Editor’s Note: Welcome to the inaugural installment of “Four-Down Territory” on the Southwest Georgia Network at southwestgeorgianetwork.com. Each week, Four-Down Territory will provide brief previews of up to four high school football games in the Southwest Georgia Network coverage area. Now, on to this week’s games.
FIRST DOWN: Macon County at Pelham
The Hornets play host to the Bulldogs from Montezuma in a rematch of a second-round Class A Public playoff game, which the Hornets lost 41-28, to finish the 2017 season at 9-3 overall.
SECOND DOWN: Westover at Cook
Olten Downs makes his debut as the Patriots head coach against a Hornets team that finished second in GHSA Region 1-3A last season at 6-6 overall. Westover looks to advance to the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
THIRD DOWN: Jordan at Monroe
The Tornadoes take on the visiting Red Jackets from Columbus in the first of seven non-region games in 2018. While advancing to the Class 3A playoffs despite winning three games last season, Monroe’s last winning season came in 2015, finishing 6-4 overall. The Tornadoes are a combined 5-13 overall over the last two seasons (2016-2017).
FOURTH DOWN (GAME OF THE WEEK): Lee County vs. Dougherty (Hamp Smith Classic at Albany State University)
The Lee County Trojans begin the defense of their first-ever state championship against the Dougherty Trojans in the inaugural Hamp Smith Classic this week. However, the defending GHSA Class 6A champions must try to win back-to-back state championships after losing 41 seniors from last year’s squad, while also playing a tough non-region schedule that includes playing host to defending Florida Class 8A state champion Dr. Phillips from Orlando. Former Georgia standout Damien Gary makes his debut as Dougherty’s head coach after spending the last five years as an assistant coach at UNC-Charlotte. While managing to advance to postseason play despite winning four games combined over the last two years, Dougherty must navigate its way through a GHSA Region 1-4A that has eight other teams in order to make the playoffs for a third straight season.
Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.
