This is Part I of our GHSA Football Previews called Eight Greats Around The State. A lot is at stake this week as region pictures start to become clearer as we enter the final stretch of the regular season. Our first preview features a clash of titans in Region 1-6A as Valdosta hosts Lee County. These two teams have won the last 3 state titles in class 6-A. Will the Wildcats avenge last year’s drubbing at the hands of Lee County? In Region 5-6A, the Mays Raiders host upstart South Paulding. The Spartans have come from out of nowhere this season to challenge for a region title. Will their aerial assault give the Raiders secondary trouble this week? In a rematch of the 5-A state title game, Bainbridge hosts Warner Robins. The Bearcats have dropped their last two games and things don’t look so peachy with Warner Robins coming to town. Can the Bearcats stop the bleeding with a big win this week? Finally, in Region 2-4A, Mary Persons hosts West Laurens. The West Laurens Raiders look to be a serious contender for the region title this year. But we know Mary Persons won’t go quietly into the night. Is this the Raiders year? As always, please feel free to share and comment.
Key:
TFR – Turd Ferguson Report
NR – Not Ranked
The Skinny
Valdosta and Lee County will tangle this week in a game that should determine the Region 1-6A title. Last season, Lee earned their only win in the series with a resounding 63-7 beat down of the Wildcats. The Trojans had been humming along early until a shocking loss to 3A Peach County. Lee County is still averaging 38.1 points per game while their defense has recorded three shutouts and is allowing only 9.2 points per game.
Meanwhile, the Valdosta Wildcats are looking not only to avenge last season’s loss, but also get a stranglehold on the region title. The Cats last won the region title in 2016. Consequently, that year, they also won the state title. Valdosta is averaging 40 points per game while their defense is allowing 18.5 points per game. This game features two of the top quarterbacks in 6A in Lee County’s Kyle Toole and Valdosta’s Tate Rodemaker. The game has all the makings of a knock down, drag out brawl. We like the Cats to win this week. Valdosta by 4.
The Skinny
While there is still a lot to be decided in Region 5-6A, the winner of the Mays-South Paulding game might just secure the region title. Since their week-1 loss to Kell by 5 points, the Mays Raiders have been on a tear; reeling off six consecutive victories. While the Raiders are average a healthy 29.5 points per game, it has been the defense who has stymied most of their opponents, allowing only 11.7 points per game. Weapons on offense for the Raiders include senior receiver Zaire Thornton and senior running back Tyree Nelson.
Meanwhile, South Paulding, who had gone through some growing pains over the last three seasons finds themselves in the thick of a race for the region title. The Spartans have done most of their damage through the air this season. Quarterback Austin Seymour has passed for over 1,800 yards and 23-TDs. His top two receivers are receiver Parker Self (61 receptions, 982 yards, 12-TDs) and tight end Miles Campbell (34 receptions, 405 yards, 7-TDs). Together, this trio has helped power South Paulding’s offense to average 36.5 points per game. We think this game should be a back and forth battle. We like Mays to edge South Paulding by 2.
The Skinny
The Bainbridge Bearcats started off the season red hot, but have dropped their last two games. This week, they will host the Warner Robins Demons in a rematch of the 2018 state title. Bainbridge has been pretty stout on defense, allowing 13.1 points per game. Quayde Hawkins has passed for 1,125 yards and 9-TDs while Rashad Broadnax has rushed for 718 yards and 8-TDs. Deyon Bouie continues to lead the secondary with 3 interceptions this season as a sophomore.
While a win this week by Warner Robins won’t necessarily avenge last season’s state title game, it will move the Demons one step closer to a region title. Warner Robins is averaging 33.5 points per game. They are led by junior quarterback Jalen Addie (1,383 passing yards, 16-TDs), junior running back Jalen Rutherford (660 rushing yards, 3-TDs) and senior wide receiver Marcayl Jones (25 receptions, 474 yards, 2-TDs). The Demons defense is only allowing 13.5 points per game. We don’t believe that the Demons will get to 33 points this week, but we do like them over the Bearcats. Warner Robins by 9.
The Skinny
For the last four years, the Region 2-4A title has gone through Mary Persons. The Bulldogs have not lost a region game since 2014. This season they are still undefeated in the region, but have a serious challenger in the West Laurens Raiders. The Bulldogs are averaging 28.7 points per game, but their defense is allowing 28.2 points per game. William Stewart leads the way at running back with 541 yards and 6-TDs, while quarterbacks Malikk Harris and Logan Hickman have combined to pass for 816 yards and 10-TDs.
If you were wondering when the last time Mary Persons lost a region game, it was in fact to West Laurens on November 7, 2014. A win by the Raiders this week will not guaranty a region title, but it will certainly boost confidence over the last two weeks. Quarterback A.J. Mathis has passed for 1,425 yards and 14-TDs while Brent Car has caught 51 passes for 807 yards. D’Eryck Jackson leads the team in total tackles with 62 and has 5 sacks. As a team, West Laurens has tallied 36 sacks on the year. Daniel Dorsey leads the secondary with 4 interceptions. West Laurens is averaging 36.8 points per game while the defense is allowing 13.1 points. We think this game will be close and we don’t expect for West to score 36 points, but we do like them by a touchdown this week on the road.