By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

Friday

Eagle's Landing at Northside
          The Eagles opened last year with a nice 33-21 win over Jones County, but the season soon went off the rails, putting a lot of warmth on the seats for this season. Eagle’s Landing went 3-7 last year and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2017.

Veterans at Jones County
          The Warhawks’ secondary, led by former LB Gabriel Fishbein, will have a task against Jones County QB Devin Edmonds, who emerged last year as one of the top quarterbacks in the area, but has lost some major weapons from last year. Veterans is in a similar boat, losing big passer Jake Maxwell at quarterback, but returning some experience and size up front. Expect more of a slugfest.

Warner Robins at Lee County
          The Demons are breaking in a new quarterback, but have some serious pieces on defense. That’ll be extremely important, considering Lee County’s Ousmane Kromah is one of the top RBs in the state, a punishing runner. The Demons battled hard in last year’s 26-19 loss.

Northeast vs. Peach County (Fort Valley State, 8 p.m.)

          The head coaches are a pair of former college defenders, Northeast’s Jeremy Wiggins at Appalachian State and Peach County’s Marquis Westbrook at Florida. The Trojans lead the series 11-5, but the teams haven’t played since Peach County’s 13-8 win in 2007.

Upson-Lee at Union Grove
The Knights have a lot of skill players back from the best season in almost two decades, led by QB Niko Wells (1,156 passing yards, 359 rushing yards). Union Grove is off its third one-win season in less than a decade. The Knights eked out a 21-20 win last year.

Dougherty vs. Central (Fort Valley State, 2 p.m.)
The 3A Trojans’ non-region losses last year were to 4A teams en route to a 4-6 record, after a two-year run of 19-6. The Chargers have a solid number of returnees, including QB Justin Releford and LB Nikee Walker. This is the first meeting. Central is going for its first season-opening win (a 12-7 win over Westside in 2020 was erased a few weeks later by forfeit for an ineligible player) since 48-14 over Mount de Sales.

Dublin at Swainsboro
          The Irish have won their last two openers by an 85-0 margin over Wilkinson County, and the Tigers taking down Metter by a combined 59-14 score. This opener is the complete opposite for both teams. Dublin leads the series 45-26-2, and it’s 5-5 in the last 10. Oddly, only four of those games have been decided by 10 points or less.

Glenn Hills at Hancock Central
          Hancock Central, now led by alum Brandon Nolley, is on a two-game win streak in the series, winning 30-22 last year on the road.

GMC Prep at Atkinson County
          There’s optimism on both sides. GMC Prep, now with Gavin Tierce promoted to head coach, went 3-7 last year, while Atkinson County finished 0-10.

Hawkinsville at Marion County
          Second-year head coach Tim Suttles and the Red Devils are on a seven-game losing streak in season openers, dating back to the 21-14 win in overtime over Bleckley County back in 2016. Hawkinsville still went 6-5 last year, has a nucleus back, including tight end Harlem Phillips, a Division I Marion County went 4-6 last year, and leads the series 6-4, though Hawkinsville won 41-40 last year.

Jasper County at Taylor County
          The Purple Hurricanes have gotten better by a game in Ashley Henderson’s first two seasons, with three single-digit losses last year. They’re breaking in a new QB, but return all-region RB Jalen Stewart and LB Cam Farley. The teams have played twice, Taylor County winning 47-0 and 21-20 in 2012 and 2013. The Vikings went 6-5 last year after going 2-8 in Brandon Byram’s first season.

Jeff Davis at Washington County
          Both programs are looking to get back to the successes of not htat long ago. Jeff Davis went 10-2 in 2021, is 6-15 since. Washington County finished 10-3 in 2018, and had three straight non-winning seasons.

Johnson County at East Laurens
          The Jesse Hicks era begins at East Laurens, which is on the down side of a 29-17 series record with Johnson County, led by Don Norton, who hasn’t had a losing season as a head coach since 3-7 at Treutlen in 2003.

Lamar County at Telfair County
          This is the first meeting between Lamar County, 19-5 under Travis Ellington, and Telfair County, 66-60 under Matt Burleson in 11 seasons. The teams combined for 19 wins last year.

Pike County at Crawford County
          Crawford County hosts a struggling Pike County program infused with enthusiasm with the hiring of Stephen Holmes, who went 25-12 I nthree seasons at Manchester, reaching last year’s A/II championship game while Pike County went 0-10.

Putnam County at Greene County
          The teams have played 55 times, Putnam County up 28-26-1. This is the eighth August meeting, and first overall matchup since 2019, a 43-35 Putnam County win. Second-year head coach Joel Harvin returns a chunk of pieces, including RB/LB Rashod Daniel and OL Noah Long, all-region picks in 4-AA.

Southwest vs. Macon County (Fort Valley State, 5 p.m.)
          The Bulldogs have some new blood on the sidelines with head coach Kurt Williams, who has former Macon County standouts Iquan Deed and Christian Meadows among the staffers. Macon County went 10-3 last year, Southwest 6-5, but the Patriots are without QB Chase Dupree and face a defense does have returnee Jhai’Marrion Whitehead back in the secondary but has some holes to fill.

Twiggs County at Treutlen
          Roderick Cummings is on the road for his debut as the Cobras’ latest boss. Twiggs County is 6-2 against Treutlen, which has won the last two meetings (2018-19) and also has a new coach.

Wilkinson County at Wheeler County
          Jamoski Ward makes his head coaching debut against Thomas Smith, who returns to Wheeler County after one year at Dodge County. Wilkinson County leads the series 5-1, but the teams haven’t played since 2005.

GIAA
Friday
Bethlehem Christian at John Milledge
          The last time John Milledge head coach J.T. Wall lost an opener? More than a decade ago, 13-12 to Brentwood. The Trojans went on an 11-game winning streak before losing in the semifinals.

Brentwood at Trinity Christian
          TCS head coach Bruce Lane is back in Central Georgia, and is 6-4 againstt Brentwood, looking to rebounds from last year’s 5-6 season.

Brookstone at Tattnall Square
          The homestanding Trojans hope to break a two-game losing streak in openers, against Schley County, a GHSA state title-type team. This is their first meeting.

Brookwood at Westfield
          The Hornets have won all 12 meetings, but the last two have been by eight and one, in 2021 and 2020.

First Presbyterian at Eagle’s Landing Christian
          FPD head coach Brett Collier goes against his last employer for the first time. ELCA has won 59-7, 53-14, and 35-0 in 2016, 2011, and 2010.

Gatewood at Flint River
          The regular visitor to the AA championship travels to the defending Class A champion. Gatewood leads 16-9-1, winning 49-0 in 2019.

Loganville Christian at Mount de Sales
          It’s the first meeting, Loganville Christian going 30 last year and Mount de Sales 1-9.

Pataula Charter at Windsor
          This is the Knights’ first game back in playing 11-man football, and they get to do it at home.

Stratford at St. Anne-Pacelli
          This is a rematch of the 2022 4A championship, won 10-0 by St. Anne-Pacelli, which leads the series 3-0.

Thomas Jefferson at Piedmont
          The Cougars have moved up in class, and welcome a team that went 1-9, but has a 13-3-1 upper hand on Piedmont.

Tiftarea at Central Fellowship
          The Lancers are doing some rebuilding, and trail in the series 3-5-1. Tiftarea went 3-8-1 last year.

Saturday (Scouting reports coming Saturday)
Baldwin vs. Perry (Fort Valley State, 6 p.m.)
Bleckley County vs. Rutland (Fort Valley State, 12 p.m.)
Houston County vs. Alpharetta (1 p.m., Mercedes Benz)
Howard vs. Westside (Fort Valley State, 3 p.m.)