Last week
* Roundup: No trouble for Warner Robins, Peach County, Northeast, Southwest, Dublin, Jasper County, others; Thriller wins for Washington County,Putnam County, FPD; Howard, Westside with surprises
* 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
* What do the Central Georgia area rankings look like?
* Monday Morning Quarterback: Another black and blue battle in Lexington; Loughdmouthings: Falcons, silly second-guessing, county records …
* Macon Touchdown Club players of the week

Two weeks ago
* Roundup: Big nights-Houston County, Perry, West Laurens, ACE, FPD, Brentwood, Trinity Christian; Last-minute Ws-Jasper County, Westfield; huge game for Gatewood’s Johnsons; clutch W-Dodge County
* 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 Quarterback: Suddenly, we saw Ridder and Smith …; Notable numbers, on campus, Loughdmouthings
* Macon Touchdown Club players of the week

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

 

          Here’s the problem. Division I’s hardly going to change much.

          Sure, Perry lost, to a pretty good 6A team. And Peach County hammered a losing 5A team. But it’s still about the big picture, not just that week.

          The Panthers won that head to head with the Trojans, and while the gap might be closer for a week, the nod still goes to Perry.

          The problem is that there’s a gap after Jones County to the rest of Division I. That showed with West Laurens’ loss to Harlem Friday, and with Mary Persons falling last week to Troup.

          As it is, after the top five, only the Raiders, Bulldogs, and Howard have winning records, and no real quality eye-test wins. Barring some really bad games and upsets or some phenomenal games and upsets …

          It’s a pretty easy poll, but the gaps are pretty close.

          Division II, as always, has plenty of shuffling this week, and some teams are nearing consideration to be somewhere behind Dublin.

 

Division I (5A, 4A, 3A) 12 teams

5. Jones County

          The whole region had the week off, adding to the anticipation of the top four teams playing each other this week.

4. Peach County

          No, it wasn’t good news for Northside, Peach County having a week off, and then showing up last Friday. The Trojans are closing the gap a little bit in the poll.

3. Perry

          A double-digit loss entering region play is a good thing for Perry, not so good for the next couple opponents.

2. Houston County

          A week off, then Veterans, then Northside. And then it gets going with three top-5 teams, only one at home.

1. Warner Robins

          It’s not a huge gap with the top three, but the Demons still get the edge.

 

Division II (2A, A, GIAA) 33 teams

Top 10

10. Stratford

          Charging out to a 17-0 lead over Frederica wasn’t a surprise. Having to hold on for a three-point win was notable.

9. ACE Charter

          The icing down of bruises from a very surprising pasting at Northeat better be taken care of quickly, and move on. The Gryphons still are probably the fourth-best team in that crowded region.

8. Tattnall

          The Trojans are becoming pretty consistent on both sides of the line.

7. Hawkinsville

          The Red Devils are an under-the-radar team, and can sure change that this week against Wheeler County.

6. FPD

          You knew that the Vikings weren’t coming back out with a 1950s run-only offense against Westfield. Impressive turnaround in offensive schemes.

5. Jasper County

          Defense has the Purple Hurricanes headed toward their first winning season since their head coach was a peach-fuzzed undergrad at Valdosta State.

4. Lamar County

          It’s been noted here that the Trojans haven’t been themselves, and they sure weren’t last week, being upset at home by Westside. Should be a wakeup call.

3. Northeast

          A mighty impressive performance in routing ACE was marred by, well, penalties. Good grief. The iffy PAT game got some work. But two things will doom Northeast when it counts: the infuriating 5-yard or play-nullifying penalties, and points after touchdown. This week, how long can the Raiders stay with Dublin? Not very long with penalties.

2. Dodge County

          The Indians were helped by getting into something of a shootout with East Laurens. They may have another one this week.

1. Dublin

          The schedule has been very favorable to Dublin in the first half of the season, but the lack of being challenged is countered by the ability to perhaps get some depth. Wonder if Northeast is physical enough for a three-quarter battle.