Editor’s Note: Unless otherwise indicated, any and all historical information is courtesy of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association at http://www.ghsfha.org/. All games listed are played on Fridays unless otherwise indicated.
FIRST DOWN: Rutland (0-3) at Worth County (0-4)
The Rams play host to the Hurricanes from Macon in a battle of teams that are not only winless but also enduring long losing streaks of at least 10 games or more. Although Worth County’s last overall win came on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11, 2016, in a 35-7 triumph over Southeast Bulloch in the first round of the GHSA Class 3A playoffs, their last regular-season win actually came two weeks before over Monroe in a 35-34 thriller on October 28. The 2016 Rams squad finished 7-5 overall. Worth County has lost 15 straight games overall since the end of that season.
As for Rutland, the Hurricanes have had an even longer losing streak, having lost 16 straight games dating back to September 29, 2016. They outlasted Kendrick 23-18 that night, and haven’t won since. To be fair, though, one of Rutland’s games from 2017-against Crisp County-was canceled due to Hurricane Irma.
Still, it’s like the saying goes: Something has got to give when Worth County and Rutland both square off in Sylvester this week.
SECOND DOWN: Southwest (Macon)-(2-1) at Lee County (4-0)
The GHSA Region 3-2A Patriots from Middle Georgia will be the latest team to take on the Trojans from Leesburg for the latter team’s Homecoming. After opening the 2018 campaign with a 21-0 shutout loss to fellow Macon rival Westside, Southwest won back-to-back close games over teams with the word “Macon” in the name, as the Patriots outlasted Class A Macon County 14-8, followed by a 14-6 win over yet another team from Macon-Bibb County in, you guessed it, Central. Southwest finished the 2017 season at 5-5 overall, losing to Jefferson County in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs.
Meanwhile, Lee County looks to build on the amazing start to their 2018 season, with the Trojans outscoring their opponents 164-16 thus far this year.
THIRD DOWN: Monroe (2-2) at Thomas County Central (2-1)
After losing their second straight game in a 43-0 loss to Perry at Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany, it doesn’t get any easier for the Tornadoes, as they travel to Thomasville to take on the Class 5A Yellow Jackets in their first true road game for the Class 3A squad this season. TCC has a 23-7 lead over Monroe in the all-time series, winning last year’s meeting over the Tornadoes in a 33-32 thriller.
FOURTH DOWN (GAME OF THE WEEK): Northside (Columbus)-(2-1, 1-1 GHSA Region 1-4A) at Westover (1-2, 0-1 GHSA Region 1-4A)
It’s Westover from Albany facing off against Northside of Columbus in a “Battle of the Patriots” at Hugh Mills Stadium this week. Despite being in the earliest stages of region play, this contest is a must-win game for both squads. Westover fell to Columbus in their opener 46-26 last week, while Northside was crushed by Cairo 38-0. Westover is 1-2 all-time vs. Northside, with their lone win over the Columbus-based Patriots coming in 2014, a 31-10 triumph in the inaugural game of the short series.
One thing is for sure, the winner of this game could make a solid case for putting themselves in playoff contention going into October, while the loser could find itself fighting an uphill battle just to finish strong, let alone advance to postseason play.
Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.
