This week’s Middle Georgia football capsules

TOP FIVE

WESTSIDE VS. CENTRAL

Game time/site: 7:30 p.m./Henderson Stadium.

Series history: Westside leads 13-0.

Last meeting: Westside won 35-7 in 2014.

Key Seminoles: Donta Pate (Jr., RB); Savion Knowlton (Jr., QB); Gerimie Mitchell (Sr., WR).

Key Chargers: Derrick Evans (Sr., QB/OLB); Antonio Sanders Jr. (Jr., RB); Ivory Childers (Sr., WR).

Scouting report: Yes, this series has been one-sided. Yes, Central has scored more than a touchdown against Westside on just three occasions. But Central has some veteran talent to go up against Westside’s perennially strong program, and this one could be as wild as Westside’s three-point win last week over West Laurens or Central’s one-point loss two weeks ago to Howard. This will be the first time this season in which Westside, ranked 10th in GHSA Class AAA, has faced a strong passing attack, with Evans having thrown for 747 yards in three games. Knowlton is getting things done, as well, throwing for eight touchdowns in three contests.

WARNER ROBINS VS. HOUSTON COUNTY

Game time/site: 7:30 p.m./McConnell-Talbert Stadium.

Series history: Warner Robins leads 12-4-1.

Last meeting: Houston County won 62-30 in 2014.

Key Demons: Mychal Jackson (Jr., OL); Conner Johnston (Sr., FB); Michael Bradley (Jr., CB); Tyrome Tharpe (Sr., LB); Marquez Callaway (Sr., DB/WR).

Key Bears: Daniel Jackson (Sr., OL); Mack McCullough (Jr., LB); Payton Johnson (Sr., WR); Kor’darius Melton (Jr., DL); Jake Fromm (Jr., QB).

Scouting report: Warner Robins was 0-for-5 passing last week, and it’s highly unlikely the Demons can survive anything near that against the Bears. Houston County is a little smaller up front but has some depth. The Demons are the underdogs, but anything near a repeat of last year’s game would be an even bigger shock than, well, last year’s game.

VETERANS AT VALDOSTA

Game time: 7:30 p.m.

Series history: Valdosta leads 1-0.

Last meeting: Valdosta won 34-0 in 2014.

Key Warhawks: Desjuan Harris (Sr., RB); Isaiah Gray (Sr., WR/DB); Josh Lee (Jr., LB); Kaiman Smith (Jr., DB); Logan Byrd (Sr., QB/P).

Key Wildcats: Seth Shuman (Sr., QB); JJ Strickland (Jr., RB); Tyrese Doe (Jr., DL).

Scouting report: Veterans enters the game with some desperately needed momentum and at least a little confidence after last week’s solid win at Washington County. But the Warhawks are still a little stagnant on offense, and they face a quality athletic quarterback and a Class AAAAAA team averaging 42 points per game.

AQUINAS AT STRATFORD

Game time: 7:30 p.m.

Series history: Aquinas leads 1-0.

Last meeting: Aquinas won 28-27 in 2014.

Key Fighting Irish: Liam Welch (Sr., QB); Will Evans (Sr., DL).

Key Eagles: Quintez Cephus (Sr., SE/DB); O’Showen Williams (Sr., RB/DB); Sim Patrick (Sr., QB).

Scouting report: Class A No. 8 Aquinas’ 24-game regular-season winning streak came to an end Aug. 28 when Prince Avenue Christian rolled to a 42-12 victory in Augusta. But last year’s GHSA Region 7-A champion still has Welch, who has drawn interest from Mercer and Liberty after throwing for 1,973 yards a year ago. Stratford had last week off following a 48-21 loss to Wesleyan, currently ranked fifth in Class AA.

MACON COUNTY AT FITZGERALD

Game time: 7:30 p.m.

Series history: Fitzgerald leads 3-0.

Last meeting: Fitzgerald won 41-34 in 2014.

Key Bulldogs: Curt McDonald (Jr., LB/RB); K’hari Lane (Jr., QB); Kyron Smith (Sr., CB); Malik Walker (Sr., TE/DL); Trey Brown (Soph., WR).

Key Purple Hurricane: Josh Reliford (Jr., DB); JD King (Jr., FB); Markeylon Lundy (Soph., LB); Buck Lundy (Sr., LB); Kobe Burch (Jr., C).

Scouting report: Macon County’s loss to Perry last week took some luster off of the non-region showdown, but both teams are still ranked. The No. 9 Bulldogs throw a lot, and the No. 2 Purple Hurricane throw very little, so this is another nice matchup of contrasts.

OTHER GAMES TO WATCH

SPENCER AT PEACH COUNTY

Game time: 8 p.m.

Series history: Peach County leads 12-0.

Last meeting: Peach County won 35-6 in 2014.

Key Greenwave: Ervin Davis (Jr., WR/DB); Tyrell Smith (Sr., RB); Dayquon Thornton (Jr., DL);

Key Trojans: Tyrique McGhee (Sr., QB/DB); Fletcher Hooks (Jr., OL/DL); Kevin Nixon (Jr., LB); James Jackson (Jr., RB).

LAGRANGE AT MARY PERSONS

Game time: 7:30 p.m.

Series history: LaGrange leads 3-1.

Last meeting: Mary Persons won 24-6 in 2014.

Key Grangers: Enrique Moody (Sr., RB); Ahmad Ogletree (Jr., DB); Emmanuel Mann (Sr., DT).

Key Bulldogs: DB Elijah Hawkins (Sr., DB); Dan O’Neal (Jr., DL); Malik Herring (Jr., DE); Zach Harvey (Jr., RB); Dilon Treadwell (Sr., OL).

BROOKS COUNTY AT PERRY

Game time: 7:30 p.m.

Series history: Tied at 2.

Last meeting: Brooks County won 22-3.

Key Trojans: Demontay Jones (Sr., QB); Terell Lamons (Sr., WR).

Key Panthers: Ashton Strange (Sr., OL/DL); Damion Bagley (Sr., Ath.); Jamir Johnson (Sr., Ath.); Anfernee Roberson (Jr., DE/TE); Khalil Alexander (Jr., RB)

KENDRICK AT RUTLAND

Game time/site: 7:30 p.m./Ed DeFore Sports Complex.

Series history: Rutland leads 1-0.

Last meeting: Rutland won 22-14 in 2014.

Key Cherokees: Tyrell Smith (Sr., RB); Antwan Burns (Sr., DB).

Key Hurricanes: Ladarian Womack (Sr., RB/FS); K’vian Fuller (Soph., QB); Anthony Whitehead (Sr., WR).

GMC at FPD

Game time: 7:30 p.m.

Series history: FPD leads 8-0.

Last meeting: FPD won 31-7 in 2014.

Key Bulldogs: Devin Hill (Sr., OL/DL); Tyler MacCartee (Sr., QB/LB); Michael Skinner (Jr., FB/LB).

Key Vikings: Will McCormick (Sr., QB); Reggie Gantt (Sr., FB); Torrian Bradley-McSwain (Jr., CB).

MOUNT DE SALES AT STRONG ROCK

Game time: 7:30 p.m.

Series history: Mount de Sales leads 1-0.

Last meeting: Mount de Sales won 28-14 in 2014.

Key Cavaliers: Nic Allman (Sr., WR); Adrian Hardwick (Soph., RB); Adrian Lester (Sr., DL).

Key Patriots: Demetrius Knight (Fr., QB/DB); Derek Albert (Sr., RB/S); Matthew Postin (Sr., WR/DB).

SHAW AT NORTHEAST

Game time/site: 7:30 p.m./Thompson Stadium.

Series history: Shaw leads 1-0.

Last meeting: Shaw won 38-14 in 2014.

Key Shaw Raiders: Austin Hester (Sr., DL); Cameron Paulding (Sr., WR); B.J. Knight (Sr., DB).

Key Northeast Raiders: Christopher Spencer (Sr., FS/WR); Phillip Thomas (Jr., RB/SS); JacQuez Durham (Jr., WR).

HANCOCK CENTRAL AT TATTNALL SQUARE

Game time: 7:30 p.m.

Series history: Tattnall leads 1-0.

Last meeting: Tattnall won 28-8 in 2014.

Key Bulldogs: Ravenell Hill (Sr., LB); Montorious Hall (Jr., RB).

Key Trojans: Aubrien Kemp (Sr., FS); Ahmad Barron (Jr., RB); Christian Rodgers (Jr., DT).

REST OF THE SCHEDULE

Dublin at Bleckley County

Chattahoochee County at Crawford County

Thomasville at Baldwin

Ola at Lamar County

Brentwood at Gatewood

Monticello at Morgan County

John Milledge at Piedmont

Calvary Day at Johnson County

Savannah Country Day at Montgomery County

Social Circle at Putnam County

Turner County at Telfair County

Vidalia at McIntosh County

Twiggs County at Lincoln County

Wilkinson County at Warren County

Lanier County at Wilcox County

Jenkins County at Wheeler County

Savannah Christian at Treutlen

Central-Talbotton at Dooly County

Brookstone at Hawkinsville

Taylor County at Schley County

Dougherty at Crisp County

Upson-Lee at Northside-Columbus

Southeast Bulloch at Dodge County

Burke County at Washington County

Jeff Davis at Long County

East Laurens at Stewart County

Harvester Christian at CFCA

Robert F. Munroe at Crisp Academy

Fullington at Creekside

Trinity Christian-Dublin at Robert Toombs

John Hancock at Appling Christian

Crosspointe at Westside Christian, Saturday

This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 5:02 PM with the headline "This week’s Middle Georgia football capsules ."