This week’s top Middle Georgia high school football games

Northside at Warner Robins: One of the nation’s top rivalries pits No. 1 in the state against a team trying to get back in the polls. It’s power vs. power in a huge GHSA Region 2-AAAAA showdown. Northside held on to win this game by three last year.

Houston County at Jones County: Here’s hoping it’s a young and fleet-footed officiating crew for No. 2 vs. No. 6, teams that run to the line and combine for an average of 46 pass attempts per game. The stadium might be full 45 minutes before kickoff.

Southwest vs. Central (at Henderson Stadium): The Region 2-AAA race has been made interesting by a Spencer squad that knocked off Southwest and Jackson in back-to-back weeks. Central, Southwest and Spencer are tied for fourth at 2-2, a game back of third-place Jackson and 1- 1/2 games behind second-place Westside.

Upson-Lee at Mary Persons: The Bulldogs and Knights flexed some muscles last week. Upson-Lee was humbled in last year’s meeting, 42-0 at home.

Twiggs County at Stratford: While Stratford was expected to be in the mix in Region 7A-A with some veteran skill players, Twiggs County has come on strong in the past three weeks under first-year head coach Ashley Harden. Few would have guessed this matchup would determine sole possession of first place in the sub-region, but that’s where things are at through two weeks of sub-region play.

Tattnall Square at FPD: Both teams will be looking to snap three-game losing streaks and pick up some much-needed power rating points.

John Milledge at Westfield: The Hornets have another showdown with a team hoping to knock them from their perch, John Milledge coming in at 7-0 after allowing only two opponents to crack double figures.

Windsor at Briarwood: Both the Knights and the Buccaneers won their GISA Region 4-AA openers easily last week, setting up a battle for first place in the four-team region.

Benedictine at Vidalia: The Indians don’t have quite the same punch since linebacker Nate McBride was lost to a season-ending injury, so they are serious underdogs against the top-ranked Cadets, who lost 35-28 at home last year in this spot.

Dublin at East Laurens: These two haven’t been two or more games above .500 at kickoff since 2012 and for a while before that. But the Irish come in with more momentum than the Raiders, who have lost two straight.

Marion County at Hawkinsville: The Red Devils’ loss last week to Dooly County took some shine off this meeting, and they’ll need a huge performance against the No. 4 Eagles, who have allowed seven points in their past three games.

This story was originally published October 12, 2015 at 5:47 PM with the headline "This week’s top Middle Georgia high school football games ."