Central Georgia HS football scouting reports
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
Rankings are from Georgia High School Football Daily composite polls
🏈 Teams: Please email game information – stats (offense and defense), names, big plays, etc. – to centralgasports@gmail.com by 2 a.m. Saturday morning to be in Central Georgia’s most comprehensive game-night coverage - the most names and stats and details - for the first roundup, and by 10:30 a.m. Saturday to be added.
Coaches and team officials can email or text some basic game details by 2 a.m.
Class 5A
No. 3 Thomas County Central, 7-1/2-1, at No. 7 Houston County, 6-2/2-1
These are two of the four teams set for the playoffs and battling for seeds, three at 2-1 behind 3-0 Lee County. The Bears were in a similar situation last year and lost 27-0 to TCC, which went on to finish a dream perfect season. The Yellow Jackets are still good, losing by 12 to Lee County, yet averaging 52.3 points a game, 10 more than the Bears. Houston County is 3-5 the last two seasons against ranked teams, all three against lower-classification Perry and Warner Robins. Neither the Jackets nor Bears are overly used to a four-quarter game this season, so clutch play in the final 12 minutes will be huge.
No. 2 Lee County, 8-0/3-0, at Northside, 2-6/0-3
The region leaders are beating teams by 36.3 points a game, while the Eagles are being outscored by 24.5 points a game, having given up an average of 54 points in the last four games.
Veterans, 0-8/0-3, at No. 6 Coffee, 7-1/2-1
Coffee has scored 14 points in each of its last two games, a loss to Lee County and win over Houston County. The Warhawks haven’t scored more than 10 points in a game since putting up 27 in an 8-point loss to Starr’s Mill on Aug. 30.
Class 4A
No. 12 Perry, 6-2/3-0, at No. 7 Benedictine, 4-3/2-1
The defending state champs can take a big step toward their fourth region title in five years – they didn’t win region last year, but took state instead – with a win over a team that’s won four straight region titles and eight in the last nine years. Perry RB Ahmad Gordon has 759 yards and 12 scores while Decorrion Daniels ads 427 and 9. Elijah Joseph tops the Panther D with 8.5 tackles a game, while Dalis Scott has 5 TFLs. Benedictine is as balanced as Perry and gets almost 40 more yards a game.
CENTRAL GEORGIA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE
This week
* Roundup, Saturday morning
* Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
* Maxwell Predictions, coming Friday morning
* Who’s going to win this week’s games?
* Central Georgia state composite rankings
* Central Georgia’s rankings
* Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
* Monday Morning QB: A really good - not epic - win in Austin, with silliness; weekly CFB playoff sermon; Loughdmouthings: Dumb Ho orn (this week) fans, really good HS slate, Falcons are fine, but …
* The schedule
Last week
* Roundup: Perry gets the ‘upset’, HoCo blanked, Baldwin wins on the road; big nights for Upson-Lee, West Laurens, Dublin, Northeast, Stratford, Brentwood; Jasper County gets 3-OT W
* Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games, coming Friday
* Maxwell Predictions
* Who’s going to win this week’s games
* Central Georgia state composite rankings
* A breakdown of the playoff pictures, the power ratings for A-AAA and others
* Central Georgia rankings
* Monday Morning Quarterback: Which Nation is the most absurd this week?; HS stat stuff, playoffs sermon; Loughdmouthings galore: stats, QB shoving, tackling, Falcons,and Jerry’s happy-for-us birthday
* Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
Two weeks ago
* Roundup: Dublin holds off Northeast, Tattnall handles Stratford; ACE outlasts East Laurens, routs for Baldwin, West Laurens, Lamar County, Taylor County, Westfield; who had big nights?
* Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
* Maxwell Predictions
* Central Georgia state composite rankings
* Central Georgia rankings
* Monday Morning Quarterback: A Saturday like most others (really); the new Falcons? They still need O; Loughdmouthings galore (the wit, the wisdom, the sarcasm …)
* Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
Eagle’s Landing, 3-5/3-4, at Jones County, 6-2/5-2
The Greyhounds can all but clinch third place in Region 2 with a win. Eagle’s Landing has a task defending the Greyhounds passing game, with QB Devin Edmonds only 75 from 2,000 for the season, completing 65.5 percent of his passes with a 23-2 TD-INT ratio. Jaivon Solomon is 51 yards from 1,000 receiving, and he has 10 TD receptions. Daniel Hawk leads a defense that has held five opponents to less than 20 points, with nobody reaching 30 points. Jones County and Ola are the only two of the top four teams that can say that.
No. 10 Warner Robins, 6-2/2-1, at No. 5 Ware County, 3-4/1-1
A long road trip will be worth it with a Demons win, which also keeps them alive for a share of the region title. Oddly, the higher ranked Gators are in danger of their first non-winning regular season since 2017. Ware County QB Luke Hooks averages 142.6 passing yards a game. Warner Robins doesn’t post stats on MaxPreps. The Demons lead the series 4-2, with four meetings in the playoffs. Warner Robins won 23-21 last year in the second round.
Class AAA
Aquinas, 3-3/2-2, at West Laurens, 6-1/4-1
It’s a fairly even matchup, the Raiders needing a win to keep region title hopes alive, with five teams owning only one region loss. Ty Cummings gets 128.6 rushing yards a game and needs 100 for 1,000. He has 12 of the Raiders’ 27 rushing TDs. Shannon Adkins averages 10.8 tackles a game for a defense that’ll be tested by Aquinas’ passing game.
No. 7 Cairo, 6-2/3-0 at No. 2 Peach County, 7-1/3-0
A win all but clinches first in region and the top seed, Cairo still waiting to face 7-1/2-1 Westover while Peach County finishes with 2-6/1-2 Monroe. D.J. Hudson has 1,560 yards passing and Zion Hudson 601 yards receiving, according to stats provided to the Georgia High School Football Daily. Cairo’s Bryian Duncan, according to stats provided to the GHSF Daily, is second in the state with 1,614 rushing yards.
Howard, 4-2/3-1, at Harlem, 5-1/3-1
A win is big for Howard, which still has three games left after this one, the region schedule in a flurry because of weather. Howard is in a logjam with Harlem, Baldwin, and Aquinas. The Huskies outgain the Bulldogs by 19 yards a game, and have three players with at least 46 carries. Harlem’s Malik Tyler gets 101.5 yards a game on the ground.
No. 1 Sandy Creek, 8-0/6-0, at Mary Persons, 1-7/1-5
This is the first meeting between the teams that have coaches in common. Rodney Walker went 48-19 at Sandy Creek from 1999-2004, and then went 40-24 at Mary Persons from 2006-2011, having been succeeded at Sandy Creek by son Chip. He finished 127-26-1 at Sandy Creek, with six region and three state titles before moving to Newnan. The Patriots got a challenge last week from 3-win Whitewater before winning 28-21.
Trinity Christian, 1-7/0-6, at Upson-Lee, 5-3/4-2
The favored Knights still have an outside shot at second in region, but clinch third with a win, while also improving their playoff seeding. The last-place Lions can throw, and have been competitive in four losses, losing their last two games by 7 in OT and by 3. Upson-Lee junior Malachi Character is one of the area’s top two-way players, with 77.6 rushing yards a game and 11.9 tackles..
Westside-Augusta, 6-1/4-1, at Baldwin, 3-3/3-1
The Braves can shake things up in the region with a win over the Patriots, who suffered their first loss last week, 24-0 to Harlem, which nipped Baldwin by 3. The Braves, who don’t post stats on MaxPreps, have to handle a run game good for nearly 200 yards a game.
Class AA
Westside, 3-5/1-2, at Rutland, 0-8/0-3 (Ed DeFore)
The Seminoles lock down at least fourth with a win, and could be playing for third next week against Jackson if the Red Devils lose to Callaway. Westside seeks its first two-game winning streak of the season. KD Iverson has 1,244 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.
Class A/Division I
ACE Charter, 5-3/4-3, at Bleckley County, 2-5/1-5
Records aside, these teams are pretty even. Four of Bleckley County’s losses are by a total of 11 points. The Royals are off a 48-17 spanking by Dublin, the Gryphons a solid 40-14 win over Southwest. ACE is trying to win its way seeding-wise to a possible home game, and the Royals are on the playoff bubble. ACE QB Ace Hatcher went over 1,000 yards passing last week, but has one more INT than TD. Kam Everett and Joshua Stanley lead the Royals offense, but Bleckley County isn’t updating stats on MaxPreps.
Central, 0-7/0-6, at No. 2 Dublin, 8-0/7-0
The Irish average 47.6 points a game, and the struggling Chargers have only managed half of that all season.
No. 5 Dodge County 8-0/7-0, at No. 7 Northeast, 6-2/6-1 (Thompson)
The pads will be popping as two of the area’s top players – with underrated supporting casts – meet in a game that can clog up the region. The Indians – who don’t post stats on MaxPreps – are amid a huge turnaround under new head coach Phillip Brown, the team’s fourth head coach since 2020. The Indians were last 8-0 in 2017, finishing 10-1 after a second-round playoff loss. They beat the Raiders 36-13 that year. This is the second time both teams have been ranked, the first being in 2021, a 21-7 Northeast win.
East Laurens, 2-5/1-5, at Jefferson County, 0-6/0-5
Jefferson County finally scored its first points of the season last week. East Laurens has lost three straight, the last two by 7 points. The Falcons need to go at least 2-1 in their final games to have a playoff shot.
No. 11 Lamar County, 7-1/4-0, at Social Circle, 5-3/3-1
The battle of Region 4 contenders has the run-heavy Trojans and balanced Redskins, looking to rebound after the 3-OT loss to Jasper County last week. Lamar County has eyes on its third straight region title.
Putnam County, 4-5/3-2, at Jasper County, 6-1/3-0
The defenses have a similar task, stopping a quality running back. Putnam County’s Rashod Daniel averages 124.9 yards a game, and Jasper County’s Jalen Stewart gets 111.1. Cope Duran leads Jasper County’s defnse with 13.9 tackles a game, and is tied for second – behind Cam Farley – with 9 TFLs. Putnam County has postedno defensive or special teams stats on MaxPreps. Putnam County leads the longstanding series 37-27-1, and the Purple Hurricanes are on 5-game skid, losing 24-17 last year, a step up from the two-year run of getting outscored 118-0 in 2020-21.
Southwest, 2-5/2-4, at Washington County, 4-4/4-3
The Patriots are in a must-win mode to stay alive for the playoffs, and the Golden Hawks are looking to improve their seeding and remain in the hunt for fourth place and the automatic spot. The Golden Hawks are 4-3 agaisnt common opponents, the Patriots 2-4. WACO QB Mack May is completing 69.1 percent of his passes for 1,020 yards. Southwest is on the outside looking in for the postseason.
Class A/Division II
Central-Talbotton, 1-6/0-3, at Macon County, 4-4/3-1
Macon County is one of four teams in Region 6 with one loss. Central-Talbotton has won 13 games in the last decade. The Bulldogs have given up 18 points to the Hawks in the current six-game winning streak in which Macon County has scored at least 42 points.
Crawford County, 3-4/0-3, at Taylor County, 6-2/3-1
The neighbors have played 38 times, and it’s one-sided, Taylor County leading 30-8, with the last 10 straight, only two by less than 28 points. Georgia State commit Markalan Newton gets 157 yards a game rushing for Taylor County, while Crawford County’s Isaac Meadows passes for 122.1.
Treutlen, 3-4/2-1, at Hawkinsville, 5-3/2-2
It’s a huge game for both teams in a five-team Region 4 logjam, Hawkinsville the fifth team. The Red Devils have a 45-yard advantage in total offense per game, but the defense will have to corral Roderick Fuller, who’s getting 122.9 yards a game. QB Malek Brown is 140 yards from 1,000 passing for Hawkinsville, whose defense is led by Nakivius Releford and Harlem Phillips.
Twiggs County, 2-5/1-1, at Hancock Central, 3-5/1-2
Hancock Central has outscored Twiggs County 118-14 in the last three meetings, and leads the series 8-5.
Wilkinson County, 4-4/2-1, at GMC Prep, 0-7/0-2
The Bulldogs will have to deal with QB Quenterrion Stanford, who has 1,443 passing yards. The Warriors lead the series 19-7, winning 47-0 last year to break a three-game losing streak.
GIAA
Class AAA
Mount de Sales, 3-6/0-3, at John Milledge, 1-8/0-3
The Cavs are in must-win mode to make the 4A playoffs, currently sitting at No. 10 in MaxPreps rankings. The Trojans are currently the last team in the new 8-man 3A field.
Piedmont, 5-3/3-3, at Athens Christian, 3-6/2-4
The Cougars are the first team out in the 3A rankings, so they need a win and perhaps some help for a postseason game.
St. Anne-Pacelli, 4-4/2-1, at Westfield, 7-2/3-0
The Hornets are going for an uncontested District 5-3A title, first such hardware since 2015 in Ronnie Jones’ final year. They’ve also only had one 8-win season since then.
Tattnall, 7-1/3-0, at First Presbyterian, 8-1/3-0
The District 6-3A title is on the line, and a top seed in the 4A playoffs for FPD in the playoffs and maybe for Tattnall. There are playmakers on both sidelines, both sides of the ball. Both are 4-1 against common opponents, but Tattnall has had closer games all season – four wins by two touchdowns or less, another by 16 points - and that may give the Trojans an edge if they can avoid hiccups. Both teams have balance, the Vikings an advantage because of consistent health on offense. FPD starts stronger, Tattnall finishes stronger, in part because of necessity. Expect one of the non-headliners to come up with the key play.
Class AA
GAPPS Cherokee Christian, 1-5, at Central Fellowship, 3-6
CFCA is the final team currently in the AA playoff rankings. Judson Walls has 288 carries for 1,662 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Gatewood, 3-4/0-2, at Brentwood, 7-1/3-0
It’s odd that nothing is riding on this particular matchup, the two teams near each other in the playoff rankings and Brentwood working for its fourth district title in six years and first under second-year coach Adam Lord.
Trinity Christian, 5-4/0-2, at Robert Toombs, 2-5/0-2
The Crusaders appear safely in the 8-team, but a loss could knock them out.
Windsor, 2-7/0-3, at Heritage-Newnan, 0-8/0-3
Windsor is on the outside looking in for the playoffs, and can’t improve its stock much by beating a winless team.