Week 5 brings several important matchups across Georgia as teams begin to face off in region races. Grayson and Buford square off in a battle between two Gwinnett County powers, while undefeated Hart County takes on Hebron Christian in a matchup with major region-title implications. Houston County will look to bounce back from a heartbreaking overtime loss when Westlake comes to Warner Robins, and Wesleyan will try to build on its big region win against a tough Lovett squad. With several undefeated teams and region contenders taking the field, Week 5 promises plenty of storylines and high-stakes football.
Grayson vs Buford – Two of Gwinnett County’s biggest programs collide as the Grayson Rams host the Buford Wolves. Grayson has bounced back from its slow start with consecutive wins and a steadily improving ground game, while Buford has dominated its first two opponents on both sides of the ball.
Hart County vs Hebron Christian – Two teams looking to make a statement in region play meet as the undefeated Hart County Bulldogs take on the Hebron Christian Lions. Hart County enters at 4-0 behind an explosive offense and a defense allowing just 10.2 points per game, while Hebron Christian has faced a challenging schedule and is looking to turn that experience into a region victory.
Houston County vs Westlake – The Houston County Bears and Westlake Lions meet in a matchup featuring two explosive offenses heading in very different directions. Houston County is coming off a heartbreaking overtime loss but can lean on one of the state’s most productive running backs in Austin Stinson, while Westlake enters at 4-0 and is averaging more than 43 points per game.
Wesleyan vs Lovett – The Wesleyan Wolves and Lovett Lions meet in an important region matchup between two teams off to strong starts. Wesleyan enters after a come-from-behind win that gave the Wolves an early advantage in the region race, while Lovett is undefeated at 3-0 and has dominated on both sides of the ball.
As always, thank you to the Georgia Helmet Project for the artwork. You can find them here: https://www.gahelmetproject.com/ As well as the High School Football Historians Association for all of their historical data. You can find them here: https://hsfha.org/
The Skinny
The Grayson Rams have put together a couple of wins and are back at .500 on the season. The Rams’ ground game has steadily improved since the opening game, and they churned out 374 yards on the ground last week in a win over Brunswick. On the season, Grayson is averaging 174.5 rushing yards and 156.3 passing yards per game. Brandon Grayand Ashton Turner have each rushed for 209 yards and have combined for five touchdowns.
Quarterback Duece Smith has thrown for 625 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. Saif Bin-Wahad leads the Rams with 12 receptions for 190 yards and two touchdowns, while Cam Hurst and Zay’vielle Younger-Jones have combined for 14 catches, 210 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Rams are allowing 23 points per game and have recorded 10 sacks on the season. London Goggins leads the team with 29 total tackles and three tackles for loss. Cam Jones and Elijah Tillman have been disruptive up front, leading the team with five tackles for loss apiece.
The Buford Wolves continue their mastery of out-of-state opponents with their second straight victory over an opponent from outside Georgia. The Wolves have outscored their opponents 98-33 while allowing just 11 points per game. Quarterback D.J. Hunter has thrown for 282 yards and two touchdowns. Hunter also leads the Wolves on the ground with 102 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while A.J. Granville and Jameer Cantrell have each added 84 rushing yards.
Defensively, Joshua Echols and Ethan Houser lead the Wolves with 19 and 18 total tackles, respectively. Buford has also recorded 10 sacks through its first two games and will be bolstered on defense by the addition of Jalen Brewster, the No. 2 defensive lineman in the 2027 class.
Keys to the Game
Grayson Rams
- Establish the run: Grayson needs to build on its 374-yard rushing performance and keep the Buford defense from focusing solely on the passing game.
- Protect Duece Smith: The Rams’ offensive line will have its hands full with Buford’s talented defensive front. Giving Smith time will be critical.
- Limit explosive plays: Grayson cannot afford to give up big plays to a Buford offense that has been highly efficient through its first two games.
- Win the turnover battle: Creating extra possessions against Buford could be crucial if the Rams want to keep this one within reach.
Buford Wolves
- Control the line of scrimmage: Buford’s defensive front will be the biggest test Grayson has faced, and the Wolves need to use that advantage.
- Slow down Grayson’s ground game: If Buford can take away the run, it can force the Rams to rely more heavily on the passing game.
- Stay balanced offensively: The Wolves should continue to mix D.J. Hunter’s passing ability with their talented stable of runners.
- Create pressure: With 10 sacks already this season, Buford needs to continue making life difficult for Duece Smith and prevent Grayson from getting comfortable.
Grayson appears to have shaken off its slow start just in time for a battle between two Gwinnett County titans. The Rams will need to find a way to establish the ground game and keep Buford’s defense from dictating the game. The matchup between the Grayson offensive line and a reinforced Buford defensive front will be one of the biggest things to watch. We believe Grayson keeps this game close, but the Wolves are simply too deep.
Prediction: Buford by 10
The Skinny
The Hart County Bulldogs are off to their first 4-0 start since 2021 and are making a strong case as one of the teams to beat in Class 3A. The Bulldogs are averaging 34.5 points and 413.3 yards per game. Quarterback Tucker Parson has thrown for 830 yards through the first four games, completing 73% of his passes while throwing 12 touchdowns without an interception on 104 attempts. Kurt Curry has picked up where he left off last season, leading the team with 27 receptions for 263 yards and a touchdown. Hart County has also been effective on the ground, with Xavier Allen rushing for 278 yards and three touchdowns and Za’braylin Harper adding 220 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Hart County is allowing just 10.2 points per game. The Bulldogs have recorded five sacks and forced six turnovers. Shane Moore leads the team with 18 total tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks, while Isaiah Porterhas 15 tackles, two interceptions and a tackle for loss.
The Hebron Christian Lions may have played one of the more difficult schedules in the state to this point. Both of their losses have come against Class 5A Top-10 teams, featuring some of the best defensive players in the state. The Lions have been balanced offensively, averaging 127 yards per game through the air and 129.3 yards on the ground. Senior quarterback Jordan Greene has thrown for 249 yards and two touchdowns, while freshman Quentin Davie Jr. has completed 9-of-11 passes in limited action for 104 yards and a touchdown. Both quarterbacks have thrown two interceptions.
Greene also leads the Lions on the ground with 130 yards and a rushing touchdown. Dylan Hudson has added 97 yards and two touchdowns, while Jared Stowers has 92 yards and two touchdowns and Beau Bennett has 73 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Hebron Christian has forced five turnovers and recorded three sacks. Bennett leads the team with 21 total tackles and three tackles for loss.
Keys to Victory
Hart County
- Protect Tucker Parson and give him time to attack the Hebron Christian secondary.
- Continue to establish the run with Xavier Allen and Za’braylin Harper.
- Force the Lions into passing situations and take advantage of their turnover opportunities.
- Keep pressure on the Hebron Christian quarterbacks with an aggressive defensive front.
Hebron Christian
- Take care of the football against a Hart County defense that has already forced six turnovers.
- Find a way to slow down Tucker Parson and limit his big-play opportunities.
- Establish the run early to keep the Hart County defense from teeing off on the quarterbacks.
- Win the battle at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
The Lions will face another tough opponent, although this time it comes against a Class 3A foe. Jordan Greene and Quentin Davie Jr. will need to take care of the football against an aggressive Hart County defense. Meanwhile, the Hebron Christian secondary will be tested by the arm of sophomore quarterback Tucker Parson. There is still plenty of football left to be played, but we believe the winner of this game will have the inside track to winning the region. We like Hart County to take it on the arm of Parson.
Prediction: Hart County by 8
The Skinny
The Houston County Bears suffered a heartbreaking loss in Carrollton last week, falling in overtime in a back-and-forth battle. The Bears are averaging 193.3 yards per game through the air and an impressive 339.3 yards per game on the ground. Senior running back Austin Stinson has been outstanding, rushing for 948 yards on just 68 carries and scoring 12 touchdowns through the first four games. Stinson was spectacular in last week’s loss, rushing for 411 yards.
Quarterback Ryan Maxwell has thrown for 580 yards and five touchdowns, but has also been intercepted three times. His top target has been Jeffery Thomas, who has 21 receptions for 328 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, the Bears have forced six turnovers and recorded eight sacks. Demarion Morris and Deshandon Carter lead the team with 21 total tackles each. Carter also leads the team with six tackles for loss and three sacks.
The Westlake Lions are off to their first 4-0 start since the 2023 season and have been dominant offensively. Westlake is averaging 43.2 points per game while putting up 226.5 yards per game through the air and 303.3 yards on the ground. Junior quarterback Cannon Robinson has thrown for 843 yards and nine touchdowns while being intercepted just once on 73 attempts.
Robinson has plenty of weapons at his disposal, led by Roscoe Hayes, who has 12 receptions for 298 yards and four touchdowns. Avery Whitley has added 11 catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns, while Kamar Boykin has seven receptions for 198 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, Christian Womack has been outstanding with 491 yards and six touchdowns on just 34 carries. Jacob Jackson has added 268 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries.
Defensively, Quintay Boykin leads the Lions with 37 total tackles, while Cortez Jones has 31 tackles and two sacks and Timothy McCoy has 30 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack.
Keys to the Game
Houston County Bears
- Get Austin Stinson going: Stinson has been nearly unstoppable this season and will need another big performance against Westlake.
- Limit turnovers: Houston County cannot afford to give the Lions extra possessions, particularly with Westlake averaging more than 43 points per game.
- Slow down the Westlake rushing attack: The Bears will need to find a way to contain Christian Womack and Jacob Jackson.
- Make timely defensive stops: Houston County will likely need a few key stops to keep pace with Westlake’s explosive offense.
Westlake Lions
- Control the ground game: With Womack and Jackson leading a potent rushing attack, Westlake should look to establish the run early.
- Contain Austin Stinson: The Lions must find a way to slow down the Houston County star and prevent him from controlling the game.
- Protect Cannon Robinson: Robinson has been highly efficient this season, and keeping him clean will allow Westlake to attack Houston County through the air.
- Avoid giving Houston County extra opportunities: The Lions need to play clean football and force the Bears to drive the length of the field.
This will be the second straight trip to Warner Robins for the Lions. Westlake used five rushing touchdowns in last year’s matchup, so it would not be surprising to see the Lions lean heavily on their ground game once again. Houston County will need to find a way to bounce back quickly after a heartbreaking loss and will certainly lean on the legs of Austin Stinson. While we know Stinson is capable of carrying the load, we don’t think it will be enough to keep pace with the Lions’ explosive offense. We like Westlake by 13.
Prediction: Westlake by 13
The Skinny
The Wesleyan Wolves picked up a big win last week, defeating North Cobb Christian in come-from-behind fashion. The victory gives the Wolves an early leg up in region play and puts them in position to make a run at the region title. Wesleyan is averaging 33.6 points per game while putting up 236 yards per game through the air and 152 yards on the ground.
Quarterback Jameson Hilton has thrown for 687 yards and seven touchdowns while also adding 158 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Kyle Baxley leads the Wolves’ ground game with 257 yards and four touchdowns. At receiver, Geno Houchins has been the go-to target, catching 24 passes for 379 yards and five touchdowns. Junior linebacker Carter Overdyke leads the team with 31 total tackles.
The Lovett Lions have powered their way to a 3-0 start for the second time in three seasons. Knox Thomason has led the way on the ground, rushing for 468 yards on the season. Going into last Friday, that total was enough to make him the leading rusher in Class 4A-2A Private. Meanwhile, Sam Abney has shown his dual-threat ability, rushing for 291 yards while throwing for more than 250 yards through the first three games.
The Lions have been just as impressive defensively, allowing only 13 points per game. Lovett’s smallest margin of victory this season has been 19 points, showing just how dominant the Lions have been through the opening three games.
Keys to the Game
Wesleyan Wolves
- Slow down Knox Thomason: The Wolves have to find a way to contain Lovett’s leading rusher and prevent him from controlling the game.
- Get the ball to Geno Houchins: Houchins has been one of Wesleyan’s biggest playmakers and will need to continue producing against a strong Lovett defense.
- Protect Jameson Hilton: Hilton’s ability to make plays with both his arm and legs will be critical against the Lions.
- Win the turnover battle: Wesleyan needs to create extra possessions and avoid giving Lovett easy opportunities.
Lovett Lions
- Establish the ground game: Lovett’s rushing attack has been its biggest weapon, and the Lions should continue leaning on Thomason.
- Contain Wesleyan’s big three: Houchins, Baxley and Hilton are capable of creating explosive plays and must be kept in check.
- Make Wesleyan one-dimensional: If Lovett can limit Baxley and Hilton on the ground, it can put more pressure on Hilton through the air.
- Continue the defensive dominance: The Lions have allowed just 13 points per game and need another disciplined performance to keep Wesleyan from building momentum.
Wesleyan will have a tough act to follow after knocking off Fellowship Christian. A win this week would put the Wolves in a strong position in the region race, but they will have to find a way to slow down the Lovett ground game. The big three of Geno Houchins, Kyle Baxley and Jameson Hilton will all need to have big nights for Wesleyan. We believe the Wolves will keep this close in the first half, but Lovett’s ground game eventually powers the Lions to another victory.
Prediction: Lovett by 17