This week’s Middle Georgia high school football capsules
All games at 7:30 p.m. on Friday unless noted.
Top Five
Houston County at Coffee
Series history: Coffee leads 4-2.
Last meeting: Coffee won 16-2 in 2009.
Scouting report: Coffee has the region's No. 2 rusher (Demetrius Davis) and No. 2 passer (Max Hughes), giving the Bears' defense a balanced attack to worry about after a rough week at Lee County. Getting linebacker Mack McCullough back is huge for Houston County’s defense.
Lee County at Northside
Series history: Northside leads 3-0.
Last meeting: Northside won 45-7 in 2011.
Scouting report: Four of the region's top six rushers are here in what will be a run-dominated game that likely will be decided in some form through the air. A serious old-school football battle between ranked teams who may try something fancy late in a logjam-type game. Keep an eye on the kickers.
Stratford at FPD
Series history: Stratford leads 20-19-1.
Last meeting: Stratford won 41-21 in 2015.
Scouting report: Perhaps the No. 2 rivalry in Middle Georgia behind Northside-Warner Robins in terms of intensity, FPD is 0-2 against Stratford since the series resumed two years ago when the Eagles moved into the GHSA. The winner will have a shot at the Region 7-1A championship game if Tattnall Square beats Twiggs County, otherwise this game is for power points and a whole lot of pride and bragging rights.
Twiggs County at Tattnall Square
Series history: Tied at 1.
Last meeting: Twiggs County won 22-20 in 2015.
Scouting report: A pair of four-win teams from a year ago are off to super hot starts, with unbeaten Tattnall hosting a Twiggs County team that leads the Class 1A public power ratings and hasn’t lost to an in-state opponent. Twiggs County all but wraps up the sub-region with a victory, while a Tattnall win makes it a three-way race between the Trojans, the Cobras and the FPD-Stratford winner.
Washington County at Dodge County
Series history: Tied at 4-4-1.
Last meeting: Washington County won 62-16 in 2013.
Scouting report: Suddenly, Dodge County is the region player everybody expected in August, and the Indians are good at home. Washington County has averaged 37 points a game since losing to Burke County. The Golden Hawks have found some consistency, and October tends to be a good month for them.
Other Games to Watch
Thomas County Central at Veterans
Series history: First meeting.
Scouting report: The Warhawks have some serious rebounding to do after a 31-6 pasting by Bainbridge, and must do so against the seventh-ranked team in GHSA Class 5A.
Warner Robins at Harris County
Series history: Harris County leads 2-0.
Last meeting: Harris County won 33-31 in 2014.
Scouting report: The Tigers are on a two-game losing streak, to smaller programs, and the Demons are on a two-game losing streak, to big schools. Everything for the Demons at this point is about turnovers.
Jones County at Union Grove
Series history: Tied at 1.
Last meeting: Jones County won 31-28 in 2011.
Scouting report: The Greyhounds' first road game since August comes against a 1-4-1 team. Jones County stays in hunt for region title with a win.
Upson-Lee at Perry
Series history: Upson-Lee leads 2-0.
Last meeting: Upson-Lee won 35-7.
Scouting report: Kalen Puckett of Upson-Lee and Damion Bagley of Perry are two of the region's top athletes. The homestanding Panthers have some momentum and can smell a playoff spot.
Baldwin at Thomson
Series history: Thomson leads 5-2.
Last meeting: Baldwin won 34-19 in 2009.
Scouting report: The Braves have a tough task at No. 2 and undefeated Thomson, owner of 14 wins in its past 15 home games.
Jackson at Central
Location: Henderson Stadium.
Series history: Jackson leads 9-0.
Last meeting: Jackson won 34-20 in 2015.
Scouting report: Jackson, the Region 2-3A champion last year, has its eye on a season-ending showdown with Peach County for the Region 4-3A title, while Central is looking to snap a two-game skid and keep itself in the race for a playoff spot.
Peach County at Rutland
Location: Ed DeFore Sports Complex.
Series history: Peach County leads 6-0.
Last meeting: Peach County won 36-0 in 2015.
Scouting report: Peach County has outscored Rutland 212-33 in the series.
Crawford County at Dooly County
Series history: Dooly County leads 5-0.
Last meeting: Dooly County won 34-0 in 2001.
Scouting report: Two spots separate the teams in the Class A public power ratings, and they're on the fence. The Bobcats are in a groove, and three-game winning streak.
Mount de Sales at Wilkinson County
Series history: Series tied at 2.
Last meeting: Wilkinson County won 42-7 in 2015.
Scouting report: Sitting in the 24th and final playoff spot, Mount de Sales looks to pick up some power rating points against winless Wilkinson County.
John Milledge at Augusta Prep
Series history: John Milledge leads 2-0.
Last meeting: John Milledge won 35-7 in 2015.
Scouting report: The visiting team is 8-0, the home team is 7-0. Pretty much sums it up.
Rest of the Schedule
Jordan at Lamar County
Putnam County at Monticello
Taylor County at Hawkinsville
Macon County at Schley County
Glascock County at GMC
Hancock Central at Washington-Wilkes
Westfield at Tiftarea
Flint River at Windsor
John Milledge at Augusta Prep
Monsignor Donovan at Brentwood
Gatewood at Westminster
Piedmont at Bethlehem Temple
Bulloch at Trinity Christian
CFCA at Crosspointe Christian
This story was originally published October 13, 2016 at 5:49 PM with the headline "This week’s Middle Georgia high school football capsules."