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: 22-4, 84.6 percent
The season: 286-82, 77.7 percent
Within 7: 8, 98 for the season
Upsets/perfect spread: Perfect spread: Upson-Lee over Long County by 12, won 35-23. Mild upset special: Jones County by 4 over East Forsyth, won 51-21 Upset special: Missed on Stratford over Brookstone
Rankings are from the Georgia High School Football Daily final regular-season composite polls
GIAA Class AAAA (FPD-Bulloch) and AA (Brentwood-Southwest Georgia) predictions coming Saturday with scouting reports
GHSA
Second round
2/4 No. 10T Houston County, 7-4 at 1/2 Lakeside-Evans, 10-1
Scoring all the points and racking up big numbers looks pretty, but defense is what wins at this point, especially on the road. Lakeside has had a few big offensive nights, but has an edge on defense. Running the option gives an edge, too.
TSR pick: Lakeside by 2
8-2 No. 5 Eastside, 10-1, at 1/1 No. 7 Perry, 8-3
The Eagles are six points from being undefeated, but the Panthers have played a tougher schedule. Eastside’s defense is mighty good, so Perry’s offense will have to seriously be on point.
TSR pick: Perry by 2
2/2 Jones County, 10-1, at 5/1 No. 1 Marist, 11-0
The bad luck of the draw for Jones County to face a state power on the road. How much Marist has been challenged is something to consider if Jones County gets off to a good start and keeps it going.
TSR pick: Marist by 23
No. 14 Baldwin, 7-4 at No. 3 Peach County, 10-1/No. 1
The Trojans haven’t had many close games, and the Braves have had plenty. Some didn’t need to be. If Baldwin can’t play tight and disciplined, Peach County will win by around its average of 26 points.
TSR pick: Peach County by 23
No. 12 Upson-Lee, 8-3/No. 12T at No. 5 North Hall, 9-2/No. 15
The Knights are used to close games, moreso than the Trojans, last week’s overtime win notwithstanding, and are in a tougher region.
CENTRAL GEORGIA’S BEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COVERAGE
This week
* Roundup, Saturday
* Scouting Reports/predictions: GIAA 4A and AA finals, Saturday
* Scouting Reports: This week’s GHSA games
* Maxwell Predictions
* Who’s going to win this week’s games, Thursday
* Monday Morning Quarterback: Watch big Willie’s run; a Friday night of some surprises; go watch Mercer; Loughdmouthings: Watch a HS game; ranking whines, flubbin’ Falcons …
* Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
* GHSA, GIAA playoff schedule
Last week
* Saturday’s scores
* Roundup: FPD, Brentwood head to GIAA title games; big nights for Houston County, Jones County; Bleckley County surprises, Jasper County ends drought, Baldwin survives penalties
* 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 rankings
* Monday Morning QB: Kennesaw State colossal screw up; CFP sermon; Loughdmouthings-UGA’s slump, Beck’s slump, Tech’s Canes pain, ripping a backup? …
* Macon Touchdown Club players of the week
* GHSA playoffs are set: Who’s at home? What Central Georgia teams play each other? Who’s seeded where?
Two weeks ago
* Roundup: FPD lone Macon GIAA survivor, road heartbreakers for Tattnall, Stratford; Milestone win for Gatewood’s Ratliff; Southwest stays in playoff hunt; Jasper County, Brentwood roll
* 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
* Tuesday’s Roundup
* Central Georgia rankings
* Monday Morning Quarterback Safe to hop on Falcons bandwagon; CFP sermon; Westside's Iverson & Northeast's Woodford; Northside news; Loughdmouthings-Cowboys/TV tiff, GHSA playoffs ...
* GIAA playoffs are set, GHSA picture much clearer but still has some fuzzy going on
* The schedule
TSR pick: Upson-Lee by 9
No. 16 Westside, 6-5 at No. 1 Rockmart, 9-2/No. 8
Playing the defending state runner-ups on the road, a team on a nine-game winning streak, is a tough task. But so is defending Westside RB Kadiphius Iverson.
TSR pick: Rockmart by 11 (Upset watch)
No. 9 Lamar County, 9-2/No. 11 at No. 8 Northeast, 9-2/No. 5
Perhaps the area’s top slobberknocker game of the night takes place at Thompson. The edge goes to Northeast because the Raiders can throw some (and need to throw more more), but the Raiders can’t afford mistakes. Who tackles best wins.
TSR pick: Northeast by 9
No. 13 Dodge County, 8-3/No. 10, at No. 4 Worth County, 8-3/No. 7
This isn’t a long drive, so Indian Nation should – should – be well-represented in what’ll be a close game, unless the Indians’ pass defense has an off night against one of the state’s top QBs.
TSR pick: Worth County 9
No. 15 Jasper County, 8-3, at No. 2 Dublin, 11-0/No. 2
The reward for breaking the long playoff drought, since 1992, is taking on the machine that is the Irish’s Wing-T. Can Jasper County’s defense make it a game?
TSR pick: Dublin by 27
No. 28 Bleckley County, 5-6, at No. 12 Fitzgerald, 8-3/No. 6
Don’t worry, Fitzgerald isn’t taking Bleckley County lightly. Well, it better not, because the Royals are a 7-4 or 8-3 team in a 5-6 record.
TSR pick: Fitzgerald 14
3/2 No. 11 Jenkins County, 8-3, at 6/1 Macon County
Both teams are on a pretty good run, but Jenkins County has been more convincing. Can Macon County’s defense at home pull the Bulldogs through?
TSR pick: Jenkins County by 4
🏈 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.