Friday’s Middle Georgia high school football capsules
All games at 7:30 p.m. on Friday unless noted.
Top five
Macon County at Northside
Series history: First meeting.
Scouting report: There’s a difference of about 41 miles and 1,400 students. But the Bulldogs will bring a fair amount of Division I prospects to McConnell-Talbert Stadium. It probably won’t be the normal GHSA Class 6A vs. Class 1A type game, at least for a good while and especially if Northside is looking ahead.
Spalding at Mary Persons
Series history: Mary Persons leads 5-1.
Last meeting: Spalding won 21-0 in 2009.
Scouting report: Mary Persons had a week off after giving up a fourth-quarter lead to Peach County, and then saw Spalding give Houston County one of its toughest regular-season games in recent years against somebody not named “Northside.”
Pike County at Central
Location: Henderson Stadium.
Series history: Pike County leads 2-0.
Last meeting: Pike County won 36-6 in 2013.
Scouting report: The last time these two teams met, Central was still learning the ropes of head coach Jesse Hicks’ system. This time, the Chargers are 5-0 for the first time in 35 years. Pike County, meanwhile, is off to its best start in five years.
FPD at Twiggs County
Series history: FPD leads 4-0.
Last meeting: FPD won 52-38 in 2015.
Scouting report: This game is among the top Class 1A games happening statewide this week. FPD tops the Class 1A private school power ratings, while Twiggs County is No. 2 in the Class 1A public school ratings.
Taylor County at Crawford County
Series history: Taylor County leads 22-8.
Last meeting: Taylor County won 52-0 in 2013.
Scouting report: Taylor County tries to get back on track after getting substantially humbled by Macon County, while Crawford County hopes to go 2-0 in region play for the first time since 2007. Only two of the past 11 meetings have been decided by 14 points or less.
Other games to watch
Warner Robins at Coffee
Series history: Coffee leads 5-3.
Last meeting: Coffee won 37-10 in 2015.
Scouting report: Only two Warner Robins head coaches since the 1960s weren’t connected to the school at the time of their hiring, and this game pits those two coaches, Robby Pruitt and Mike Chastain.
Hampton at Jones County
Series history: First meeting.
Scouting report: The Greyhounds cruised last week despite news of forfeiting the Washington County win, and, on paper, they should repeat that against a 1-4 team.
West Laurens at Howard
Series history: West Laurens leads 7-1.
Last meeting: West Laurens won 21-14 in 2015.
Scouting report: West Laurens has been the lone win for two teams and is no doubt anxious to prove both defeats as flukes.
Dougherty at Perry
Series history: Dougherty leads 3-1.
Last meeting: Dougherty won 34-9 in 2009.
Scouting report: A pair of 1-3 teams trying to figure things out meet in non-region play.
Northeast at Dodge County
Series history: Northeast leads 2-0.
Last meeting: Northeast won 25-0 in 2003.
Scouting report: Both teams raised eyebrows last week, in different ways, Dodge County for trailing and losing to Southwest and Northeast for hammering Bleckley County.
Mount de Sales at Stratford
Series history: Stratford leads 28-16.
Last meeting: Stratford won 49-12 in 2015.
Scouting report: Stratford is riding high following an impressive win over Lincoln County, while Mount de Sales had a week off to prepare for the Eagles.
Wilkinson County at Tattnall Square
Series history: Series tied at 1.
Last meeting: Wilkinson County won 26-0 in 2015.
Scouting report: Tattnall has shined against mediocre competition, outscoring its four opponents (combined record 3-16) 153-7. The Trojans face another winless team in Wilkinson County.
Rest of the schedule
Dublin at Bleckley County
Washington County at East Laurens
Putnam County at Oglethorpe County
GMC at Temple
Hancock Central at Aquinas
Memorial at Westfield
Gatewood at Terrell Academy
Brentwood at FPCA
John Hancock at CFCA
Covenant at Johnson Ferry
This story was originally published September 29, 2016 at 3:16 PM with the headline "Friday’s Middle Georgia high school football capsules."