This week's top Middle Georgia high school football games

Mary Persons at Veterans: The Warhawks have scored 30 points in four meeting with the Bulldogs. These are power teams with good defenses that are the lone unbeatens in GHSA Region 2-AAAA. Veterans has a tougher remaining schedule (Howard and Upson-Lee) and needs the win more.

Howard at Upson-Lee: The Huskies and Knights are tied in the loss column in Region 2-AAAA at two losses apiece, with Upson-Lee a half-game ahead of Howard in fourth based on an extra region win. With three games remaining, it's not necessarily an elimination game in terms of the postseason, but the loser definitely will have an uphill climb to qualify out of the region.

Jackson at Central: Jackson made the Region 2-AAA race very interesting with its 3-2 win over Peach County. The Red Devils, Trojans and Westside all have one loss in region play, with Central and Spencer sitting on two losses. Anything is possible in the final three weeks, and this game is one of the three -- along with Westside-Spencer on Saturday and Peach County-Westside on Oct. 30 -- that likely will define the playoff picture.

Westside at Spencer, Saturday: Spencer is the surprise team of Region 2-AAA, winning three straight -- with a win over Jackson -- under first-year head coach Pierre Coffey. The Greenwave are right in the middle of the hunt for a playoff spot, while Westside will be looking to go into its showdown with Peach County with another win under its belt.

Warner Robins at Lakeside-Evans: The Demons' attitude this week is huge, since they're coming off a blowout loss to Northside. The Panthers are 3-3 in Region 2-AAAAA, and may sense blood in the water as they try to crack the Middle Georgia stranglehold on the region.

Putnam County at Lamar County: The host Trojans haven't lost a region game at home since Oct. 29, 2010. Putnam County has had four straight home games and hasn't won a road region game since Nov. 9, 2012 at Monticello. The teams are tied, with Macon County, at 2-0 in region.

Taylor County at Dooly County: The Vikings of first-year head coach Mark Wilson are tied with the Bobcats and Pacelli for third in Region 4-A. Taylor County needs the win more to stay alive in the playoff hunt, with first-place Marion County and Pacelli last.

Swainsboro at Dublin: The Irish have won two straight after a two-game losing streak, and the Tigers have been win-loss-win-loss all season. Swainsboro lost its last game. Dublin all but cinches a playoff spot with a win.

This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 7:24 PM with the headline "This week's top Middle Georgia high school football games ."