By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

August is a busy, busy sports month, with more than just football.

Sooooo, things get delayed. Like, in some cases, posting preseason football stuff, done before the openers (clearly, because it was a notable opening weekend). And occasional technical difficulties.

Here’s a look at a portion of the nearly four dozen high schools in the Central Georgia Sports Report coverage area (which doesn’t changed based on the season). More coming Tuesday.

Region 2-5A

Coffee, Lee County, Northside, Thomas County Central, Veterans

Houston County Bears

          The Bears have always had more than a marquee quarterback that got the attention, and there’s more to Houston County than Antwann Hill Jr. They lost a chunk at the skill position, but played a good number there and elsewhere, so “new” doesn’t necessarily mean “inexperienced.”

Coming Tuesday: Breaking down Central Georgia’s GHSA Class A teams, and all GIAA teams 

The Central Georgia Sports Report sent information-seeking questionnaires out in mid-July.

Schools returning some information:
ACE Charter, Brentwood, Central, Central Fellowship, Dublin, FPD, Hawkinsville, Jasper County, Jones County, Macon County, Mary Persons, Mount de Sales, Perry, Putnam County, Stratford, Tattnall, Trinity Christian, Upson-Lee, Veterans, West Laurens, Windsor
Schools not returning information:
Baldwin, Bleckley County, Crawford County, Dodge County, East Laurens, Gatewood, GMC Prep, Hancock Central, Howard, Houston County, John Milledge, Lamar County, Northeast, Northside, Peach County, Piedmont, Rutland, Southwest, Taylor County, Twiggs County, Warner Robins, Washington County, Westfield, Westside, Wilkinson County

(It’s never too late)

The Region: Coffee, Lee County, Northside, Thomas County Central, Veterans

Playoffs: Yes, but again, it’ll be a struggle to crack the top 2 and get an early home game.

Northside Eagles

          Last year was brutal, on and off the field, with a fight and suspensions and dismissals, all after a nice start with wins over Jones County and Peach County. Can the Eagles improve on the field and with chemistry and discipline?

Playoffs:: The battle is harder to sneak in at fourth place, and the Eagles have Coffee, Houston County, Lee County, and Thomas County Central – three recent state champs – in front. It’s doubtful Northside will have improved enough to make the monumental leap, so another 10-game season is on the horizon.

Veterans Warhawks

          The record went backward a little bit last year, but the Warhawks did some teasing against Perry, Northgate, and Tift County. Injuries were plenty, and Veterans never could get in any groove. The pressure is on the offense, which was shut out three times last year and struggled mightily when QB Jake Maxwell – second in 6A in yards - was hurt. Veterans lost plenty of talent at the skill spot, but has some experience up front, which is automatically a positive.

          The defense has a solid nucleus back, led by DL Ryan Williams (10 TFLs) and LB Kane Byrd (7 sacks).

✔ Breaking down Central Georgia Class A and GIAA teams
✔ Central Georgia rankings
✔ Breaking down Central Georgia Class 5A to 2A teams
✔ Good days for Houston County, Bleckley County, Westside and Perry
✔ Saturday’s Central Georgia scouting reports

✔ HS FB 2024 roundup: John Milledge shocked at home; FPD stuns ELCA, Chastain takes top spot, big Hicks debut, Stratford's road upset, Westfield wins big
✔ HS FB 2024: Column-Sit down, get comfy, and let's just babble high school football for a bit
✔ Friday’s Central Georgia's HS football scouting reports
✔ Who's going to win this week's Central Georgia high school football games?
✔ HS FB 2024: Maxwell Computer ratings (all Central Georgia GHSA, GIAA teams), and GHSFB Daily composite GHSA rankings

✔ Northeast loses top wide receiver to Houston County days after appearing at Bibb County media day (updated)
✔Southwest takes a big hit, likely to be without standout QB Dupree for at least two months
✔Changes galore for Bibb County public  teams, from coaches to regions, should make for a mighty interesting season
✔ Group of Central Georgia HS teams talk football at ScoreAtlanta event

Playoffs:: It’s the same situation as Northside. There’s no time to breath or regroup in region play. Or non-region play. A lot has to happen. But not enough will happen. That’s not to say the Warhawks can’t move forward.

 

Region 1-AAAA

Benedictine, New Hampstead, Perry, Ware County, Warner Robins, Ware County

Perry

          Life is different this year for the defending 4A champs. The Panthers have enough talent for another great year, but being in a region filled with recent state champs makes life tough for, well, all of those teams.

          The Panthers have a fair number of new starters, but most saw some decent snaps last year, and that’s very relevant. RB Ahmad Gordon, WR Kory Pettigrew, and OL Jukorin Thomas anchor the offense. Cullen McDaniel got key experience last year when Colter Ginn – now at Georgia – was injured, and kept the offense going. Kevin Smith has said the Panthers probably aren’t state champs without McDaniel’s play, and that should give the offense – especially the offensive line – plenty of confidence.

          There’s inexperience on defense, but returnees at each level, including DB Devin Smooth and LB Jordan Donald, who moved from the secondary, and Ashlon Ashley up front. Overall, it’s a pretty deep team.

Playoffs:: A really, really good team from this region won’t make the playoffs. Benedictine (2021-22), Ware County (2022) and Warner Robins (2020-21) have all won recent state titles. Perry makes it, but it’s anybody’s guess in what position.

Warner Robins

          It’s been quite a quarterback carousel the past few years at Warner Robins, and the Demons break in a new on this year while having lost a chunk on offense in all areas. Eyes will be on DL Isaiah Gibson.

Playoffs: See Perry. It’s a traffic jam of really good teams. Warner Robins has a lot of new faces, and can’t avoid a loss to Wayne County or New Hampstead, because it looks like that’s the battle for fourth place.

 

Region 2-4A

Eagle’s Landing, Eagle’s Landing Christian, Stockbridge, Union Grove, Woodland, Hampton, Jones County, Locust Grove, McDonough, Ola

Jones County

          The Greyhounds lost a few names to graduation, but they return a number of good players. They may seem a little different, breaking in some new targets for Devin Edmonds, who emerged from a quarterback debate and turned into a playmaker quickly.

          Jones County’s defense has the edge on offense to start the season, led by Daniel Hawk and Javion Butts.

Playoffs:: It’s a large, large region, and mostly a familiar one. The Greyhounds are a favorite for first or second.

 

(Class AAA, AA, and A/Division I have a power rating system for the playoffs, so not finishing in the top 4 doesn’t mean automatically an end to the season).

Region 1-AAA

Bainbridge, Cairo, Dougherty, Monroe, Peach County, Westover

Peach County

          The air is clearer at Peach County, with the new staff in its second year, and the Trojans likely to be more disciplined with more chemistry. And there’s some talent, which has no doubt heard plenty about the Peach County tradition.

          It’s early to say the Trojans are back, after one year of being somewhere else, but flipping 4-7 to 7-4 is no stretch at all.

Playoffs:: Yes.

 

Region 2-AAA

Fayette County, LaGrange, Mary Persons, Sandy Creek, Spalding, Trinity Christian, Troup County, Upson-Lee, Whitewater

Mary Persons

          The Bulldogs are off the seventh double-digit win season under Brian Nelson, and have enough returnees to do it again, but it’s a large and mostly-new region, with six new opponents.

          Eyes will be on how Mary Persons replaces RB Duke Watson, as well as others, like Jacobi Jones, Jake gore, Ty Dumas, and Seth Davis. But there are some good bodies who got quality snaps last year to go with notable experience, and all-region experience. Najeh Reese at RB and Gavin Martin at WR are two to watch.

          The Bulldogs have plenty of experience back on defense, led by Nic Arnold and Jaise Davis, among others. But three likely starters on the defensive line, including returnee Jayden Odoms, are out for the year. Mary Persons’ strength is in the secondary (Sidney Carter led with 4 interceptions), but the rest should catch up quickly.

Playoffs:: The Bulldogs will be good, but three other teams are in the GHSFDaily’s preseason composite rankings. And there’s the new power rating system. It’ll be a battle in a really good region, but the Bulldogs make it.

Upson-Lee

          The digs at Matthews Field are new, with turf and lights for the Knights, coming off their best year in a long time. And there are enough returnees to maintain that momentum.

          QB Niko Wells and athlete Nytraevion Jones head an offense that had the program’s second-highest point total in history.

          Junior Malachi Character is back after leading UpsonLee with 104 tackles. The 6-2, 210-pound Jones has moved to linebacker from the secondary, a unit that showed needed improvement in the offseason. The Knights gave up the fewest points last year since 2004, and should challenge the 2023 numbers.

Playoffs:: The Knights will need to knock off some folks to get in that power-rating window, because it’s a tough schedule overall, and a big region. The Knights are on the bubble, and need to pick off somebody on the road.

 

Region 4-AAA

Aquinas, Baldwin, Cross Creek, Harlem, Hephzibah, Howard, Richmond Academy, West Laurens, Westside

Baldwin

          The Braves are in transition with a new staff, and a focus will be on playing much smarter and with more discipline. There is always talent at Baldwin, but there’s a self-destructive tendency.

Playoffs:: The new region is Augusta-heavy, and that should open the door for Baldwin to seriously compete for a region title. The Braves play at least 11.

Howard

          The Huskies have new blood on the sidelines, and a fair number of returnees.         

          Howard opened up the offense a little last year, something likely to continue even with a new quarterback in Deon Wellons.

Playoffs:: Howard might finally get a break, now in a region without quite the strength of the past several years. The region is pretty balanced, and Howard is even with many teams. Ther playoff drought is broken.

West Laurens

          The scoring issues of the  past few years – like only 90 points in 2022 – may be over with  little, thanks mostly to an offensive line that returns four starters, including second-team all-region pick Grady Howell, in front of dual threat QB Ty Cummings, who ran for 1,174 yards and 10 scores and is moving to RB.

Still, the passing game needs to be able to take pressure off the run game and make defenses worry about it some.

Defense was a calling card for the Raidrs for years, and they may have enough experienced bodies to start returning to those days. LB Jayden Watkins is a playmaker, and the top returning tackler on a defense with 10 returnees of solid experience.

Playoffs:: The Raiders have to take advantage of a workable early schedule to get some momentum, and surprise somebody along the way. West Laurens is a bubble playoff team, which is progress.

 

Region 2-AA

Callaway, Jackson, Morgan County, Pike County, Rutland, Westside

Rutland

          The Hurricanes are likely to again be competitive, led by the defense and with a little more depth than last year.

          But matching last year’s 4-6 mark will be a task because of a tougher region with no nearly-automatic wins from Columbus, and a difficult non-region schedule.

Playoffs: The odds of the program’s third playoff trip are longer than they’ve been the past few years.

Westside

          Dropping down from 4A to 2A, thanks to numbers and the elimination of Class 7A won’t pay the dividends one might think.

          The Seminoles are doing some shuffling, although the backfield is certainly set with RB Kadiphius Iverson, one of Central Georgia’s top backs. The QB shuffle continues, and a focus will be on playing smarter and with more discipline and less self-destruction.

Playoffs: A third straight trip to the playoffs awaits.