Who's going to win this week's Central Georgia high school football games?

Who's going to win this week's Central Georgia high school football games?

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

Last week: 13-3, 81.25 percent
The season: 265-78, 77.26 percent
Within 7: 14, 90 for the season
Upsets/perfect spread: Upset special: Missed on Stratford over Brookstone
Maximum spread prediction of 39 points. Rankings are from the Georgia High School Football Daily composite polls

GIAA Semifinals
Class AAAA
4. Bethlehem Christian, 11-0, at No. 1 FPD 10-1
          A pretty salty defense is coming to George Johnson Memorial Stadium, one that hasn’t given up more than 14 points in a game all season, including in last week’s 21-14 win over Tattnall.  Bethlehem Christian reeled off six straight shutout, all in District 4 play, and last week was Tattnall’s lowest point total of the year. Caleb Craft leads that defense with 7.5 tackles a game, while Colin Oates has eight sacks and Johnny Blue three interceptions. That pass defense will be tested more this week than Strong Rock’s was last week, thanks to dryer conditions. The Vikings were rendered more one-dimensional than usual in a physical game on a humid night, and without wideout Breck Griffin, who sat the game out. The field will still be soggy, but with football weather, so player adjustments to that are huge, and avoiding the key fourth-quarter mistake.
TSR pick: FPD by 5

Class 3A
4. Deerfield-Windsor, 8-3, at 1. Westfield, 9-2
          The Hornets well remember what happened on Aug. 30, a 33-29 Knights win. Westfield got better in every phase, and knows how to win close games. This may be an offensive game with a pair of quality quarterbacks testing defenses.  
TSR pick: Westfield by 10

Class AA
4. Gatewood, 5-5, at 1. Southwest Georgia, 8-1
TSR pick: Southwest Georgia by 29

6. Southland, 4-7, at 2. Brentwood, 9-1
TSR pick: Brentwood by 26

GHSA Games of the week

 (The latest GHSFB Daily composite ranking is after the record)

8/3 East Forsyth, 8-2, at 2/2 Jones County, 9-1
          The good news recently was that forfeits by Stockbridge put Jones County in second place. The bad news was the Greyhounds still drew a tough region, and favored opponent. Jones County’s run game has to step up against a good defense.
TSR pick: Jones County by 4 (mild upset special)

No. 19. 4/3 West Laurens, 8-2 at No.14.4/2 Baldwin, 6-4
          The wild round-robin that was Region 4-AAA naturally includes a rematch. Both teams had, perhaps, a better year than expected, one with new head coach and the other with only three wins in the previous two years. The lights will be bright for both teams. Discipline will be the difference.
TSR pick: Baldwin by 4

No. 21 4/3 Long County, 7-3 at No. 12 2/2 Upson-Lee 7-3/11T
          Upson-Lee opens the playoffs at home for the second straight year, and again is playing exciting football. How big will the crowd be? How will Long County – seeing its first playoff win since at least 2002 – respond, especially if it’s a big stage?
TSR pick: Upson-Lee by 12

No. 18 2/5 ACE Charter, 6-4, at No. 15 4/4 Jasper County, 7-3
          ACE has had an inconsistent passing game and run game that hasn’t been too effective in awhile, yet the Gryphons find ways to score. Jasper County has ridden its defense, with some explosion on offense. Nerves? The Purple Hurricanes don’t have playoff experience, nor home playoff experience.
TSR pick: ACE by 6

The schedule

Class 5A

2/4 Houston County, 6-4/11, at 8/1 Clarke Central, 8-2
TSR pick: Houston County by 10

Class 4A

5/4 St. Pius X, 7-3, at 1/1 Perry, 7-3/7
TSR pick: Perry by 21

1/4 Warner Robins, 7-3/10, at 5/1 Marist, 10-0/1
TSR pick: Marist by 9

🏈 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.

Class AAA

No. 30. 6/3 Chestatee, 5-5, at No. 3 3/1 Peach County, 9-1/1
TSR pick: Peach County by 30

Class AA

No. 17 1/3 Spencer, 7-3, at No. 16 2/4 Westside, 5-5
TSR pick: Spencer by 3

Class A/Division I

No. 31 7/6 Gordon Central, 4-6, at No. 2 2/1 Dublin, 10-0
TSR pick: Dublin by 33

No. 25 3/3 Swainsboro, 3-7, at No. 8 2/2 Northeast, 8-2
TSR pick: Northeast by 22

No. 20 7/3 Chattooga, 6-4 at No. 13 2/3 Dodge County, 8-2
TSR pick: Dodge County by 17

No. 24 Dade County, 4-6, at No. 9 4/2 Lamar County, 8-2
TSR pick: Lamar County by 19

No. 17 2/4 Washington County, 6-4, at No. 16 1/4 Jeff Davis, 7-3/12T
TSR pick: Jeff Davis by 5

No. 27 2/6 Southwest, 4-6, at No. 6 3/2 Toombs County, 8-1/1
TSR pick: Toombs County by 31

No. 28 2/7 Bleckley County, 4-6, at No. 5 4/1 Social Circle, 7-3
TSR pick: Social Circle by 16

No. 23 4/3 Putnam County, 5-5 at No. 10 6/2 Temple, 8-2
TSR pick: Temple by 19

Class A/Division II, Saturday

4/4 Hawkinsville, 7-3, at 3/1 Metter, 8-1/9
TSR pick: Metter by 16

1/3 Miller County, 7-3, at 5/2 Wilkinson County, 6-4
TSR pick: Miller County by 16

5/3 Hancock Central, 5-5, at 1/2 Mitchell County, 8-2
TSR pick: Mitchell County by 20

7/4 Greenville, 3-6, at 6/1 Macon County, 6-4
TSR pick: Macon County by 18

6/3 Taylor County at 7/2 Bowdon, 8-2/2
TSR pick: Bowdon by 33