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. 9 Houston County, 6-3/2-2, at No. 2 Lee County, 9-0/4-0
Both teams’ playoff spots are set, so the prime goal is get the upset and avoid the upset, but play well and stay healthy entering the postseason. But if it’s a game late, it will be interesting. Lee County averages 53.3 points a game, Houston County 40.9.
Northside, 2-7/0-4, at Veterans, 0-9/0-4
Going into the offseason with a win is the motivation here, Northside trying to avoid its first two-win season since going 2-7 in 1970, while the Warhawks want to avoid their first winless season in program history (first year was 2010). Veterans is outscored by 33.4 points a game, Northside by 27.11.
Class 4A
Jones County, 7-2/6-2, at Locust Grove, 3-5/3-4
The Greyhound are set for the playoffs, so staying sharp and healthy and winning are the goals. Devin Edmonds has 2,221 yards passing, and 27 TDs to 3 INTs. Jaivon Solomon passed the century mark in receiving last week and has 1,051 yards and 12 TDs. The Hounds D is giving up only 16 points a game, second best among the top five teams in the region.
No. 6 Perry, 7-2, 4-0, at No. 12 Warner Robins, 6-3/2-2
Can it be a rivalry if they haven’t played since pretty much nobody on either staff was alive? But when you have the 2023 4A state champ program playing the 2021 5A state champ, and the stadiums are 15 miles apart. It may be more spirited than expected for the first meeting since 1965.
This week
* Maxwell Predictions, coming Friday
* Who’s going to win this week’s games
* Central Georgia rankings
* The GHSA and GIAA football playoffs are here, and almost here. Breaking things down, it's complicated
* Monday Morning Quarterback: Georgia-Florida week? Really?; CFP sermon; area HS stat stuff; Loughdmouthings: Good games, Falcons, hotseats, HS players, new coaches/old coaches …
* Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
Last week
* Roundup, Houston County battles TCC; Perry bows up again; Northeast, Woodford pop Dodge County; Baldwin O sharp; Mary Persons stuns No. 1; FPD wins region in OT thriller
* Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA and GIAA games
* Maxwell Predictions
* 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
Two weeks ago
* 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
Class 3A
No. 5 LaGrange, 7-1/6-1, at Upson-Lee, 6-3/5-2
Second place and a first-round home playoff game are on the line. A year ago, Upson-Lee played Mary Persons for the region title and lost 15-0, so being on this stage a second year in a row should be less stressful. But the Knights can’t afford an early hole or fundamental mistakes against a team that’s scored at least 40 points in six straight games. On the other hand, Upson-Lee has been in more close games. The Knights can finish second, third, or fourth.
Mary Persons, 2-7/2-5, at Whitewater, 4-5/4-3
The Bulldogs are done after this one, a chance to again play spoiler and perhaps knock Whitewater from the playoffs. Mary Persons has led or been tied in the fourth quarter of all four on-field losses (that have nothing to do with the forfeits) and can leave a legacy with a season-ending win following an upset of No. 1. The Bulldogs are very much a top-20 Class AAA team on the field, and can show as much again.
No. 1 Peach County, 8-1/4-0, at Monroe, 3-6/2-2
Quarterback DJ Hudson is off 295-yard passing and 195-yard rushing night last week, and will get a chance to add to his totals of more than 1,600 yards passing and 25 touchdowns. But expect some backups to get some second-half snaps as the region’s top seed preps for the playoffs.
Class AA
Pike County, 4-5/0-4, at Rutland, 0-9/0-4
The Hurricanes are again the underdog as they try to avoid the program’s third winless season, and first since back-to-backs in 2017-18. The Pirates must win to keep somewhat longshot playoff hopes alive.
Westside, 4-5/2-2, at Jackson, 4-5/2-2
Both teams are in the playoffs, with improving seeds a focus. The Seminoles with a solid win have a good shot at a home game, but will be on the fringe with a loss. Jackson has lost its last two games, to Morgan County and Callaway, by 29 and 31, teams Westside lost to by 3 and 20.
Class A/Division I
No. 2 Dublin, 9-0/8-0, at No. 8 Dodge County, 8-1/7-1
Dodge County’s task is to do what hardly anybody has done all year: Slow down Trav Bostic and Willie Batts and Xavier Bostic and Micah O’Neal, who have teamed for 2,643 yards on 255 carries, which is 10.4 yards every time one of them touches it. They’ve combined for 46 rushing touchdowns. The Indians’ Darrell Johnson has 862 rushing yards – 8.7 yards a carry – with 16 touchdowns, while also roaming around on defense. QB Kail Mincey has completed 46.2 percent for 797 yards, but has three times as many touchdowns as interceptions. They’re off a 40-19 loss at run-oriented Northeast, ending their undefeated season. A Dodge County win – along with a Northeast win – puts three teams atop the region with one loss.
Come back around 8 p.m. for Central Georgia's only live scoreboard
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Come back around 8 p.m. for Central Georgia's only live scoreboard 〰️
Jasper County, 6-2/3-1 at Lamar County, 7-2/4-1
A guaranteed home playoff game is on the line for both, and Jasper County’s first top seed since 1992 is on the line for the visitors. Both teams are run oriented, but the Purple Hurricanes can throw the ball some. Jasper County gives up 13.3 points a game, Lamar County 12.1. The Trojans will look to slow down Jalen Stewart (115.8 rushing ypg) and the Purple Hurricanes will key on QB Kaden Carter and RBs Zy Hughley, among others.
Jefferson County, 0-7/0-6, at Southwest, 2-6/2-5
One team is trying to score for the third straight games after being shut out in the first five games. The other team needs to avoid the huge upset to keep hopes alive for a playoff trip. QB Steve Robinson has passed for 1,136 yards and 10 TDs for the Patriots.
No. 5 Northeast. 7-2/7-1, at East Laurens, 2-6/2-5
Reginald Glover of Northeast and Tylan Snead of East Laurens are a pair of somewhat underrated quarterbacks. Glover has passed for 696 yards and 9 TDs with 2 INTs and rushed for 881 yards on 80 carries with 8 scores. Snead has thrown for 1,117 yards, 11 and 6, and rushed for 548 yards and 7 touchdowns. The difference-maker is Northeast RB Nick Woodford, who has 1,280 yards and 22 touchdowns. The Raiders are in the playoffs, the Falcons are hoping.
Washington County, 5-4/5-3, at ACE Charter, 6-3/5-3
The winner gets fourth and the automatic playoff spot, the loser waits to see the first-round opponent. Both are in the postseason and are playing for better seeding and to take momentum into the playoffs. WACO QB Mack May passes for 170 yards a game, ACE’s Ace Hatcher for 133.0, plus another 51 on the ground. Thanks to playing Dublin and Northeast back to back, the Golden Hawks – who have won four of their last five - are outscored by 3.3 points a game, while the Gryphons get 5.7 more points a game. ACE has a shot at a first-round home game with a win.
Class A/Division II
Chattahoochee County, 3-6/1-4, at Crawford County, 3-5/0-4
The series is tied at 1, the teams last playing in 2014-15. The Eagles have tripled their win total from last year, and are playing for their first four-win season since 2016. Isaac Meadows averages 122.8 yards a game passing for Crawford County.
GMC Prep, 0-8/0-3, at Johnson County, 6-2/3-0
Region leader Johnson County is in the way of GMC Prep’s first winless season since 2007.
Hancock Central, 4-5/2-2, at Glascock County, 2-6/1-2
A win is big for the Bulldogs, giving them a non-losing season in alum Brandon Nolley’s first year as head coach. It locks in third place, and the best regular-season since the COVID-shortened 7-1 year in 2020. Hancock Central has scored a program-record 342 points, its best by 42 points (eight games in 2020).
Hawkinsville, 6-3/3-2, at Dooly County, 0-8/0-4
The Red Devils are good for 321.2 yards a game on offense, and the Bobcats are giving up 41.9 points a game, and trying to avoid their first winless season since 1990. Hawkinsville is set for third or fourth in the region.
Macon County, 5-4/4-1, at Taylor County, 7-2/4-1
The neighbors have something to play for: second place and a home game. That’s what goes to the winner. Macon County can fall to fourth place, Taylor County only to third. History is on the side of Macon County, which has won nine straight in the series, only three by one possession and none since 2019. Taylor County – which isn’t updating stats on MaxPreps - has scored 30 or more only three times in series history. QBs K Harpe and D Mathis have teamed for 1,201 yards for Macon County, and 13 TDs to 6 INTs. Jeremiah Solomon has 423 yards and 7 receiving touchdowns.
Twiggs County, 2-6/1-2, at Wilkinson County, 5-4/3-1
Wilkinson County has clinched second place, and can clinch its third straight non-losing season.
GIAA
Friday
Class AAAA playoff
10. Mount de Sales, 3-7, at 7 St. Anne-Pacelli, 4-5
The teams have four common opponents, and MdS is 1-3 and SAP is 2-2. The Cavs bring some balance, led by sophomore QB Zavion Deshazier, who’s good for 238.6 yards in total offense a game. The Vikings, who won the state title two years ago, are more balanced.
Thomas Jefferson, 1-8/1-3, at Gatewood, 3-5, 0-3
The Gators are favored for win No. 4, which would be their lowest win total since going 3-9 in Jeff Ratliff’s second year in charge, in 2014. Gatewood is on a rare three-game losing streak.