We are finding out week by week who is good and who is bad and who is terrible and who is just sad.
Sorry I had to do it.
This week we will find out if some of our private schools are going to win much this year, as Tattnall, FPD, and Stratford have pivotal games. The public schools start the grind and we already know a few of them are pretty good.
Here are my games for the week
Jones County at Northside
If I was a bank robber (which I am not) I would head to Gray this Friday because the entire town will load up and go to the football game in Warner Robins. Jones County is football crazy and they were like that even before Justin Rogers. Now that they have a coach who wins, it is even more of a frenzy.
Hunter Costlow is the quarterback and he finds ways to win games, but Northside is a big big test for them. I am really torn because I believe Northside is way more athletic than the Hounds, but hey I grew up no like Northside (I am a Warner Robins grad) and last weekend did nothing to change my mind about them. So far as a sideline reporter, I have asked 13 times to interview a head coach before a game, at the half, or after the game, and I have only been turned down once. I wont say who that was .
Jones County 28
Northside 24
Mount de Sales vs Pinecrest
I love the Cavaliers this year and right now Dexter Williams is carrying the load with 375 yards rushing and 150 yards passing. Just wait till they get healthy and can throw some Cotton at you,
MDS 33
Pinecrest 14
Tattnall vs Trinity Christian
Tattnall is not as bad as they were in the Dublin game and I believe they will be fine when they play schools that they can match up with . Dublin was huge and fast and quick and athletic and Tattnall is young at key positions. They have to get everyone back on the field because most of the guys are teo way starters. Trinity is a tough match-up because they have already beat Northeast.
Tattnall plays better but its not enough
Trinity 27
Tattnall 20
Mount Vernon vs FPD
FPD is not as bad as they were last game again the bully of Macon, which is Howard. FPD lost most of its skill players from last year and they are still experimenting right now to find who should be on the field. Mount Vernon got a good win last week and will be a tough game to win. It really is hard to say what FPD has because they didn't show much at all last week. I am iffy on this one.
Mount Vernon 23
FPD 20
George Walton vs Stratford
Stratford is just down this year, although that doesn't mean they are out. They will find a way to win some football games and make the playoffs because that's what they do. It seems like Christian Palmer has the keys to the offense and I believe in this guy and his ability to find ways to win football games. Excellent coaching staff with strong quarterback play usually leads to some wins.
Stratford 21
George Walton 17
Westside vs Perry
This has all the makings of a game of the week for sure. Both teams are 2-0 and Perry may have its best team in a long time. They have a very good young quarterback in Lane Rucker and skill players galore. Westside is very talented and has a running back, Tyshaun Freeman who is a bruiser that can carry a load. Westside has a million penalties in two games and it will cost them sooner or later. I think it might be this weekend
Perry 20
Westside 16
other games
Mary Persons 40 Morrow 6
Lee Co 33 Peach 20
Macon Co 26 SW 16
Howard 33 Central 14
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Thursday, August 23, 2018
this week in high school football
I think that picking high school football games at this time of year is basically like saying, hmmm who is usually good and who is usually bad. That is what I will go with right now at least.
I think I am probably two weeks away from doing a top 20 boys football players in the city because well right now its just too early to know everyone. I know that Sewell and Kelly from Howard would be on it and Dixon and the Seminoles running back would be on it, but I need a few more weeks to figure it out.
As far as team rankings we will know a lot more after this week. Yes Warner Robins is that good, but I have questions about Jones County and Westside, and even Northside. As I stated, we will know much more after this week.
So here are some picks to keep you going
Central- HOCO
I know nothing about Central except they were terrible a year ago. They have a new coach this year, but I don't know if that is enough to turn it around this quick. HOCO has a game under their belts and they weren't terrible, losing to what I think is a pretty good Perry team.
HOCO 26 Central 6
Tattnall Square- Dublin
Tattnall is not as bad as Howard made them look. They have skill players and will be bolstered by some returning skill players. But Dublin is not the kind of team that Tattnall usually plays because of their size and overall team speed. I think Tattnall plays much better than they did in the scrimmage against Howard, but Dublin is pretty good this year.
Dublin 33 Tattnall 20
Peach Co- Northside
I do not claim to know anything about either one of these teams this year. I do know however, that Chad Campbell is one of the three best coaches in this area.
I also know that Northside wins a lot of football games every year
Northside 19 Peach Co 16
Stratford- Savannah Country Day
Ladies and gentlemen, meet Christian Palmer, one of my favorite players in the city . He is that quarterback , point guard type who finds ways to win games in whatever sport he is playing. I am not sure about Stratford's skill players this year, but Palmer is enough to get a win here,
Stratford 23 SCD 13
MDS- Landmark
Mount de Sales will play again without Josiah Cotton who might be a top five player in the city, but had quarterback Dexter Williams, who may end up being the best player in the city this year. He ran for 189 yards last game and expect the same thing this week.
MDS 28 Landmark 6
FPD- Howard
Will Howard be flat heading into this game after a tough loss to Jones County ? NO they wont. If FPD is as down as I think they are, this one could get messy.
Howard 40 FPD 13
Westside-Harris County
Harris Count always has pretty good football teams and Westside always has pretty good football teams that commits 20 penalties a game. The SW- Westside game a week ago had no flow at all , mainly because of the 35 flags we saw in that game. Harris Co lost a tough one last week and Westside better be ready to go.
Harris County 22 Westside 21
Perry- Northeast
Good things are happening at both of these schools this year. But Perry will be just a little too much for the Raiders
Perry 27 Noortheast 18
Mary Persons 42 Jackson 20
Now go see a football game
I think I am probably two weeks away from doing a top 20 boys football players in the city because well right now its just too early to know everyone. I know that Sewell and Kelly from Howard would be on it and Dixon and the Seminoles running back would be on it, but I need a few more weeks to figure it out.
As far as team rankings we will know a lot more after this week. Yes Warner Robins is that good, but I have questions about Jones County and Westside, and even Northside. As I stated, we will know much more after this week.
So here are some picks to keep you going
Central- HOCO
I know nothing about Central except they were terrible a year ago. They have a new coach this year, but I don't know if that is enough to turn it around this quick. HOCO has a game under their belts and they weren't terrible, losing to what I think is a pretty good Perry team.
HOCO 26 Central 6
Tattnall Square- Dublin
Tattnall is not as bad as Howard made them look. They have skill players and will be bolstered by some returning skill players. But Dublin is not the kind of team that Tattnall usually plays because of their size and overall team speed. I think Tattnall plays much better than they did in the scrimmage against Howard, but Dublin is pretty good this year.
Dublin 33 Tattnall 20
Peach Co- Northside
I do not claim to know anything about either one of these teams this year. I do know however, that Chad Campbell is one of the three best coaches in this area.
I also know that Northside wins a lot of football games every year
Northside 19 Peach Co 16
Stratford- Savannah Country Day
Ladies and gentlemen, meet Christian Palmer, one of my favorite players in the city . He is that quarterback , point guard type who finds ways to win games in whatever sport he is playing. I am not sure about Stratford's skill players this year, but Palmer is enough to get a win here,
Stratford 23 SCD 13
MDS- Landmark
Mount de Sales will play again without Josiah Cotton who might be a top five player in the city, but had quarterback Dexter Williams, who may end up being the best player in the city this year. He ran for 189 yards last game and expect the same thing this week.
MDS 28 Landmark 6
FPD- Howard
Will Howard be flat heading into this game after a tough loss to Jones County ? NO they wont. If FPD is as down as I think they are, this one could get messy.
Howard 40 FPD 13
Westside-Harris County
Harris Count always has pretty good football teams and Westside always has pretty good football teams that commits 20 penalties a game. The SW- Westside game a week ago had no flow at all , mainly because of the 35 flags we saw in that game. Harris Co lost a tough one last week and Westside better be ready to go.
Harris County 22 Westside 21
Perry- Northeast
Good things are happening at both of these schools this year. But Perry will be just a little too much for the Raiders
Perry 27 Noortheast 18
Mary Persons 42 Jackson 20
Now go see a football game
Thursday, August 16, 2018
week one picks
I feel like I pretty much know what is going on with sports in the Middle Georgia area.
I mean sometimes I am wrong, and people give me grief about it, but usually, usually, I am right on , especially when it comes to picking the winners of high school games.
So if I am so good at it, why not do it ?
I was doing it for the Telegraph for a few years before they decided to barely cover local sports, and last year I did it with some local celebrities.
So this year, I didn't ask anyone else to try it.
I COULDNT ask Tucker Sargent, his wife just had a baby a few days ago. Mason and Luke from WGXA as well as Evan are all gone reaching stardom away from Macon.
So my choices were limited.
I finally decided I don't need anyone else to make this fun so here are my picks. No one elses picks really matter anyways
THURSDAY NIGHT BLAST
What a way to start the high school season with 5A powerhouse Jones County coming to Macon to meet 4A secret Howard. First I must say that Barney Hester left Howard with great talent, the best and meanest being linebacker DeAndre Shelton. They are equally talented on offense with Jeremiah and Mr. Sewell in the backfield. Howard is going to have a possible playoff kind of year here but the winning will not start this week. No way , No sir, No No No. Jones County no longer re-builds they re-load and Justin Rogers is THE best coach in the area. The new Jones County weight room begins to pay off tonight.
Jones County 34
Howard 13
Friday Night Fuel
Westside and Southwest matches any game in the state this week. Westside has lost to Southwest twice and no other Macon team has ever defeated Westside. Spoon Risper knows it and I am betting he has been harping on that fact for many many weeks now. Dixon and Barden are enough to win this game but I am sure a running back or three will show up for the Seminoles.
I don't expect Southwest to be a pushover, but they did lose a three year starter at quarterback, not because he graduated, but because he left for what he thought was a better opportunity. Yeah someone thinks playing for former UGA and GSU quarterback Joe Dupree isn't quite good enough for him.
It will be a good game and it ends with a score of
Westside 23
Southwest 12
How Bad is Tattnall
After getting beaten up last Friday in a scrimmage again Howard, Tattnall Square travels to Marietta for Our Lady of Mercy, a team that listed 22 players on the roster as late as yesterday. Tattnall is smallish and graduated some great players over the last few years, so I is hard to say what they have in the tank this year. They may struggle a bit this year, but maybe not this week. Marshall and Allen combine for 300 yards rushing.
Tattnall 28
OLM 14
Other winners
Baldwin 20
WACO 16
WRHS 36
Tift 23
Upson Lee 27
Veterans 10
MDS 30
Monticello 6
PERRY 17
HOCO 16
I WILL be live on DSBN sports tonight broadcasting the Howard-Jones game and you can join me on the live stream of Tattnall football on Friday by going to their athletics page, go to the bottom and the live stream will be waiting for you
I mean sometimes I am wrong, and people give me grief about it, but usually, usually, I am right on , especially when it comes to picking the winners of high school games.
So if I am so good at it, why not do it ?
I was doing it for the Telegraph for a few years before they decided to barely cover local sports, and last year I did it with some local celebrities.
So this year, I didn't ask anyone else to try it.
I COULDNT ask Tucker Sargent, his wife just had a baby a few days ago. Mason and Luke from WGXA as well as Evan are all gone reaching stardom away from Macon.
So my choices were limited.
I finally decided I don't need anyone else to make this fun so here are my picks. No one elses picks really matter anyways
THURSDAY NIGHT BLAST
What a way to start the high school season with 5A powerhouse Jones County coming to Macon to meet 4A secret Howard. First I must say that Barney Hester left Howard with great talent, the best and meanest being linebacker DeAndre Shelton. They are equally talented on offense with Jeremiah and Mr. Sewell in the backfield. Howard is going to have a possible playoff kind of year here but the winning will not start this week. No way , No sir, No No No. Jones County no longer re-builds they re-load and Justin Rogers is THE best coach in the area. The new Jones County weight room begins to pay off tonight.
Jones County 34
Howard 13
Friday Night Fuel
Westside and Southwest matches any game in the state this week. Westside has lost to Southwest twice and no other Macon team has ever defeated Westside. Spoon Risper knows it and I am betting he has been harping on that fact for many many weeks now. Dixon and Barden are enough to win this game but I am sure a running back or three will show up for the Seminoles.
I don't expect Southwest to be a pushover, but they did lose a three year starter at quarterback, not because he graduated, but because he left for what he thought was a better opportunity. Yeah someone thinks playing for former UGA and GSU quarterback Joe Dupree isn't quite good enough for him.
It will be a good game and it ends with a score of
Westside 23
Southwest 12
How Bad is Tattnall
After getting beaten up last Friday in a scrimmage again Howard, Tattnall Square travels to Marietta for Our Lady of Mercy, a team that listed 22 players on the roster as late as yesterday. Tattnall is smallish and graduated some great players over the last few years, so I is hard to say what they have in the tank this year. They may struggle a bit this year, but maybe not this week. Marshall and Allen combine for 300 yards rushing.
Tattnall 28
OLM 14
Other winners
Baldwin 20
WACO 16
WRHS 36
Tift 23
Upson Lee 27
Veterans 10
MDS 30
Monticello 6
PERRY 17
HOCO 16
I WILL be live on DSBN sports tonight broadcasting the Howard-Jones game and you can join me on the live stream of Tattnall football on Friday by going to their athletics page, go to the bottom and the live stream will be waiting for you
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Who will step up and be THE team in Macon
We have several contenders for the best team in Macon this year and some are regulars to the conversation while others are rather new. As I see it, some teams win every year no matter if they are re-building and others wait years to get where they want to be. I feel like this is what we may have in Macon this year.
I present to you now a bit of information where some of Macon's finest will end up this year.
Every year the Westside Seminoles find a way to have a playoff type of year and this year will be no different. In fact this could be one of those special years if junior quarterback Victor Dixon Jr . starts to become the quarterback everyone thinks he will be. I saw Dixon play last year and he was a bit inconsistent, but hey he was only a sophomore. This could be a break out type of year for him.
Dixon has some quality protection up front, led by senior center Jayshaun Parker and some skill players led by junior Jaylon Barden, that seem to be ready for breakout years also. If Dixon can grow up a little bit from last year, look for the Seminole offense to be potent.
Westside also seems to be stout on the defensive side of the football. Look for Jayland Parker,Nate Brookins and Jehlen Canady all to have big years and look for Westside to do what they always do, which is make the playoffs.
I also like Howard, although we will find out a little bit more about them after Thursday night when they meet up with Jones County. Now I will be honest, I think Howard loses by three touchdowns but I could be wrong. Howard looked unstoppable in their Friday night scrimmage against Tattnall, but Tattnall was not a physical threat to Howard. Jones County will not only be a physical threat but they will probably be quicker than Howard. With Sewell, Kelly and Shelton leading the way, I see the Huskies making the playoffs this year, but Jones County is a bit too much right now for them to handle.
I also expect Northeast to have a very good year, while I am not quite sure about the other Macon public schools yet.
The private school sector in Macon could be very different . Stratford, Tattnall and FPD both had massive losses from graduation last year and from the look of the rosters posted, none of them will dress more that about 40 players. Mount de Sales however, shows a roster of over 53 players, and word is, they have several college level players this year. I feel like quarterback Dexter Williams may turn into the best quarterback in the city before the end of the year, or at least the best dual threat guy. He will be able to hand the ball off to Josiah Cotton, who has the potential to be the best running back in a tough region, giving Mount de Sales more balance than they have had in years. But the thing that probably excites head coach Keith Hatcher more than anything is that he has 17 seniors this year and most of those have started since they were sophomores. Mount de Sales is not only a playoff team , they may take over as the best private school football team this year.
That's not to say the other big three privates wont be good by the end of the season. We obviously cant judge Tattnall by its loss in the scrimmage to Howard. Howard dressed like 100 kids and most of them were bigger than Tattnall's starters. The Trojans need a few kids on both sides of the ball to take over and one of those has to be Jamal Marshall, who is the most talented player on the team.
Stratford will play its scrimmage on Wednesday against Mount Paran so we will know a bit more about them after that, and FPD played Rutland fairly even last Friday and played three kids at quarterback so they see to be a bit unsettled right now.
As far as the playoffs I would bet each and every private school finds a way to sneak in
#####UPDATE########
FPD now has 63 players on their roster as of 8-14-2018, while Stratford was up to 43.
I present to you now a bit of information where some of Macon's finest will end up this year.
Every year the Westside Seminoles find a way to have a playoff type of year and this year will be no different. In fact this could be one of those special years if junior quarterback Victor Dixon Jr . starts to become the quarterback everyone thinks he will be. I saw Dixon play last year and he was a bit inconsistent, but hey he was only a sophomore. This could be a break out type of year for him.
Dixon has some quality protection up front, led by senior center Jayshaun Parker and some skill players led by junior Jaylon Barden, that seem to be ready for breakout years also. If Dixon can grow up a little bit from last year, look for the Seminole offense to be potent.
Westside also seems to be stout on the defensive side of the football. Look for Jayland Parker,Nate Brookins and Jehlen Canady all to have big years and look for Westside to do what they always do, which is make the playoffs.
I also like Howard, although we will find out a little bit more about them after Thursday night when they meet up with Jones County. Now I will be honest, I think Howard loses by three touchdowns but I could be wrong. Howard looked unstoppable in their Friday night scrimmage against Tattnall, but Tattnall was not a physical threat to Howard. Jones County will not only be a physical threat but they will probably be quicker than Howard. With Sewell, Kelly and Shelton leading the way, I see the Huskies making the playoffs this year, but Jones County is a bit too much right now for them to handle.
I also expect Northeast to have a very good year, while I am not quite sure about the other Macon public schools yet.
The private school sector in Macon could be very different . Stratford, Tattnall and FPD both had massive losses from graduation last year and from the look of the rosters posted, none of them will dress more that about 40 players. Mount de Sales however, shows a roster of over 53 players, and word is, they have several college level players this year. I feel like quarterback Dexter Williams may turn into the best quarterback in the city before the end of the year, or at least the best dual threat guy. He will be able to hand the ball off to Josiah Cotton, who has the potential to be the best running back in a tough region, giving Mount de Sales more balance than they have had in years. But the thing that probably excites head coach Keith Hatcher more than anything is that he has 17 seniors this year and most of those have started since they were sophomores. Mount de Sales is not only a playoff team , they may take over as the best private school football team this year.
That's not to say the other big three privates wont be good by the end of the season. We obviously cant judge Tattnall by its loss in the scrimmage to Howard. Howard dressed like 100 kids and most of them were bigger than Tattnall's starters. The Trojans need a few kids on both sides of the ball to take over and one of those has to be Jamal Marshall, who is the most talented player on the team.
Stratford will play its scrimmage on Wednesday against Mount Paran so we will know a bit more about them after that, and FPD played Rutland fairly even last Friday and played three kids at quarterback so they see to be a bit unsettled right now.
As far as the playoffs I would bet each and every private school finds a way to sneak in
#####UPDATE########
FPD now has 63 players on their roster as of 8-14-2018, while Stratford was up to 43.
Friday, August 10, 2018
football
It is just going to be a weird high school football season.
I mean I feel like it will be a great season, it will just be different.
And I am afraid it will not be a good different, with the main reason being that we will no longer have a local newspaper that will actually cover high school football games and worry about some menial things as player stats..
Now some schools are quick to let their stats out on max preps, while others never ever put stats up online. With no local newspaper to help, it will be hard to figure out who the best players in the area are.
Change is good sometimes, but this change is not for the good.
For the first time in 10 years I will not be going to a high school football game and covering it for the Telegraph. I have not dealt with that well and to tell the truth I already miss it. I explored many many avenues of ways to stay involved and I think I am pretty much covered on that right now, but it will never ever be the same.
My blog will go on and I hope my few fans are still around. I will do my best to keep everyone up to date on high school football news and I will continue to rate players and teams.
I saw some Middle Georgia rankings the other day and to be honest I thought it was laughable because really, does anyone know who will be the teams to beat in this area ? Macon schools are so inconsistent that it is impossible to know how they will do. Westside will make the playoffs we all know that, but will they take that next step and actually challenge Peach County ? I just don't really believe it.
For the record if I were picking a top five for Middle Georgia pre-season (which means nothing)
I would go like this
1- Jones County
2- Warner Robins
3- Mary Persons
4- Peach County
5-Northside
I mean why would anyone pick differently. These teams do it every year and expect them to continue.
I admit I don't know much about many teams this early but I have looked at the rosters and came up with my top 18 players from Macon schools only. I am sure this list will grow and change all year long, but just wanted to wet the football appetite a bit.
Southwest- Jaquez Pennimon and Randy Green
Northeast- Nolan Ussery
Central- Donald Lamb
Westside-Victor Dixon Jr and Jaylon Barden
Howard- Quintan Sewell, Jeremiah Kelly and DeAndre Shelton
FPD- Josh Raines and Wesley Wilson
Stratford- Christian Palmer and Jamie OQuinn
MDS- Dexter Williams and Josiah Cotton
Tattnall Square- Jamal Marshall, Wes Allen and Miles Morris
I cant wait to get things started with these scrimmages starting tonight then kick things off with Howard and Jones County next Thursday.
I mean I feel like it will be a great season, it will just be different.
And I am afraid it will not be a good different, with the main reason being that we will no longer have a local newspaper that will actually cover high school football games and worry about some menial things as player stats..
Now some schools are quick to let their stats out on max preps, while others never ever put stats up online. With no local newspaper to help, it will be hard to figure out who the best players in the area are.
Change is good sometimes, but this change is not for the good.
For the first time in 10 years I will not be going to a high school football game and covering it for the Telegraph. I have not dealt with that well and to tell the truth I already miss it. I explored many many avenues of ways to stay involved and I think I am pretty much covered on that right now, but it will never ever be the same.
My blog will go on and I hope my few fans are still around. I will do my best to keep everyone up to date on high school football news and I will continue to rate players and teams.
I saw some Middle Georgia rankings the other day and to be honest I thought it was laughable because really, does anyone know who will be the teams to beat in this area ? Macon schools are so inconsistent that it is impossible to know how they will do. Westside will make the playoffs we all know that, but will they take that next step and actually challenge Peach County ? I just don't really believe it.
For the record if I were picking a top five for Middle Georgia pre-season (which means nothing)
I would go like this
1- Jones County
2- Warner Robins
3- Mary Persons
4- Peach County
5-Northside
I mean why would anyone pick differently. These teams do it every year and expect them to continue.
I admit I don't know much about many teams this early but I have looked at the rosters and came up with my top 18 players from Macon schools only. I am sure this list will grow and change all year long, but just wanted to wet the football appetite a bit.
Southwest- Jaquez Pennimon and Randy Green
Northeast- Nolan Ussery
Central- Donald Lamb
Westside-Victor Dixon Jr and Jaylon Barden
Howard- Quintan Sewell, Jeremiah Kelly and DeAndre Shelton
FPD- Josh Raines and Wesley Wilson
Stratford- Christian Palmer and Jamie OQuinn
MDS- Dexter Williams and Josiah Cotton
Tattnall Square- Jamal Marshall, Wes Allen and Miles Morris
I cant wait to get things started with these scrimmages starting tonight then kick things off with Howard and Jones County next Thursday.
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