thomson 57, Washington County 29
          The Golden Hawks (2-3/1-1) were down only 13-7 early in the second quarter, but Thomson 4-1/2-0) scored twice for a 28-7 halftime lead that grew to 43-14 after three. The Bulldogs won 54-14 last year.

Class A/Division I
Jasper County 42, Mt. Zion 7
          The Hurricanes were six measly seconds away from their first shutout since 28-0 over Banks County late in the 2019 season, but had to settle for their second win of more than 30 points this season. Chevy Sands scored twice on the ground and threw two touchdown passes for Jasper County, which led 28-0 at halftime. The Hurricanes have matched last year’s win total, which followed an 0-10 season.

Bleckley County 43, Pelham 21
          Bleckley County is the third straight team to score 43 points on Pelham (2-4), the Royals (3-2) taking control with a 15-0 third quarter after leading 21-15 at halftime. Joshua Stanley scored those third-quarter touchdowns.

Lamar County 19, Social Circle 7
          The underdog Redskins (1-4) gave the Trojans trouble in Barnesville, trailing only 7-0 at halftime and tying it early in the third quarter. But Qua Hughley’s 1-yard run with 3:40 left in the third put the Trojans (4-2) on top, and he finally sealed it with a 47-yard touchdown with 1:44 left in the game. He had a night, with 188 yards on 24 carries as the Trojans worked to a 307-135 total offense advantage. Lamar County avenged last year’s 39-7 loss.

CENTRAL GEORGIA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE
This week
* Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
* Maxwell Predictions, Central Georgia state rankings
* Who’s going to win this week’s games
* Monday Morning Quarterback: Get on board with the Falcons;  Notes, review, Central Georgia polls, Loughdmouthings
* Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
Last week
* Roundup: Big comeback for Warner Robins, big OT W for West Laurens, Perry pops Peach County, Northeast & Woodford pull away, John Milledge sweats, Williams big for FPD
* Scouting Reports: Friday’s GHSA and GIAA games
* Maxwell Ratings picks, Central Georgia state rankings
* Who’s going to win this week’s Central Georgia football games?
* Monday Morning Quarterback: Raiders rock on the road, The Sequel; upsets, surprises; Loughdmouthings (Northeast-ACE, 2-AAA), Central Georgia polls
* Macon Touchdown Club players of the week

Crawford County 27, Twiggs County 14
          The battle of first-year coaches and winless teams went to Dusty Jump and the Eagles, on homecoming.

Class A/Division II
Taylor County 56, Central-Talbotton 6
          The Vikings missed matching last year’s margin by a point, leading 35-0 after one and 42-6 at halftime. Taylor County rushed for three TDs in the first quarter, passed for one, and returned a fumble for a score. The Vikings (4-1) hit 50 points for the first time since a 50-47 win over Crawford County in 2019.

Schley County 34, Macon County 7
          The showdown between No. 1 and 2 became a throwdown on homecoming when Schley County gained control with two second-quarter touchdowns, and kept the Bulldogs scoreless after a first-quarter score. The Wildcats (5-0/1-0) passed for 288 yards and three touchdowns – Macon County picked off two passes – and ran for 183 yards and two more. The Bulldogs were held to 93 yards passing and 12 yards rushing.

Portal 31, Wilkinson County 8

Washington-Wilkes 45, Hancock Central 0

GIAA
Class AAA
John Milledge 62, Brookwood 28
          Javian Butts had a monster night in leading John Milledge to its 55th straight win, scoring four times on the ground and catching a touchdown pass. The Trojans (5-0), who won by three more points last year, ran for 323 yards, led by Butts’ 181. They also passed for 235 despite losing starting QB Kolt McMichael to a knee injury, after passing for 157. Baldwin transfer Solomon Burney finished the game, and had the TD pass to Butts from 32 yards. Brookwood (2-3) managed 275 yards on offense.

FPD 42, Mt. Pisgah 0
          The Vikings took awhile to take control, leading only 14-0 at halftime, following with two touchdowns in each of the final two quarters. Hayden Aulds ran 16 times for 101 yards and two touchdowns, while Jakhari Williams completed 10 of 14 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns, needing to add only 33 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Carter Hays and Breck Griffin caught TD passes. FPD’s defense stuffed the Patriots’ run game for 27 yards in losses on 25 tries. They did manage 167 passing yards. It’s FPD’s biggest win since 48-0 over ACE to open the 2021 season in the Macon Touchdown Club Middle Georgia Kickoff Classic.

St. Anne-Pacelli 35, Gatewood 0

Pinewood 42, Mount de Sales 20

Brookstone 20, Stratford 14
          The visitors led 14-0 at halftime, and the teams battled through a scoreless third quarter. Stratford got within a touchdown with just under eight minutes left, but the Cougars answered right back in less than a minute, missing the conversion. Cope Smith returned the deficit to one score with a 4-yard touchdown at the 3:37 mark. Stratford got the ball back with 2:24 left, but couldn’t finish the comeback.

Class AA
Briarwood 35, Trinity Christian 7

Piedmont 14, CFCA 7
          The Cougars (2-3) pulled of one of the upsets of the GIAA season, knocking off the defending state champs (3-1-1), holding the Lancers their lowest point total since a 15-7 loss to Thomas Jefferson in 2021. Since then, they had failed to score at least 20 points only once and at least 30 points one other time, the 28-28 tie earlier this year.

George Walton 28, Brentwood 12

8-man

Windsor 34, John Hancock 18