TFR – GHSA Football Rankings – Week 7

Posted on October 2, 2022 by admin

Week-7 of high school football in the great state of Georgia is in the books. Hurricane Ian forced many teams to move games around this week, but most games that were scheduled did get played or rescheduled. As always, there were some games that caught us by surprise. Here are our new rankings for this week.

In Class 7A, not much changes in the Top-10 this week. Walton survived a scare from previously ranked No. 10 North Paulding. The North Paulding loss drops them from the Top-10, which makes room for a resurgent Lowndes Vikings team who rounds out the Top-10 at No. 10.

Once again, there were no changes to the Class 6A rankings, as all of the teams in the Top-10 won this weekend. The same can be said for Class A-Division I as none of the Top-10 lost this past week.

Class 5-A might have seen the biggest upset as Calhoun traveled to Cartersville and beat the Purple Hurricanes in three overtimes. The loss by Cartersville drops them to No. 5 this week, while Calhoun is up to No. 4. The new No. 1 team is Dutchtown. Meanwhile, the Warner Robins Demons are back in the Top-10 this week after their shutout victory last week.

Not too much changed in Class 4-A. Trinity Christian is in at No. 10 this week after downing previously ranked Starr’s Mill 3-0. The loss by Starr’s Mill drops them out of the rankings this week.

Over in Class 3-A, Dougherty County made a statement with a 16-point victory over Crisp County. The win moves the Trojans up to No. 5 this week, while Crisp drops to No. 10. The Savannah Christian Raiders find themselves in the Top-10 for the first time this season as they come at No. 9 this week.

In Class 2-A, not much changed at the top of the rankings. The Appling Co-Pierce Co game has been moved to Monday, after being cancelled on Friday. Northeast (Macon) is back in the Top-10 this week after Columbia drops from the rankings as a result of their loss to Callaway. There are several teams in Class 2A that are close to Top-10 caliber that have not found their way into the rankings including Worth County, Vidalia, Putnam County, Laney, North Cobb Christian and Athens Academy.

Finally, in Class A-Division II, McIntosh County is back in the Top-10 at No. 10 this week, as they replace Mt. Zion-Carroll who lost to Mt. Pisgah on Friday night.

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)

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AA

A-DIVISION I

A-DIVISION II

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Cherokee County Football Previews – Week 7

Posted on September 29, 2022 by admin

Region play continues in Cherokee County as all five of the Class 6A County schools are in action on Thursday night. Yes, that’s right, Thursday night. Here are our previews for Week-7 Cherokee County Football.

Down in Woodstock, the Wolverines will host the Rome Wolves. The Wolverines have a tough task of playing one of the top team’s in the state the week after break. Can the Woodstock shock the region and the state this Friday? Next, the River Ridge Knights travel to play neighborhood rival, Sequoyah. The Chiefs scored one of the biggest victories in the county as they upended Etowah their last time out. Will Sequoyah’s defense stymie the Knights or will it be another big game for the River Ridge offense?

Finally, over in Macedonia, the Creekview Grizzlies will host the Etowah Eagles. Creekview returns to the gridiron looking to stay atop the region. Meanwhile, Etowah will look to bounce back after they suffered their first loss of the season. Will the Creekview defense be up to the task in slowing down Xavier Mahoney, Reece Wehr and Co., or will the Eagle’s offense get back on track?

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)

The Skinny

The Woodstock Wolverines return from the bye week in search of their first win of the season. Last time out, the Wolverines showed some promise on both sides of the ball. Woodstock is averaging 63 yards per game on the ground and 70 yards per game through the air. While the Wolverines offense is still working out the kinks, the defense has shown improvement with the likes of Drew Burmeister, Carson Gray and Evan McKeller as they lead the team in total tackles. Meanwhile Tate Washington has also made his presence felt along both lines of scrimmage.

The Rome Wolves will look to stay undefeated in region play, as they visit Woodstock this week. The Wolves are averaging 28.6 points per game while allowing 15.2 points per game. Their offense is powered by quarterback Reece Fountain. Fountain has a plethora of talent surrounding him on offense including Martel Height, Martavious Collins and William Bray. The defense is led by Clemson commit Stephylan Green and linebacker Alto Moore who will certainly be playing on Saturdays down the road, as the junior has received interest from the likes of East Carolina, Liberty and Michigan State.

Woodstock is facing a seemingly insurmountable task in defeating Rome. However, as we mentioned before we have seen improvement from the Wolverines. The offense will need to make strides fast and Woodstock will need to turn Rome over. We believe that’s possible, but not probable. We like the Wolves by 5 touchdowns this week.

The Skinny

The Sequoyah Chiefs won their second consecutive game back on the 9th. For the Chiefs it has certainly been a reversal of early season fortunes. In their last two games, the Chiefs defense is allowing 10.5 points per game which is a stark contrast to their first three opponents in which Sequoyah allowed 37.3 points per game. The Sequoyah offense has been led by Jackson Hancock who has scored on the ground and through the air and on special teams. He is a special player, but not the only star for the Chiefs. Offensively it has been a mix of Hancock, Tyler Bell, Asante Chimanda and an unusual suspect, freshman quarterback Kolby Martin who has stepped in wonderfully for the Chiefs.

The River Ridge Knights were able to bounce back from their first loss of the season as they shutout county rival Woodstock. River Ridge was able to get their run game going last outing as Isaiah Coughlan and Camden Cox combined for 150 yards on the ground and 5-TDs. Through five games the Knights offense is averaging 218 yards per game through the air and just over 130 yards per game on the ground. Defensively, River Ridge is allowing 19.4 points per game. Statistical leaders for the Knights defense include Brandon Burdette, Will Hughes and Brendan Dye.

Sequoyah’s defense has answered the bell each of the past two weeks. They will be tested by a potent offense this week. If River Ridge can establish their run game, we like thier chances. We expect another close matchup, but we like the Knights by 4.

The Skinny

The Creekview Grizzlies will be back at home for the third consecutive week as they will host the Etowah Eagles. (This is only the third meeting between the two schools). Creekview got another big game from Isaac Hubert who rushed for 137 yards and 2- TDs in his last outing. On the season, Hubert has now rushed for 367 yards and 6-TDs while quarterback Austin Guest has thrown for 800 yards and 4- TDs. The Grizzlies are scoring 17.2 points per game while the defense is allowing 18.6 points per game. Defensive statistical leaders for Creekview include Cole Sackman, Reed Anderson and Lee Brock.

The Etowah Eagles suffered defeat for the first time this season in their last time out. The Eagles exciting quarterback, Xavier Mahoney was bottled up in the loss. Mahoney has still rushed for 657 yards and remains a big pay threat for Etowah. Perhaps a bit of good news for the Eagles is that Jack Strickland was back in action. He’s more of the pure passer for the Eagles. That will only make this offense more dynamic this week and for the rest of the season. Etowah is averaging 25.2 points per game while the defense is allowing 19.4 points per game.

The Grizzlies defense will have a tall task in trying to slow down the Etowah Express. Meanwhile, we can almost be certain that the Etowah defense will be fed a steady dose of Isaac Hubert. All of the Grizzlies wins this season have come at home. We believe the home field plays a part in the game this week. We like Creekview by 6.

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Eight Greats Around the State – Georgia High School Football Previews – Week 7 (Part II)

Posted on September 28, 2022 by admin

We enter Week-7 of the Georgia High School Football season and the threat of Hurricane Ian has prompted many teams across the state to reschedule games to Wednesday or Thursday. This is another big week of high school football, as there are many games that will go a long way in determining region seedings for the state football tournament. This is part two of our Georgia High School Football Previews where we take a look at eight great games around the state.

First up, in Southwest Georgia, the Dougherty Trojans will host the Crisp County Cougars. This is the region opener for both teams and we believe the winner will have the inside track to host a home playoff game come November. Will Crisp be able to slow down Dougherty and Cam Davis or will the home team hold serve? Moving up to Middle Georgia, Peach County will host Carver of Atlanta in a big non-region Class 3A matchup. Can Carver recover from their first loss of the season or will Peach County’s talented running backs be the difference?

Over in Baxley, the Appling County Pirates will host the Pierce County Bears in the region opener for both teams. Will Pierce’s D.J. Bell continue his outstanding performance this season or will it be Dayson Griffis and the Pirates who start off region play with a big victory at home? Finally, in Atlanta, the Columbia Eagles will host the Callaway Cavaliers. Columbia has been one of the surprise stories this season. They will get their biggest test as Callaway has been at or near the top of Region 5 for the past few years.

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)

The Skinny

The Dougherty Trojans are 5-0 for the second consecutive season. Their offense is humming along averaging 31.6 points per game while averaging over 370 yards of offense per game. Quarterback Kameron Davis has thrown for 1,152 yards and 12-TDs and has not been intercepted this season in 112 pass attempts. Davis also leads the team in rushing with 541 yards while Jacob Stallworth is second on the team in rushing with 319 yards and 6-TDs. Larry Lane leads the Trojans in receiving with 25 catches for 418 yards and 4-TDs. The Dougherty defense is allowing 17.8 points per game.

The Crisp County Cougars fell to Class 6A Northside Warner Robins last time out. Both of their losses this season have come at the hands of teams in the highest two classifications in the state. The Cougars are averaging 18.8 points per game and allowing 21.4 points on defense. In their three victories, Crisp County is averaging 25.6 points per game, while in their two losses, they are averaging 8.5 points per game. 

Only one of the teams that Dougherty has faced has a record above .500 to this point in the season. Crisp seems to have the edge in strength of schedule. We believe that strength of schedule comes into play this week. We like Crisp on the road by 3.

The Skinny

The Peach County Trojans got back over the .500 mark with a victory last week. The Trojans went back to the ground and rushed for over 480 yards in the victory. Most of that coming from Chris McMillian and Robert Jones. The Trojans are averaging 29.8 points per game and allowing 22.8. Interesting note for Peach County, in their three victories they are averaging 45 points per game and allowing 14.6. However, in both of their losses, the score has been 35-7.Suffice to say that Peach will need to score more than 7 points this week if history is any indicator.

The Carver Atlanta Panthers were off last week and are coming off their first loss of the season to Class 7A Buford. The Panthers offense is averaging 214 yards per game through the air and 165 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Bryce Bowens has thrown for 856 yards and 6-TDs and also leads the team in rushing. Bowens’ top receivers this season have been Deandre Buchannon (24 reception, 335 Yards, 3-TDs) and Zyee’k Mender (14 receptions, 330 yards, 4-TDs). Aquantis Clemmons leads the defense with 6 sacks. Speaking of defense, Carver is allowing 25.2 points per game this season.

It will be interesting to see how Carver bounces back from the loss the last time out. They will have to be up to the task in slowing down the fast pace attack of Peach County. We believe Peach may have found the spark they needed last week. We like the Trojans at home by 4. 

The Skinny

The Appling County Pirates will be at home this week as they look for their first victory over a team from the State of Georgia. Both of the Pirates victory have come over out of state teams. Appling County is averaging 25.6 points per game while the defense is allowing 10.3 points per game. Their only loss this season came at the hands of Class 4A Wayne County. The Pirates have a talented tandem at running back in Jaylen Johnson and Jamarion Williams who both possess game breaking speed and can also find creases in between the tackles. Dawson Griffis has also been effective throwing the ball this season, keeping opposing defenses off balance.

The Pierce County Bears are averaging over 430 yards of offense this season with the vast majority of that coming on the ground. Quarterback D.J. Ball has only passed for 231 yards but leads the team in rushing with 921 yards and 13-TDs. Jimaryion Guyton is second on the team in rushing with 546 yards and 10-TDs. If Bell does go to the air, expect him to target Jaquez White who has caught 8 passes for 157 yards and 2-TDs. Pierce County is averaging 45.6 points per game while the defense is allowing just 10 points per game. This is the second time since 2019 that the Bears have started 4-0.

Appling County leads this series and have a couple of talented backs that will lean heavily on. The problem is whether or not they can slow down Pierce’s Bell. While that is certainly possible, we don’t think it is probable. We like the Bears by 11.

The Skinny

The Columbia Eagles find themselves in some uncharted territory as they jockey for a region crown. They can take a big step to their first region title on Friday if they can defeat visiting Callaway. The Eagles have been doing most of their damage on the ground Royce Tolbert and Jadan Baugh have led the way on the ground, while Baugh also leads the team in receiving. Columbia is averaging 21.2 points per game while the defense is allowing 14.6. The Eagles defense has recorded two shutouts on the season. 

The Callaway Cavaliers have won two straight games after starting the season on a three game losing streak. The Cavs had their best offensive performance of the season as the scored 44 points last week in their victory over Redan. Similar to their opponent, look for the Cavs to do most of their damage on the ground. They are averaging 22.8 points per game while the defense is allowing 23.6 points per game. 

This game will go a long way in determining the Region 5-2A crown. Columbia has played well and they are certainly on the right track, but we believe the challenging schedule Callaway has faced to this point has prepared them for games like this. We like the Cavs by 8.

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Eight Greats Around the State – Georgia High School Football Previews – Week 7 (Part I)

Posted on September 28, 2022 by admin

We enter Week-7 of the Georgia High School Football season and the threat of Hurricane Ian has prompted many teams across the state to reschedule games to Wednesday or Thursday. This is another big week of high school football, as there are many games that will go a long way in determining region seedings for the state football tournament. This is part one of our Georgia High School Football Previews where we take a look at eight great games around the state.

First up, in a non-region game, the North Paulding Wolfpack host the Walton Raiders. North Paulding’s only loss of the season was a one-point defeat, while Walton has won three straight games. This should be a high scoring game as both offenses can really put up points. Meanwhile, down in Ocilla, there is a big Top-10 non-region game as Irwin County hosts Swainsboro. Will Swainsboro’s ground game get the job done or will the balanced attack of Irwin County be the difference?

Over in Southwest Georgia, the Lee County Trojans will host the Houston County Bears. Lee has dominated the series, but the Bears are off to a red-hot start. Can Houston dethrone Lee or will the Trojans continue their dominance in Region 1-6A? Finally, in Northwest Georgia, the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes host the Calhoun Yellow Jackets. This has the feeling of a region title game even though we are still in September. Can the Jackets offense keep pace with an electric Cartersville offense?

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)

The Skinny

The North Paulding Wolfpack have been flying under the radar. Their only loss this season was a one point margin of defeat to Kennesaw Mountain. North Paulding is averaging 44.8 points per game while the defense is allowing 23.2 points per game. Quarterback Boone Anderson has thrown for 1,276 yards and 20-TDs. Twelve different wide receivers had caught passes this season. The statistical leader is Owen Dupree, who has caught 10 passes for 375 yards and 6-TDs. Jaylen Poe has rushed for 731 yards and 8-TDs for the Wolfpack. Defensively, Danny Pitts leads the team with 45 total tackles. The defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 12 times this season with Aidan Maddox leading the way with 4.5.

The Walton Raiders have won three straight since dropping their opener. Quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski has thrown for 1,288 yards and 12-TDs. His top four receivers are Ayden Jackson, Cameron Loyd, Hunter Teal, and Wyatt Sonderman. The quartet has combined for 56 receptions, 1,238 yards and 12-TDs. Makari Bodiford leads the Raiders on the ground with 450 yards and 6-TDs. Defensively, Walton is allowing 21 points per game. Linebacker Ashton Woods and safety Matthew Traynor lead the team in total tackles.

We expect the scoreboard operator to be extremely busy on Thursday as both of these teams can really move the football. North Paulding should keep this game close but we believe Walton has an edge in talent this week. We like the Raiders by a touchdown.

The Skinny

The Irwin County Indians are winners of their last four games. During that stretch, they have not allowed more than 14 points in a game. Overall, Irwin is averaging 35 points per game. They are doing it with about as balanced of attack there can be, averaging 169.4 yards per game through the air and 169.6 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Cody Soliday has thrown for 844 yards and 6-TDs. Demarkus Lundy and Shane Marshall have combined for 665 yards and 11-TDs on the ground. Defensively, Irwin County is allowing 12.4 points per game. 

The Swainsboro Tigers are 5-0 for the first time in 12 years. Swainsboro has also won 11 consecutive regular season games entering this week. The Tigers are led by quarterback Ty Adams and running back Quindarius Brown, as they have combined to rush for 981 yards and 12-TDs. Swainsboro has only attempted 16 passes so far this season. As a team, the Tigers are averaging 323.2 yards per game on the ground. Jonorian Foots leads the defense in total tackles and in sacks. Swainsboro’s defense has recorded three shutouts and is only allowing 3.8 points per game.

This might be one of the better matchups regardless of classification this week. Swainsboro’s defense will certainly be a factor in this game. We don’t believe either team will get to their points per game average. We believe Irwin County is a little more dynamic offensively, and that’s why we like the Indians. Irwin County by 5. 

The Skinny

The Lee County Trojans are the five-time defending Region 1-6A champions and will begin their title defense at home this week. The Trojans are averaging 36.4 points per game while the defense is allowing 13 points per game. Lee County has already recorded two shutouts on the season. The Trojans will likely look to establish the run with sophomore sensation Ousmane Kromah. Kromah is a physical running back who does not shy away from contact and has proved to be a great pass catcher out of the backfield. Quarterback Chris Martin and JD Ferguson have proved to be a very good passing and catching duo in helping establish a balanced attack on offense.

The Houston County Bears are looking to go 6-0 for the first time since 2015 when the Bears made a run to the quarterfinals. Houston has been putting up some gaudy numbers averaging 316.6 yards per game through the air and 155.2 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Antwan Hill, Jr. has thrown for over 1,500 yards with 15-TDs. His top receivers this season have been Ricky Johnson (29 receptions, 544 yards and 7-TDs), Kale Woodburn (22 receptions 399 yards, 4-TDs) and Recordo Carver (17 receptions, 254 yards, 3-TDs). Houston County is averaging 50.4 points per game while the defense is allowing 16.6. 

Houston County has never beaten Lee County. This could be the year that they get over the hump. They certainly have an offense capable of putting up big numbers. Lee has the experience and is playing at home, but something tells us this will be a closely contested game. We like Lee by 2.

The Skinny

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes will be on the hunt for their second consecutive region title and their 9th in 10 years as they kick off region play on Thursday. The Canes have turned to freshman signal caller Nate Russell to lead the offense in relief of Paul Gamble. Russell has thrown for 538 yards and 7-TDs. Top receivers for the Canes include Jamauri Bryce (20 receptions, 387 yards, 4-TDs) and Colin Fletcher (8 receptions, 200 yards, 4-TDs) Defensively, Myles Forristal leads the team in total tackles and in sacks. The Cartersville defense has recorded three shutouts this season and is allowing 7.2 points per game

The Calhoun Yellow Jackets got back into the win column last week over Sonoraville. The Jackets are in search of their first region crown since 2018. Quarterback Trey Townsend has emerged as one of the top passers in Northwest Georgia. He is complimented well by running back Caden Williams who has a combination of power and speed and is also a good pass catcher out of the backfield. The Calhoun offense is averaging 25.8 points per game while the defense is allowing 23 per game.

We know it’s early in the season, but we believe the winner of this game will go on and win the region title. We believe the difference in this game will be the offensive line for Cartersville. Expect another close game on Thursday with Cartersville edging Calhoun by 7.

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TFR – GHSA Rankings – Week 6

Posted on September 25, 2022 by admin

This past Friday gave us a lot of great action around the state. As usual there were a few games that surprised us, and then there were other teams that validated their rankings. Here is a look at our Top-10 teams in each classification at the midpoint of the season.

In Class 7A, North Cobb is back in the Top-10 as they defeated Milton on Friday. North Paulding is also in the Top-10 for the first time this season. Dropping out of the poll this week are Parkview and Milton. One surprising result this weekend was Grayson losing to unranked Lowndes. Grayson falls to No. 7 this week.

Class 6A had no changes in the Top-10. And for that matter neither did Class 2A or Class A-Division II.

The Eastside Eagles are in the Top-10 for the first time this season in Class 5A. The Eagles got a big win over Flowery Branch Friday night and have now won three straight. Warner Robins drops from the Top-10 this week after a loss to Houston County.

In Class 4A we saw a little bit of shuffling in the Top-10. LaGrange falls out of the rankings with their loss to Whitewater. That made room for Wayne County to make their debut at No. 10. Meanwhile, in Class 3A, Cedar Grove suffered their second consecutive defeat to a 7A team. The Saints still top the poll this week.

Finally Class-A Division I was shaken up a little bit. Social Circle upset Lamar County and that was enough to get the Redskins into the No. 8 spot this week. Elbert County also makes their season debut as they are in at No. 9 this week. Despite losing to Rabun County, Whitefield Academy remains at No. 10 this week and rounds out the Top-10.

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)

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AA

A – DIVISION I

A – DIVISION II

Posted in 2022 TFR Polls | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eight Greats Around the State – Georgia High School Football Previews – Week 6 (Part II)

Posted on September 21, 2022 by admin

We have officially reached the half way point of the high school football season in Georgia. As we do each week, we are taking a look at eight intriguing matchups around the state this week. This is Part II of our Eight Greats Around the State Georgia High School Football Previews.

First up, a big matchup in Region 5-6A as the Douglas County Tigers will try to derail the Langston Hughes Panthers express. Hughes is the odds on favorite to win the region, so a win by Douglas County would be a huge upset. Meanwhile, staying in the metro area, the East Coweta Indians host the Lambert Longhorns. Both of these teams find themselves on the outside of the Top-10 rankings in Class 7A, but both have a lot to prove and should be near the top of their respective regions come playoff time.

Next we head south to Moultrie as the Colquitt County Packers host the upset minded Cedar Grove Saints. This will be the fourth consecutive Class 7A team the Saints have faced. Will they avenge last season’s loss to Colquitt? Finally down in Ocilla, the Irwin County Indians are back home as they face a very good Metter Tiger defense. Can Shane Marshall and Demarkus Lundy continue their success on the ground this week or will Kaliq Jordan and Antwan Coney have the answer for Metter.

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)

The Skinny

The Douglas County Tigers bounced back from their week three loss with a win over region foe Alexander last week. The Tigers have done most of their damage through the air as they are averaging 337.5 yards passing. Junior quarterback Sire Hardaway has thrown for 1,328 yards and 9-TDs. James Johnson, Deuce Alexander and Monte Gooden have combined for 58 receptions for 1,138 yards and 8-TDs. The Tigers are averaging 40.7 points per game while the defense is allowing 26 points per game. 

The Langston Hughes Panthers are winners of their last thirteen regular season games. The Hughes offense has been red hot as they are averaging 55.2 points per game. They are also averaging 450 yards of offense per game; 253.3 yards per game through the air and 196.8 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Prentiss “Air” Noland has thrown for 1,013 yards and 17-TDs with no interceptions. Justus Savage leads the team in rushing with 351 yards and 5-TDs. C.J. Lockhart, Jaden Barnes and Jediyah Willoughby are the top receiving targets for Noland. 

Douglas County will have their hands full trying to slow down Langston Hughes. The Tigers have the offense to keep them around, but Hughes is going to be too much to handle Friday night. We like the Panthers by two touchdowns. 

The Skinny

The East Coweta Indians are winners of four straight and are looking to make it five this week as they close out their non-region schedule. East Coweta is averaging just over 400 yards of total offense per game. Sophomore quarterback Christian Langford has thrown for 1,062 yards and 15-TDs. Langford also leads the team in rushing with 330 yards and has also added a rushing TD. Brady Tillman (24 receptions, 470 yards, 10-TDs) and Jayshon Stegall (17 receptions, 338 yards, 3-TDs) lead the Indians in receiving. Linebacker Cosby Ellis leads the team in total tackles with 44 including a team high 4 sacks. The East Coweta defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 15 times this season.

The Lambert Longhorns are 4-0 for the third consecutive season. Lambert is also wrapping up their non-region schedule this week before a bye week. The Longhorns offense is averaging 40 points per game. Only once this season have they been held to under 40 points in a game. Quarterback James Tyre has thrown for 897 yards and 10-TDs and his not been intercepted at all this season. Brandon Jones has been his top receiver with 16 reception for 452 yards and 5-TDs. Sophomore running back Tommy Lafayette leads the team in rushing with 336 yards on the ground and 4-TDs. 

We expect for this game to be a back and forth matchup, as both teams have shown the ability to be explosive on offense. If East Coweta’s quarterback can limit his interceptions this week, we like their chances. However, something tells us Lambert will sneak out of Sharpsburg with a win this week. Longhorns by 6. 

The Skinny

The Colquitt County Packers will come out of the bye week facing another one of the top teams in the state. The Packers are averaging 38.7 points per game. They are averaging 397 yards of offense per game with an average of 159 yards through the air and 238 yards per game on the ground. Running back Charlie Pace has paced the offense with 453 yards per game on the ground and 4-TDs while quarterback Neko Fann has thrown for 636 yards and 8-TDs. He’s also rushed for 151 yards and 3-TDs. Fann has a bevy of weapons at receiver including Ny Carr, Zamari Williams, and tight end Landed Thomas. Defensively the Packers are allowing 10 points per game and have sacked opposing quarterbacks 16 times.

The Cedar Grove Saints will face their fourth consecutive Class 7A opponent this week as they travel to Moultrie. The Saints offense has been clicking all season as they are averaging 34 points per game. Sophomore quarterback E.J. Colson has now thrown for 895 yards and 7-TDs. His top receivers this season are Barry Jackson and Ricky Lee who have combined to catch 38 passes for 610 yards. The 56 points that Cedar Grove allowed last week were the most points a Cedar Grove team has allowed since September of 2008. Despite giving up the lopsided number, Cedar Grove’s defense is still allowing just 23 points per game.

Cedar Grove has shown the can be giant killers at times and we expect them to put a scare into Colquitt this week. However, we believe the Packers are too deep and will pull away late. Packers by two touchdowns. 

The Skinny

The Irwin County Indians return home this week as they went up to Northwest Georgia and beat Rockmart. The Indians are winners of their last three games. They are averaging 34.2. points per game with a balanced attack on offense; averaging 173.8 yards per game through the air and 169.5 yards per game on the ground. Quarterback Cody Soliday has thrown for 692 yards and 6-TDs. His top receivers are Mason Snyder and Malachi Hadden. The duo has combined for 387 receiving yards. Meanwhile Demarkus Lundy and Shane Marshall have combined for 511 rushing yards and 9 rushing TDs. 

The Metter Tigers are winners of their last two games. The Tigers have not shied away from tough competition with losses to Class AA Pierce County and one of the top teams in Class A Division I, Swainsboro. The Tigers are averaging 16.8 points per game while the defense is allowing 16 points per game. In their three victories, the Tigers are outscoring their opponents 70-29, while in their two losses they are being outscored 51-14. 

Metter has a chance to make statement this week in Class A Division-I . We believe the Tigers are close on defense, but we believe their offense will struggle a bit this week against Irwin’s defense. We like the Indians by 13. 

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Eight Greats Around the State – Georgia High School Football Previews – Week 6 (Part I)

Posted on September 21, 2022 by admin

We have officially reached the half way point of the high school football season in Georgia. As we do each week, we are taking a look at eight intriguing matchups around the state this week. This is Part I of our Eight Greats Around the State Georgia High School Football Previews..

First up, it’s a big matchup of Gwinnett County powers, as undefeated Mill Creek hosts undefeated Parkview. Will Mill Creek’s offense continue to fly high, or while the Parkview ground game be the difference this week? Next up, is a big Region 3-3A tilt, as Calvary Day hosts Savannah Christian . It’s early in the season, but this game has the feel of a region title. Can the Savannah Christian Raiders slow down Calvary’s potent offense?

Our next two games take us back down to Region 4-4A. Up first, is Whitewater and LaGrange. Both of these teams tasted bitter defeat last week and a loss by either team would likely end their hopes of hosting a playoff game this season. Meanwhile the Starr’s Mill Panthers will host the Troup Tigers. The winner of this game should be firmly in the drivers seat for a home playoff spot and the region crown. Can Starr’s Mill keep the explosive Troup Tigers at bay this week or will Taeo Todd run wild again?

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)

The Skinny

The Mill Creek Hawk’s continued their offensive onslaught last week as they put up 52 points against Class 3A Cedar Grove. The Hawks have not scored less than 33 points in a game this season and are averaging 45.2 points per game. Senior quarterback Hayden Clark has thrown for 811 yards and 6-TDs. His primary receivers have been Makhail Wood and Caleb Downs who have combined for over 33 receptions for more than 475 yards. Defensively downs leads the team in total tackles and in interceptions. The Hawks are allowing 14.2 points per game. 

The Parkview Panthers are off to their first 4-0 start since 2018. Parkview is averaging just under 40 points per game. Junior running back Kyhair Spain leads the way offensively with 771 yards rushing and 4-TDs. Mike Matthews is the leading receiver for the Panthers. Defensively, Parkview is allowing 14.2 points per game. The defensive line is anchored by run-stopping defensive end Nolan Marshall. He has a knack for creating havoc for opposing offenses.

Mill Creek has been scoring points in bunches, but Parkview has plenty of weapons as well on offense. Scoring points won’t be the issue on Friday. We do believe Caleb Downs and Makhail Wood will be the difference this week. We like Mill Creek by 9.

The Skinny

The Calvary Day Cavaliers have won 15 consecutive regular season games. Offensively, the Cavs have a balanced attack this season as they are averaging 154.7 yards per game through the air and 167 yards per game on the ground. Junior quarterback Jake Merklinger, has thrown for 423 yards and 6-TDs while running back Antonion Butts and Trevor Strowbridge have combined to rush for 260 yards and 6-TDs. Calvary Day is averaging 41.6 points per game while the defense is allowing 18 points per game. Butts and Strowbridge also lead the Cavs in total tackles. The defense has forced 6 turnovers so far this season. 

The Savannah Christian Raiders have quietly put together an impressive first half of the season. The Raiders have been doing most of their damage offensively on the ground as they are averaging an impressive 311.8 yards per game on the ground. It’s been running back by committee for Savannah Christian, with Zo Smalls leading the backfield with 465 yards and 8-TDs. Kenry Wall and Jayden Hester have also combined to rush for 481 yards and 4-TDs. Quarterback Paul Zittrauer has done enough to keep teams honest, passing for 540 yards and 7-TDs. The Raiders defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 21 times and forced 10 turnovers. 

The Cavaliers will get another tough test this week against the upstart Raiders. Expect for Calvary Day quarterback Merklinger to figure in to the decision. We believe Savannah Christian’s defense will do enough to keep them in the game, but we like Calvary Day at home by 10.

The Skinny

The Whitewater Wildcats will be back at home this week as they try to stay in contention for a home playoff game. The Wildcats are averaging almost 300 yards of offense per game with the majority of that coming by way of the ground. They are averaging 206.8 yards per game rushing. It’s been running back by committee for the Wildcats as Xavier Clay-Turner, Logan Griffith and Braxton Mueller have combined for 497 yards and 8-TDs. Defensively, the Wildcats are led by Popo Aguirre with 45 total tackles. Whitewater has sacked opposing quarterbacks 13 times this season and are allowing 23.2 points per game. 

The LaGrange Grangers find themselves in a similar position this week as their opponent, as they also try to stay in contention for a home playoff game. The Grangers lost a heartbreaker to Starr’s Mill last week. Last week was the lowest scoring output for the Grangers this season. LaGrange is still averaging 42.7 points per game while the defense is allowing 21.7 yards per game. The big question this week as can the offense show up again and slow down Whitewater’s rushing attack.

TAs we mentioned, the Grangers will need to find a way to slow down the Wildcats ground game. That’s easier said than done. Meanwhile, Aguirre and the Wildcats will have their hands full trying to slow down Malachi Fannin-Render and Jonathan Keys for LaGrange. Expect another close game, but we like Whitewater to edge LaGrange. Wildcats by 4. 

The Skinny

The Starr’s Mill Panthers will face their second consecutive team from Troup County as the Troup Tigers pay them a visit this week. Last week, the Panthers needed overtime to edge LaGrange on the road. Sophomore quarterback Logan Inagawa has done a good job leading the team as he has shown an ability to move the ball through the air, although Starr’s Mill is a run first team. That paired alongside backs Greigh Joseph and Anderson Cardoza has made for a formidable offense that can beat defenses a few different ways. 

The Troup Tigers have won their first four games of the season for the first time since 2018. The Tigers offense is on fire as they are averaging 37 points per game. The engine that drives the Tigers is Taeo Todd. Todd was up to his old tricks last week as he rushed for 247 yards and threw for 169 yards. He accounted for five touchdowns in the win. That brings Todds totals to 696 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs and passed for 630 yards and 8-TDs. While Todd leads the offense, expect for the Tigers to lean on Qua Birdsong to help slow down Starr’s Mill.

The winner of this game will be in the catbird seat in the region. Starr’s Mill will have their hands full trying to slow down the Troup. If the Panthers run game can get going, they might be able to keep Taeo Todd on the sidelines which might be the best way to slow him down. We still like Troup by 4 on the road. 

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TFR – GHSA Rankings – Week 5

Posted on September 18, 2022 by admin

The Georgia High School Football Season rolls on as we approach the midpoint of the season. There were quite a few surprises across the state this week as we continue to get a clearer picture of the top teams in each classification.

Class 7A saw an upset as North Cobb fell to Class 6A Northside Warner Robins. That loss drops North Cobb out of the rankings this week. Taking their place are the Milton Eagles who are back in the Top-10 for the first time in a few weeks. Other teams just outside of our Top-10 include, Westlake, East Coweta, North Paulding, and Lambert. Some surprise undefeated teams in Class 7A to keep an eye on include Central Gwinnett, South Gwinnett, and Osborne.

Over in Class 6A, the two big upsets were Northside Warner Robins over North Cobb and Marist over Blessed Trinity. Blessed Trinity finds themselves on the outside looking in this week, but are still a team to watch. They are replaced by Marist who is back in the Top-10 at No. 10 this week. Other teams just on the periphery of the Top-10 this week include Houston County, Paulding County, and Douglas County.

There were no teams dropping out of the Top-10 in Class 5A. Dutchtown did have a big win over Region rival Warner Robins. That win puts the Bulldogs in the driver’s seat in Region 2-5A. Creekside is up two spots to No. 5, while Warner Robins drops down to No. 7.

Down in Class 4A, the best games of the week were in Region 4, as Troup defested Whitewater while Starr’s Mill defeated LaGrange. Whitewater drops to No, 8 while LaGrange drops to No. 9. Stockbridge got a big win over previously undefeated Hampton. The win by Strockbridge moves them in to our Top-10 for the first time this season. Meanwhile, Howard, Westside Macon, Heritage (Catoosa) and East Forsyth are the undefeated and unranked teams this week.,

Class 3A had some interesting matchups as a couple of Top-10 teams challenged Class 7A opponents this week. Cedar Grove fell to Class 7A Mill Creek by 16, but remains in the top spot this week. Carver-Atlanta also lost to Buford, but we still have them at No. 5 this week. Other teams of note outside of the Top-10 include Monroe, Mary Persons, Savannah Christian, Harlem and Lumpkin County.

Class 2A has all familiar faces in the Top-10. The big upset was Rockmart falling to Class A D-I Irwin County. The loss drops Rockmart to No. 7 this week. Pierce County remains in the top spot this week. Other teams of note in Class 2A include undefeated Worth County, Northeast Macon, undefeated Vidalia, undefeated North Cobb Christian and Athens Academy.

In Class A D-I, Brooks County made a statement as they defeated Class 4A Bainbridge. Even with the big win, there was no room for Brooks to move up, because every team in the Top-10 won on Friday. Of course, we already mentioned Irwin County’s win over Class 2A Rockmart. Teams of note outside of the Top-10 include undefeated Screven County, Social Circle, Temple, Elbert County and Trion.

Finally Class A D2 saw a lot of shifting after four of the ten ranked teams lost Friday night. However, even with those losses, no team dropped from the ranking this week. Early County remains in the top spot. Bowdon is all the way up to No. 4 this week. Other teams of note outside of the Top-10 include McIntosh County Academy and Portal.

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)

AAAAAAA

AAAAAA

AAAAA

AAAA

AAA

AA

A-DIVISION I

A-DIVISION II

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Cherokee County Football Previews – Week 5

Posted on September 15, 2022 by admin

We are quickly approaching the midpoint of the high school football season in Cherokee County. All six county teams will be in action this week and we preview all of the Cherokee County Football games this week.

First up, the Cherokee Warriors will be on the road as they visit the West Forsyth Wolverines. The Warriors will be looking to get the ground game going again, while doing their best to stop West Forsyth’s rushing attack. Meanwhile, the Creekview Grizzlies will host the Allatoona Buccaneers. Both teams picked up their first win win of the season last week. Can the Grizzlies stay hot at home or will the Buccaneers ground game wear down Creekview?

The Etowah Eagles will host the Sequoyah Chiefs this Friday. Etowah is certainly the surprise team of the county this season, as they are the only undefeated team remaining. Will the Eagles continue to fly high, or will the Chiefs ground game ground the Eagles? Finally, the Woodstock Wolverines will host the River Ridge Knights. The Wolverines have dropped the last two gams in the series against River Ridge and are looking to pick up their first win of the season. Will Woodstock catch River Ridge off guard or will the River Ridge offense have another big night.

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)

The Skinny

The West Forsyth Wolverines got back into the win column last week as they defeated the Cambridge Bears. Last week the Wolverines rushed for 336 yards on the ground. On the season, they are averaging 182 yards per game on the ground and 100 yards per game through the air. Their rushing leader is Air Force commit Peyton Streko. Streko has rushed for 600 yards on 90 carries with 7-TDs. Last Friday, the Wolverines only attempted 7 passes. When they do go to the air, expect tight-end Henry Delp to be their primary target. In their first three games, Delp caught 9 passes for 105 yards. Defensively, the Wolverines have sacked opposing quarterbacks 12 times this season and are allowing 23.5 points per game.

The Cherokee Warriors will look to get back on track in their last non-region matchup of the year. The Warriors had an early lead against rival Sequoyah last week, but could not hang on late as some special teams miscues hurt Cherokee last week. Penalties were also a bugaboo for the Warriors last week as they will need to continue to get that cleaned up. Cherokee is averaging 19.5 points per game and allowing 25.5. They’ve also allowed 3 special teams touchdowns this season. So that 25.5 points might be a little misleading. If Cherokee can clean up the penalties and special teams miscues, we believe they will have a chance to get back into the win column this week.

The Wolverines have a dynamic running back in Streko. Can the Cherokee front seven do enough to shut Streko down this week? We believe they can slow him down, but not shut him down. We like the Wolverines by 6 this week.

The Skinny

The Creekview Grizzlies picked up their first win of the season as they scored early and often last week to defeat North Forsyth. The Grizzlies got touchdowns from Issac Hubert (2), Austin Guest, Cal Shubert and Michael Roach in the victory. Creekview showed improvement through the air as Austin Guest completed 75% of his passes for 270 yards and 2-TDs. The aforementioned Hubert also added 110 yards on the ground. He’s accounted for must of the Grizzlies rushing yards this season with 214 total and 4-TDs. Creekview’s defense was impressive last week holding North Forsyth to their lowest point output of the season. (Prior to last week, North was averaging 30 points per game.)

The Allatoona Buccaneers also picked up their first win of the season as they defeated Hillgrove. The Buccaneers had their biggest scoring outburst combined with their best defensive performance last week. On the season, Allatoona is averaging 18.2 points per game while allowing 23.2. Last week, Jayden Ponder had a big game as he tallied 170 yards and 2-TDs in the victory. Ponder now has 572 yards rushing with 4-TDs. The Bucs have leaned more on the run than the pass this season, averaging 89.8 yards per game through the air and 159.5 yards per game on the ground. 

The ability to run the football is important to both teams. They also rely heavily on their respective defenses.  Neither team is averaging over 19 points per game, which is why we believe the first team to get to 21 points will win this game. We believe the Bucs have just enough on offense to get past the Grizzlies. Allatoona by 3.

The Skinny

The Etowah Eagles are off to their first 4-0 season since 2014. The Eagles are the talk of Cherokee County after winning two games total in the previous two seasons. Etowah is off to a fast start with bigger goals in mind than just a 4-0 start. Etowah has been getting things done on the ground this season with quarterback Xavier Mahoney and running backs Reece Wehr and Johar Cacho. Going into last week, Mahoney was the leading rusher in Class 6A. He added 105 yards to bring his total to 640 on the season. Etowah is averaging is averaging 29.7 points per game so far this season while allowing 19.7 this season.

The Sequoyah Chiefs got in the win column last week as they defeated their rival Cherokee on the road. Sequoyah was led by their special teams unit which blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown and also returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Jackson Hancock was a key cog for the Chiefs special teams. Meanwhile the Chiefs continued to control time of possession in their signature Wing-T offense. Expect to see more of the same this week with backs Tyler Bell, Asante Chimanda, and the aforementioned Hancock. Defensively, Ty Moores and Ean Marria have been extremely disruptive for the Chiefs this season. It will be interesting to see if they can be neutralized by the Etowah offensive line.

This game will be won in the trenches as both teams really like to run the ball, even though they go about it differently. Both teams also have dynamic playmakers in Mahoney for Etowah and Hancock for Sequoyah. We believe the one who get’s the most touches will have the biggest impact on the game. Because Mahoney plays QB for Etowah, we believe he will have more opportunities to make impact plays, and for that reason, we like Etowah by 7.

The Skinny

The Woodstock Wolverines will be back at home as they open region play against rival River Ridge. The Wolverines got some big special teams play last week and were right there in the game again until a tsunami of scoring occurred in the second quarter against Lassiter last week. The Wolverines will continue to look to get the ball into the hands of their playmakers, namely Adonis Garcia, Chase Colina and Luke Renninger at wide receiver and running back Isaiah Payton. This week, the Wolverines will again try to continue to improve and sustain drives as they look for more consistency from their offense. 

The River Ridge Knights fell last week to North Atlanta in a game which they turned the ball over five times in the loss. We can only imagine that ball security will be a big focus in practice for the Knights. Even after being held to 13 points last week, the Knights are still averaging 32 points per game. The River Ridge defense did well last week to just surrender 27 points after being put in difficult situations. Credit to linebackers Brandon Burdette, Brendan Dye and senior defensive lineman Ethan Anderson who leads the team in sacks and is extremely disruptive to opposing offenses.

Expect River Ridge to establish the run this week as Woodstock had some trouble defending it last week. For Woodstock, they’ll need to find a way to keep an attacking aggressive River Ridge defense off-balance. That’s easier said than done. We like the Knights to bounce back this week. River Ridge by four touchdowns.

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Eight Greats Around the State – Georgia High School Football Previews – Week 5 (Part II)

Posted on September 14, 2022 by admin

It’s hard to believe that we are already approaching the midpoint of the high school football season here in Georgia. This is Part II of our Eight Greats Around the State where we preview 8 intriguing matchups this week. We went heavy on Middle Georgia with this edition, as Region 4-4A has two big matchups between four teams that we feel have a chance to take home the region crown.

First up in Warner Robins, the Demons of Warner Robins will host the Dutchtown Bulldogs. We know it’s early in the season, but this could be the defacto region title game and it’s just the first game of the season. The big question is whether the Demons will get back on track offensively or will Dutchtown outlast Warner Robins? A little further down the road in Perry, the Perry Panthers will host the Peach County Trojans. Peach is flying under the radar a bit this season, They’ve also really owned this rivalry. But the Perry Panthers look like they are poised to be a contender in Class 4A. Can Peach and Armar Gordon get past the upstart Trojans?

Our next two previews take us down to LaGrange, GA where we have two big matchups in Region 4-4A. The LaGrange Grangers will host the Starr’s Mill Panthers. The Panthers drop down a classification this season and bring with them a pretty impressive rushing attack. Can the LaGrange defense slow down the Greigh Joseph express? Finally, the Troup Tigers will host the Whitewater Wildcats. It will be interesting to see if Troup’s Tao Todd have another big game throwing and passing or while Popo Aguirre and the Wildcat’s defense have the remedy this week?

As always, thanks for reading. While you’re here, don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss any of our coverage. Please feel free to comment and share.

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com

Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)

The Skinny

The Warner Robins Demons will be looking to bounce back from last weeks outing as they were shutout for the first times since the 2017 state championship game and the first time in the regular season since August of 2014. To be fair to the Demons, they have not shied away from tough competition as their losses have come against ranked teams from Class 7A and Class 6A. Warner Robins is averaging 9 points per game this season while allowing 20.3 points per game. 

The Dutchtown Bulldogs are 4-0 for the second time since 2019. The Bulldogs are averaging 30.2 points per game while allowing 10.5 points per game. They are averaging 285 yards per game of offense. Quarterback Josiah Jarrett has thrown for 405 yards and 4-TDs but has also thrown 5 interceptions. Meanwhile, Jamal Bing has rushed for 485 yards and 5-TDs and is averaging 6.8 yards per carry. 

We believe this game might decide the region title. We know that’s a bold statement considering this is the first week of region play in Region 2-5A. While we know Warner Robins has struggled a bit offensively, we believe they will do just enough to edge out Dutchtown this week. We like the Demons by 3 at home.

The Skinny

The Perry Panthers scored a big win last week over Veterans High and will now face perennial Class 3A power Peach County. The offense is led by quarterback Armar Gordon who has thrown for 855 yards and 11-TDs. Gordon has not thrown an interception this season. His top receiver has been Dakarai Anderson. Through the first three games, Anderson had caught 17 passes for 391 yards and 5-TDs. Running back Demetrius Carter has rushed for 611 yards and 7-TDs. Defensively, De’Untae Kendrick has already intercepted three passes. He leads the defense that has intercepted seven passes on the year. 

The Peach County Trojans did it with defense last week as they held Jones County to just three points and forcing four interceptions. On the season, the Trojans are averaging 30.6 points per game while the defense is allowing 19.3. Peach might not be as highly ranked as they have been in years past, but they certainly have some players capable of making big plays including quarterback Colton Ginn and wide receiver Isaiah Mitchell. Peyton Joseph is a Power-5 type offensive lineman for the Trojans.

The Trojans have dominated this series, but this Perry team is a little different this season. While we believe Peach can hang in there for the first half, we believe the Panthers pull away in the second half. Perry by 11.

The Skinny

The LaGrange Grangers will look to go 4-0 for the second consecutive season. The LaGrange offense has put up impressive numbers through the first three games of the season, averaging 49 points per game, while the defense looks to be right on par with last season’s performance, allowing 20.6 points per game. LaGrange have a few different options at running back including, Jaylen Brown, A.J. Tucker and Malachi Fannin-Render. They have the benefit of running behind an offensive line anchored by Jycel “Maple” Mosley, an All-State preseason selection. 

The Starr’s Mill Panthers are 3-0 for the first time since 2017. While the Panthers offense has been pretty good this year, they have really been outstanding on defense, allowing just 9.6 points per game, including one shutout. Offensively, the Panthers are still a run first team, this year it’s been Greigh Joseph doing most of the damage on the ground with over 300 yards on the ground through three games. While we don’t spend a whole lot of time talking special teams, it’s certainly worth mentioning that Starr’s Mill kicker Max Prozny is one of the top place kickers in the nation. 

We expect for Starr’s Mill to use their run game to keep the explosive Lagrange offense on the sideline. The Grangers are a really good football team, but something tells us the Starr’s Mill defense will be up to the task this week. We like the Panthers by 4 on the road. 

The Skinny

The Troup Tigers are 3-0 for the second time in four years and will look to get to 4-0 for the first time since 2018. This might be as talented of a Troup team there has been in the past few years. Quarterback Tae Todd is an electric dual threat player. He has rushed for 449 yards and 8-TDs and passed for 461 yards and 5-TDs. Troup is averaging 35 points per game on the young season. Defensively, Qua Birdsong, Qua Moss and Noah Dixon lead the Tigers as they are allowing just 11.6 points per game.

The Whitewater Wildcats are 3-0 for the first time since 2016. The Wildcats have leaned heavily on the run this season, averaging 195 yards per game on the ground. Running Backs Xavier Clay-Turner and Braxton Mueller have combined to rush for 290 yards and 5-TDs. Defensively, the Wildcats are led by Popo Aguirre, Will Snellings and Blake Elsenpeter. The trio leads the team in total tackles and paces a defense allowing 16.6 points per game. 

This Whitewater defense might be the best that Troup his seen to date. Conversely, we don’t believe that Whitewater has faced a player of Tao Todd’s caliber to this point in the season. We don’t anticipate a high scoring affair, but we do like Troup and Todd Thursday night. Tigers by 6.

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