By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          From abolishing the state’s largest class to a major revision for Classes 3A down to Class A/Dvision I and the playoffs, the 2024 football season will be one of some showdowns, confusion, and suspense.

          And math.

          Regardless, the season is upon us, starting Thursday around the state and on Friday in Central Georgia.

          There are a slew of burly first-week matchups, thanks in large part to all those changes.

          Dublin and Swainsboro usually slug it out later in the year, and both are usually ranked at the time. They’ve played 73 times, one of the busiest rivalries in the state.

          Putnam County and Greene County are neighbors who know each other well, having played nearly 60 times. This is a battle of playoff teams.

          Veterans and Jones County have only played twice, and the Warhawks won both, but are an underdog on the trip to Gray.

          Warner Robins decided to test itself early and hard, with a trip to Lee County, which has reached at least the quarterfinals seven of the last eight years.

          Fort Valley State is host to six games in the Gridiron Classic – put on by Bibb County athletics - with some showdowns.

          Peach County won’t be far from home to take on Northeast, Bibb County’s hottest program. But the Raiders may hold out running back Nick Woodford, completing his rehabbing from an ACL injury suffered at the end of last September. The Trojans eye a good start to erase memories of last year’s 4-7 season.

          Howard and Westside are the middle game on Saturday, playing for the 13th time, with the last three games decided by six, one, and eight points.

          The best matchup of the weekend at Wildcat Stadium is the one without Bibb County teams, Perry and Baldwin, the finale on Saturday night. They’ve been region rivals for the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2011. Seven meetings have been by 14 points or less. They’re in different classifications, and Baldwin has a new head coach (Kevin Patterson) while Perry has a new 4A state championship trophy.

          In GIAA action, FPD head coach Brett Collier visits his last employer when the 4A state champs head north to Eagle’s Landing Christian, looking to rebound from its first losing season since 2003.

          Last year’s AA runner-up host the Class A champion when Flint River visits Gatewood.

Games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted
Friday
Dougherty vs. Central (Fort Valley State, 2 p.m.)
Dublin at Swainsboro
Eagle's Landing at Northside
Glenn Hills at Hancock Central
GMC Prep at Atkinson County
Hawkinsville at Marion County
Jasper County at Taylor County
Jeff Davis at Washington County
Johnson County at East Laurens
Lamar County at Telfair County
Peach County vs. Northeast (Fort Valley State, 8 p.m.)
Pike County at Crawford County
Putnam County at Greene County
Southwest vs. Macon County (Fort Valley State, 5 p.m.)
Twiggs County at Treutlen
Upson-Lee at Union Grove
Veterans at Jones County
Warner Robins at Lee County
Wilkinson County at Wheeler County
Saturday
Baldwin vs. Perry (Fort Valley State, 6 p.m.)
Bleckley County vs. Rutland (Fort Valley State, 12 p.m.)
Houston County vs. Alpharetta (Mercedes Benz)
Howard vs. Westside (Fort Valley State, 3 p.m.)
GIAA
Friday
Bethlehem Christian at John Milledge
Brentwood at Trinity Christian
Brookstone at Tattnall Square
Brookwood at Westfield
First Presbyterian at Eagle’s Landing Christian, 7 p.m.
Gatewood at Flint River
Loganville Christian at Mount de Sales
Pataula Charter at Windsor
Stratford at St. Anne-Pacelli
Thomas Jefferson at Piedmont
Tiftarea at Central Fellowship