Pick’em: High School football predictions

Week 11 of the high school football season is here and things are getting interesting as local teams look to find their spots in the upcoming state playoffs. How this week goes could have major implications for who gets in and who doesn’t and it all begins Thursday at Hugh Mills Stadium.

Bainbridge (0-8) at Monroe (2-6) – The Bearcats have traditionally been an Achilles heel for Albany football teams and could play the spoiler roll here at the season’s end. The only game the Bearcats almost won was against No. 10-ranked Westover but Monroe has won just one region game to maintain that No. 4 region spot. If the Bearcats can beat Monroe Thursday, then beat Douigherty in the final game of the season – the Bearcats make the playoffs while Monroe and Dougherty begin to focus on basketball. Monroe’s defense played a heckuva game Friday night and slowed the powerful Westover offensive machine. They need that toughness again Thursday night to beat the Bearcats. Here is hoping there is enough motivation left for he Tornadoes. Monroe wins by 12.

Westover (7-1) vs. Dougherty (2-6) – This game has been circled on the calendar since Westover named Corey Joyner as the head coach. Family, friends and everybody associated with Albany football knows this will be Brother vs. Brother battle for the first time. Corey and the Patriots have put themselves in a spot where they could host the a first round playoff game if they win the final two games of the season. Uyl and Dougherty need a win to have a shot at getting that number four spot. The Trojans played Cairo really tough last week and I’m guess they will be super-motivated to knock off Westover and get a shot for a playoff spot next week. I think Westover has a little too much. Corey and the Patriots win by 11.

Deerfield-Windsor (7-2) at Maclay (5-2) – The Deerfield-Windsor Knights took a huge step toward hosting the first round of the state football playoffs with a big win over defending state champion Valwood….but. The MaxPreps rankings released Sunday night show the Knights at number four – behind No. 1-ranked Valwood, No. 2-ranked Westfield and No. 3-ranked Tiftarea.  The Knights beat Valwood and beat Westfield, so why are they fourth? Maclay is tough…they are the only other team to beat Valwood. It’s not a region or even state game but a win or a loss could have major implications on those MaxPreps rankings. Deerfield-Windsor has to win. The Knights will be ready. Deerfield-Windsor by nine.

Tiftarea (7-1) at Terrell Aca. (6-3) -The Terrell Academy Eagles could move up in the MaxPreps rankings if they can find a way to stop Tiftarea and their star quarterback John Robert Walker. Walker has thrown for 1044 yards and rushed for 982 more to lead the Panthers to their No. 3 ranking. Terrell’s Bryse Peachey and Ty Thomas will need big rushing games to counter what Tiftarea will bring to Dawson but the Panthers smothered Deerfield-Windsor’s offense a couple of weeks ago so that’s not likely. Tiftarea wins by 13.

Grace Christian (1-7) at Sherwood (6-0) – The Sherwood Christian Eagles have one more week where they will win big before the showdown next week against Georgia Christian. Tripp Roberts’ 553 passing yards from last week is not likely to repeat but the Eagles should not have any trouble with the Cougars. Sherwood by 28.

Lee County (8-0) at Northside-Warner Robins (2-6) – Northside is having a tough season and it won’t get any better this week. The No. 2- ranked Lee County Trojans will win again Friday night. I had a brief conversation with quarterback Weston Bryan last week on the sideline of the middle school game. He didn’t have to be, but he was there to support the Trojans. He knew without a doubt that Lee County would whip Veterans but being the smart guy he is, he wouldn’t say that. Instead he told me that they just had to take care of business. I’m guessing all of Lee County’s players are taking nothing for granted and will just take care of business. Lee County wins by 30.

Jeff Davis (5-2) at Worth Co. (5-3) – Jeff Davis opened the season with four straight wins before getting into region play where they are 1-2 since. No.7-ranked Worth County is hot and I don’t see them getting cooled off any time soon. The Rams need this win. Worth County wins by 21.

Early Co. (5-3) at Mitchell Co. (7-1) This game is the region championship game for Region 1-A, Whoever wins this game Friday night in Camilla will be the top seed from Region 1-A heading into the state playoffs. Early County was a preseason favorite to win the region but a 26-12 loss to Seminole County has Mitchell County on top of the region at the moment. Mitchell County didn’t have its best game against Miller County last week but they found a way to win. That is what a Dondrial Pinkins team knows how to do. They will win again Friday night. Mitchell by six.

Miller Co.(5-3) at Pelham (2-6) – Both teams are 2-2 in the region. The winner takes that No.3 spot heading into the final week of the regular season. That could be huge for playoff matchups. Both teams should win in their final week so Friday night’s game could determine who makes the playoffs because Seminole County is also 2-2 in the region. Miller County looked really good earlier in the season but Pelham’s Michael Battle and Parnell Yates could be a 1-2 punch that knocks the Pirates out. But I’ve been told the Georgia Tech commit JP Powell will start at quarterback for the Pirates. I’ve been perplexed as to why he hasn’t seen more action anyway. I know he had an unfortunate incident at Mitchell County but he should be ready for the game against the Hornets. Miller County by nine.

.

By Joe Whitfield
Sports EditorJoeWhitfield[email protected]