By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          It was a week of close calls, as far as getting within 7 points of the final margin.

          But the losses were unfortunately pretty solid. The upset special wasn’t close. And the biggest upset – Southwest over Bleckley County – was never an option.

          Last week, a team scored six points – for the second straight week – and won, and another game totaled only 10 points. Didn’t see either of those types of games coming. Shoot, we had a 10-point game and a 9-point game on the same night.

          Dang teen agers.

Last week: 21-8, 72.4 percent
The season: 92-35, 72.4 percent
Within 7: 6, 31 for season
Upsets/perfect spread: 0 for 1; Terrell over Mount de Sales by 10, 24-14 final
Maximum spread prediction of 39 points

Games of the week

Northside, 2-1, at AA No. 6 Burke County, 3-1
          The tough-to-gauge Eagles need to have a solid game and pull off what would be an impressive win, or the noise will only grow. Make no mistake, Northside needs to play very well to get this win.
TSR pick: Burke County by 10

Union Grove, 3-1, 3-0, at Jones County, 3-1/2-1
          Another region battle of contenders and favorites for Jones County, but it’s in Gray. It probably took until Tuesday for the hives of scoring only three points ended for the Greyhounds. Union Grove has a solid defense that’s given up fewer points each week.
TSR pick: Jones County by 18

This week
* 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

Last week
* Roundup: Houston County & Warner Robins provide fireworks; FPD-Brookstone in championship rematch; ACE and Dodge County in battle; Lamar County enjoys Macon visit
* Thursday’s roundup
* 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: Notes, reviews, Loughdmouthings
* Macon Touchdown Club players of the week

No. 6 Troup, 1-2/1-0, at No. 5 Mary Persons, 3-0/1-0
          A region showdown, a battle of ranked teams, probably in some rain, at a stadium named for as old-school a coach as there was? Sweeet. The rain can go away, but otherwise, here comes a slugfest that won’t be sharp, but will be pretty, nonetheless, in that old-school way.
TSR pick: Mary Persons by 5

Upson-Lee, 2-1/1-0, at No. 1 Sandy Creek, 3-0/1-0
          The Knights are a huge underdog, and deservedly so. Sandy Creek isn’t hard to figure out. Upson-Lee is. If healthy, though, the Knights should be able to make it a game for maybe three quarters, which would be a step up.
TSR pick: Sandy Creek by 23

Vidalia, 3-1, at No. 8 Dodge County, 3-0
          Gutting out the win over ACE will pay dividends for Dodge County this week. Vidalia’s defense is nice, but the Indians don’t really have a quality win. And by now, Friday nights in Eastman should have some voltage going on.
TSR pick: Dodge County by 21

Jasper County, 2-1, at AA Jackson, 1-2
          Jackson is off to a sluggish start on offense, and Jasper County is off to a pretty warm start on defense. The Red Devils battled Class A No. 4 Lamar County well, but then had last week off.
TSR pick: Jasper County by 3 (Upset special)

Gatewood, 2-2, at Mount de Sales, 2-2
          Sure, it’s a non-region/district/whatever game, but it’s big for both. Gatewood needs to get some mojo going, and Mount de Sales could use a win over a team that’s been to four AA championship games in the last six years.
TSR pick: Gatewood by 4

The Schedule
Class AAA

Class 6A

No. 8 Houston County, 3-1, at 6A Tift County, 2-2
TSR pick: Houston County by 29

4A No. 6 Perry, 2-1, at Veterans, 0-3
TSR pick: Perry by 28

Many thanks to ACE, Central Fellowship, Dublin, FPD, Jones County, Stratford, and Tattnall on Friday for sending in postgame information and/or stats, and Upson-Lee and Lamar County for information afterward.

🏈 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.

Class 3A

Baldwin, 1-2/1-0, at Harlem, 2-0/0-0
TSR pick: Baldwin by 14

Richmond Academy, 0-3/0-1, at Howard, 1-2/0-1 (Ed DeFore)
TSR pick: Howard by 11

West Laurens, 3-0/1-0, at Cross Creek, 1-2/0-1
TSR pick: West Laurens by 14

Class A

ACE Charter, 2-1, at Wilkinson County, 2-2
TSR pick: ACE by 24

GMC Prep, 0-4, at GAPPS Creekside Christian, 1-3
TSR pick: GMC by 2 (Upset special)

Hancock Central, 2-2, at Warren County, 2-2
TSR pick: Warren County by 15

AA Josey, 0-3, at Twiggs County, 0-4
TSR pick: Twiggs County by 12

Macon County, 1-3, at Crawford County, 2-1
TSR pick: Macon County by 17

Montgomery County, 2-1, at Taylor County, 2-1
TSR pick: Taylor County by 7

AA Rutland, 0-4, at Hawkinsville, 2-1
TSR pick: Hawkinsville by 11

GIAA

Class AAA

Bulloch, 4-0, at John Milledge, 1-3
TSR pick: John Milledge by 4

FPD, 3-1, at Pinewood Christian, 1-3
TSR pick: FPD by 22

Piedmont, 2-1/0-1, at Loganville Christian, 0-4/0-1
TSR pick: Piedmont by 20

Stratford, 4-0, at Frederica, 1-3
TSR pick: Stratford by 18

Tattnall Square, 3-1, at Strong Rock Christian, 3-1
TSR pick: Tattnall by 19

Tiftarea, 4-0, at Westfield, 2-1
TSR pick: Westfield by 4 (Upset special)

Class AA

Brentwood, 3-1, at Thomas Jefferson, 0-4
TSR pick: Brentwood by 27

Central Fellowship, 1-3/0-1, at Rock Springs, 4-0
TSR pick: Rock Springs by 11

Trinity Christian, 2-2, at Windsor, 2-1
TSR pick: Trinity Christian by 13