The Georgia High School Football Daily’s Weekend Predictions: Who’s winning and losing in Week Four
By CHIP SAYE
For the AJC
My apologies to Burke County.
Actually, there are 43 teams in the state that I owe an apology, 43 teams that I didn’t believe could win their games last weekend. Sorry, Lakeside-DeKalb. I was wrong, Mays. Those were two of my biggest errors.
But the Burke County pick is the one that sticks with me.
Last week I said “the Bears likely won’t have enough to take down Statesboro.” I took a lot of grief for that, even though I also said, “Burke County has impressed in its first two games.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t think Burke County was good. I just thought Statesboro was better. The Bears proved me wrong 35-17, and now I’m on board. That doesn’t mean I’ll pick them to win every week. The remaining schedule is brutal, but I’ll be picking them a lot more often than not. I know they won’t lose this week – Burke County takes the week off before playing Brunswick on Sept. 25 (sneak preview – I’m going with the Bears).
As for Lovett, it wasn’t so much that I had no faith in you. It’s just that I would have taken Buford over anyone on its schedule and will continue to do so. So congratulations to the Lions.
With that out of the way, we look ahead to this week’s games. And even though it’s still early, some will go a long way in determining region champions.
East Paulding at McEachern: The thinking going into the season was that the top three challengers for the Region 5-AAAAA title would be Etowah, Woodstock and East Paulding, with McEachern being the sleeper. Well, it looks like somebody woke up McEachern, which now has two down and one to go. The Indians crushed Etowah in the region opener, then rallied in dramatic fashion to beat Woodstock. McEachern clears the final hurdle tonight at home and then cruises to the 5-AAAAA championship.
South Gwinnett at Grayson: Grayson was the overwhelming choice to win Region 8-AAAAA, and it hasn’t disappointed in its 3-0 start. South Gwinnett, on the other hand, came into the year off a 4-6, non-playoff season in 2008. But South Gwinnett is acting like it wants to move past Parkview and Brookwood as Grayson’s top challenger in the region. The Comets have scored 49 points in each of their three games, but Grayson has allowed only 3.3 points per game. Something has to give, and I think it will be South Gwinnett’s scoring spree. Grayson gets a big leg up in the region race by winning at home.
Mount Zion-Jonesboro at Griffin: Both teams had nice playoff runs last season, but both finished behind North Clayton in Region 4-AAAA. All three teams are ranked this season, and Mount Zion and Griffin both have to deal with North Clayton later, so this game won’t settle everything. But the winner will be set up for a potential region championship game down the road. I’m going with Griffin. The Bears play North Clayton on Oct. 9.
Elsewhere:
• Four undefeated teams from Region 1-AAAAA go head-to-head Friday night.
• Take Lowndes over Colquitt County and Northside-Warner Robins over Valdosta Carver-Columbus, formerly No. 1 in Class AAA, and Baldwin, formerly No. 4, both lost last week. Expect Carver to bounce back at home.
• Peachtree Ridge should improve to 3-1, but it is likely to get a good test from a 3-0 North Forsyth team.
The weekend predictions
Last week: 137-43 (.761); Overall: 399-127 (.759)
Friday
Winner / Loser
Alcovy /Stockbridge
Allatoona / N. Cobb Christian
Appling Co. / Jeff Davis
Aquinas / Georgia Military
Armuchee / Model
Athens Christian/Glascock Co.
Bacon Co. / Randolph-Clay
Bainbridge/Harris Co.
Banks Co./Rabun Co.
Banneker/Douglas Co.
Blessed Trinity/Wash.-Wilkes
Brooks Co./Turner Co.
Brookstone/Taylor Co.
Brunswick/Savannah
Carrollton/Whitewater
Carver-Col./Baldwin
Cedar Grove/Columbia
Cedar Shoals/Madison Co.
Central-Carroll/Coosa
Chamblee/Lithonia
Chapel Hill/Riverdale
Charlton Co./Tattnall Co.
Chattahoochee/South Forsyth
Chattahoochee Co./Central-Talb.
Chattooga/Cedartown
Clarke Central/Apalachee
Claxton/Hawkinsville
Clinch Co./Calhoun Co.
Collins Hill/Northview
Creekview/West Forsyth
Cross Creek/Butler
Dacula/Central Gwinnett
Dalton/Murray Co.
Dougherty/Worth Co.
Dublin/Dodge Co.
Dunwoody/Clarkston
East Coweta/Creekside
East Jackson/Union Co.
Effingham Co./Windsor Forest
ECI/Wheeler Co.
Etowah/Cherokee
Evans/Harlem
Fannin Co./Dawson Co.
Flowery Branch/Chestatee
Gainesville/North Hall
Gilmer/East Hall
Gordon Central/Trion
Grady/Washington
Grayson/South Gwinnett
Greenville/Taylor Co.
Griffin/Mt. Zion-Jonesboro
Groves/Wayne Co.
Hardaway/Lee Co.
Harrison/South Cobb
Heard Co./Pike Co.
Hephzibah/Westside-Aug.
Heritage-Conyers/Winder-Barrow
Hillgrove/Decatur
Hiram/Northgate
Holy Innocents’/SW Atl. Christian
Irwin Co./Portal
Jackson/Rutland
Jackson Co./Prince Avenue
Jefferson/Oglethorpe Co.
Jefferson Co./Bleckley Co.
Johns Creek/Langston Hughes
Johnson Co./Metter
LaFayette/Lakeview-Ft. Ogle.
LaGrange/Central-Macon
Lakeside-Evans/Glenn Hills
Landmark Christian/O.L. of Mercy
Lassiter/Campbell
Loganville/Habersham Central
Lovejoy/Pebblebrook
Lovett/Towers
Lowndes/Colquitt Co.
Luella/Fayette Co.
Macon Co./Lamar Co.
Manchester/Crawford Co.
Marion Co./Stewart Co.
Marist/North Springs
Mays/Alexander
McEachern/East Paulding
McIntosh/Northside-Col.
McIntosh Co. Acad./Long Co.
Mill Creek/Duluth
Miller Co./Lanier Co.
Milton/Alpharetta
Monroe/Crisp Co.
Monticello/Hancock Central
Mount Paran/Locust Grove
Mt. Zion-Carroll/Hebron Christian
Newnan/Morrow
North Cobb/Kennesaw Mountain
North Gwinnett/Norcross
North Oconee/Riverside Military
Northside-W.R./Valdosta
NW Whitfield/Woodland-Bartow
Parkview/Meadowcreek
Paulding Co./Haralson Co.
Peachtree Ridge/North Forsyth
Pickens/Johnson-Gaines.
Pope/Centennial
Ringgold/South Paulding
Rockmart/Dade Co.
Rome/Cass
Roswell/Kell
St. Pius/Carver-Atlanta
Salem/Monroe Area
Sandy Creek/Osborne
Screven Co./Toombs Co.
Seminole Co./Atkinson Co.
Shiloh/Berkmar
Social Circle/North Paulding
Sonoraville/Temple
South Effingham/Beach
SE Whitfield/Heritage-Catoosa
SW DeKalb/Lakeside-DeKalb
Spalding/Eagle’s Landing
Sprayberry/Starr’s Mill
Statesboro/Thomson
Stephenson/Ware Co.
Swainsboro/East Laurens
Terrell Co./Pelham
Thomas Co. Central/Upson-Lee
Treutlen/Montgomery Co.
Tucker/Miller Grove
Vidalia/SE Bulloch
Villa Rica/Lithia Springs
Warner Robins/Tift Co.
Warren Co./Dooly Co.
Walton/Wheeler
West Laurens/Telfair Co.
Westlake/Mundy’s Mill
Westover/Perry
Westside-Macon/Jones Co.
Westminster/Cartersville
White Co./West Hall
Whitefield Acad./Mount Pisgah
Wilcox Co./Bryan Co.
Wilkinson Co./Sav. Country Day
Woodland-Henry/Jackson-Atlanta
Woodstock/Marietta
Saturday
Benedictine/Pierce Co.
Liberty Co./Glynn Academy
Mary Persons/South Atlanta
McNair/Druid Hills
North Atlanta/Therrell
Stone Mountain/Forsyth Central
* Games involving out-of-state teams not included
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82 comments Add your comment
grayram
September 18th, 2009
1:50 pm
in the article summing up teams season so far Michael Carvell wrote that Grayson’s win over Camden was blamed on poor coaching from Camden.
I watched that game and didn’t think it was as close as the score ended up. Camden couldn’t move the ball at all and their 10 points were a gift. I’m sure by the end of the season Camden will be much better but that game was won by Grayson’s defense, not lost by poor coaching.
BIG Steve, Chamblee High School class of 1998
September 18th, 2009
1:57 pm
Here are my predictions, coming from the Eastside of Atlanta:
Southwest Dekalb over Lakeside-Dekalb
Stephenson over Ware County
Chamblee over Lithonia
Cedar Grove over Columbia
McNair over N. Druid Hills
Tucker over Miller Grove
Stone Mountain over those racists people from Forsyth County.
Also, shout out to RB Mack Brown from my nephew’s Alma Mater, MLK High School in Lithonia, GA, verbally committing to the University of Florida.
Also, shout out to Roddy Jones, a fellow Chamblee Alumnus who’s in his 2nd year, and doing his thing at my Alma Mater, Georgia Tech.
wildboar
September 18th, 2009
1:58 pm
Yo,How bad did Worth lose to Fitzgerald?
SportsFan31313
September 18th, 2009
2:31 pm
EagleNationsRising,
I believe MAC will beat East Paulding….
SportsFan31313
September 18th, 2009
2:34 pm
EagleNationsRising,
I like East Paulding, but McEachern is quietly beating the mess out of it’s opponents this year. This could be the come back for McEachern. I’m giving the edge to MaEachern this year as well because of how well they are playing in addition to McEachern having the home field advantage.
SportsFan31313
September 18th, 2009
2:35 pm
Yo,
You know what? You’re right… I have forgotten……
SportsFan31313
September 18th, 2009
2:36 pm
Yo,
What was the score????
RAIDER FAN
September 18th, 2009
2:37 pm
I have to agree with you RealisticEPfan. I myself feel somewhat embarased when our fans start booing when something doesn’t go our way, and even moreso when the b.s. chanting starts. A little more dignity would go a long way towards the way other teams and fans look at E.P. Good luck to both teams tonight, I look forward to a great game.
SportsFan31313
September 18th, 2009
2:44 pm
Okay Yo,
I have it. Coffee County 16 Houston County 2
SportsFan31313
September 18th, 2009
2:47 pm
RealisticEPFan,
I’m sorry. I wrote to the wrong person those comment were for you and not EagleNationsRising.
Anyway to answer your question, I like East Paulding, but McEachern is quietly beating the mess out of it’s opponents this year. This could be the come back for McEachern. I’m giving the edge to MaEachern this year as well because of how well they are playing in addition to McEachern having the home field advantage.
RealisticEPFan
September 18th, 2009
2:49 pm
SportsFan31313: Ok,,,,but have you seen either EP or McEachern play this year?
BOB
September 18th, 2009
3:05 pm
The Mac will be the toughest team Coach Reid and EAST have played since Reids arrival @ EAST.
SOOOOOO, I think a tough low scoring game if the weather was dry. Don’t sound like thats the case tonight with the forecast though.
Which means East has a better chance in a slippery muddy field. East has a very big offensive play book, their always good at special teams.
Mac can’t load up eight in the box, East will throw over the top on ya and set you up for the bigger play/plays later on. We have a big O-Line which will provide a strong running attack with the RB’s we have.
I’m a Huge Raider Fan, But I’m very nervous about the Indians, Their very, very good.
East needs a near perfect game to pull this one out. Get a few breaks and/or fumbles and we just might get lucky and pull this one out. This is a huge game. I’m pumped up big time Holy crap I love this stuff!
I hope that Cannon go off somehow
Etowah Fan
September 18th, 2009
3:06 pm
To the R5-AAAAA crowd: So Wolverine2Blazer posed the question… if McE beats EP (my prediction too), what is the 2, 3, 4 finish (assuming McE wins out)? Realistic answers, not the smack talk. We can leave that week-to-week.
My prediction: 2 – Woodstock, 3 – EP, 4 – Etowah
BOB
September 18th, 2009
3:14 pm
Etowah Fan
I’m not sure until after tonights game. But East, MAC, The Stock, and Etowah R all very solid teams. Sorry I’m kinda sitting back and waiting until later tonight.
HeadEast
September 18th, 2009
3:28 pm
Diginity and grace will be left behind at the Paulding county line. The good people of Powder Springs would be wise to lock up the women and children and put an armed guard around that racist wooden Indian statue you have in the end zone because….The Raiders are Coming, The Raiders are Coming!!!!!!
canefan
September 18th, 2009
3:31 pm
I believe fitz won 62-0 against worth, fitz also beat coffee 35-0 scrimmage before season… that said houston must not have shown up, I predict fitz will wax brooks and thomasville this year, as for 1AAAAA,I believe valdosta beat worth 55-7 preseason??? Fitz is strong and fast.
THE CANNON RULES!!!
September 18th, 2009
3:33 pm
THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES…
ONLY 4 HOURS NOW and COUNTING!!!!…We’re Coming Powder Town…You called out the BEAST from EAST and it’s on it’s way!!!!
TICK…TICK…TICK…BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
GO RAIDERS!!!!!!
coach
September 18th, 2009
4:16 pm
I think South Gwinnett WILL beat Grayson….
AVikingFan
September 18th, 2009
4:30 pm
yo – I didn’t realize michael was our sack leader! That’s great news. Bet he get’s three tonight.
RealisticEPFan
September 18th, 2009
4:38 pm
HeadEast: You forgot ‘dogs, sheep, goats and small horses’. Paulding County is a comin callin.
(so much for that proper midwest upbrinig of mine).
Heading out in 30. Remember if you can’t make the game, catch real time updates via twitter/text at http://www.twitter.com/epfootballfan
Pops
September 18th, 2009
4:40 pm
Etowah Fan – Sooooo… What you are saying is that Etowah will not beat either Woodstock or EP at home? Then would have to beat Harrison at there place to make the palyoffs? What kind of fan are you? Etowah in a romp tonight at Cerokee then bring on those Wolverine’s and Raiders. I dare say we beat them both!
Pops
September 18th, 2009
4:46 pm
Good luck to the Raiders and the EP posters. You are truly passionate fans. I hope you all win!
HeadEast
September 18th, 2009
4:53 pm
Thanks Pops, you know we always pull for Etowah and Woodstock, if they’re not playing us. Good luck Valdosta. Lowndes Rules! I might not like Grayson all that much but I appreciate the way they play D so good luck Rams. Time to tailgate!
Mayshighfan
September 18th, 2009
8:11 pm
Let’s go Mays.
MHSfan
September 18th, 2009
11:05 pm
Well its over and EP played well, but not well enough. But i must say that close the worst officating crew i have ever seen, on both sides of the ball. MHS 31 EPHS 21. Way to Indians.
MHS #1
September 19th, 2009
11:22 am
Amamzing game by the Indians last night. Really let the Raiders know what Indian football is all about!
Packer 89
September 19th, 2009
11:47 pm
I was at the Packer Lowndes game friday night. I am a packer born and bread and hate the hell out of the vikings, even when they were getting thumped by everybody. I have worked on the sidelines for 22 seasons for the packers (chaincrew) and i cant remember a team being as big as the vikings. They are big fast and strong. Some of the things i saw from them give me hope that they wont win the state title this year. I guess that sounds bad but whatever.
1. Quarterback play– I guess they want this kid to manage the game not asking him to take control of a game and throw the ball downfield. I bet 90 percent of their passes were rollout throws with a run pass option. Except hes not very fast and his recievers can bail him out when he does throw it.
2. Conditioning– Once again this is probably not anything to worry about if your a viking but I thought it was interesting that several of the vikings had to get attention from the trainers for cramping. Granted the humidity in moultrie at 9:30 was close to 100% but if the vikings are going to make a deep run in the playoffs (which they probably will do) they need to have all there key players on the field and not on the sideline drinking water.
3. Lack of intensity– Im sure this sounds stupid and take it as you will but the vikings looked like they took portions of the game off. Lost focus against a team that they should have dominated. Sometime they did dominate Colquitt and when they did they just destroyed us running the ball down or throats. Some series they did nothing?
Lowndes is really good cant take anything away from them but they are beatable, but you better not make the mistakes Colquitt made.
SportsFan31313
September 20th, 2009
1:30 pm
ENR,
You were right…..
SportsFan31313
September 20th, 2009
1:32 pm
Realistic EP Fan,
You see, I told you so…… I still think that East Paulding has a good Team though….
Yo
September 20th, 2009
10:23 pm
packer89
1. Quarterback….I think around 7 of 10 passing. I’ll take that pretty much any time. Also, he is better at running the ball when he has to be. He was rolling out to throw because Colquit’s defense was clogging and blitzing from the middle to stop the run and put pressure on him should he decide to pass.
2.Conditioning…1st game Lowndes starters were not out of the game early this year. As you said a very hot night (and man was it humid), playing your first complete game and what you have is what appears to be lack of conditioning. This was a good game for Lowndes in that it caused us to have to go the distance for the first time and in a hot and tough environment. Actually, by the end of the game it appeared to be 2 very exhausted football teams that were happy to see Lowndes take a knee at the end of the game, instead of Lowndes trying to tack on another score.
Lack of Intensity – Maybe at times. I felt Colquit was the best test we have seen this year and prefer to give Colquit some credit. Colquit is much more physical and faster than last year. The defense gave us our biggest test. The offensive line was excellent on pass protection.
Lowndes went to rushing only 4 (sometimes 3)defensive lineman to put an extra person in pass coverage, thus the reason for so many picks on your qback. It appeared a number of Lowndes picks were linebackers dropping back into coverage. Of course without Lowndes first 2 mistakes (fumble on first play and penalty to put you on the 7 yard line) they wouldn’t have had to cause an interception of Colquit to begin with.
Yes, we are beatable. Too many good AAAAA football teams out there this year, just like last year.
On the other hand I see the Pack making the playoffs this year if they will put the effort out against the rest of 1AAAAA like they did against us Friday night. You have a good defense and a potentially very exlosive offense. Going to be an interesting year for the Pack.
Packer 89
September 21st, 2009
10:45 am
I agree on the conditioning part and both teams were tired cause it was really hot. You probably wont have to worry about that in December or in the Dome for that matter. I thought that yalls quarterback looked slow but compared to what he is surrounded by most anybody would look the same way, however i dont he could win a game having to pass the ball out of the pocket throwing downfield. Im not saying hes no good he got the job done but it would be interesting to see what he could do in that situation. The roll outs gave him the pass/run option and we bite pretty hard on the play fakes but maybe a better team might not do what we did.
And like I said these things probably wont make a lick of difference or will be covered up if lowndes goes out and dominates like they probably will. I just thought I would give my 2 cents worth of what I saw.
It kills me to say it but Lowndes is way better right now than probably any team in the state.
Yo
September 21st, 2009
11:40 pm
Actually Lowndes qback has thrown out of the pocket and done it well this year. I just think your
blitzing defense wouldn’t let him stay in the pocket and thus the roll outs. On the other hand he does roll out a lot and I think that has to do with the offense that is run. He often rolls out carrying out a fake so when it is a pass a roll out is the natural thing to do. He has done a good job scrambling for some pretty good yardage this year when he has needed to.