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: Dougherty (0-2, 0-1 GHSA Region 1-4A) at Shaw (1-1, 0-1) and Westover (1-1) at Columbus (1-1)-(Thursday)
Why two games in one for the first segment of this post? Because the race for playoff positioning in GHSA Region 1-4A is about to get into full swing, especially for the league’s two teams from the Albany area, in the Dougherty Trojans and Westover Patriots, respectively.
While the Patriots are coming off of their first win under new head coach Olten Downs, thanks to their upset win over previously undefeated Monroe last week, the Trojans are still looking to get that historic first victory under Damien Gary. They had last week off after losing 43-7 at Americus-Sumter the week before.
With that said, if either Dougherty and Westover hope to make serious runs at postseason play in 2018, winning on the road is a must, as both squads have the opportunity to return to Albany on top if they’re able to knock off their foes from Columbus in Columbus.
SECOND DOWN: Perry (3-0) at Monroe (2-1)
After scoring a combined 98 points in wins over Jordan and Terrell County, the Tornadoes had a harsh reality check against fellow Albany archrival Westover, with the Patriots holding to one touchdown in a 26-6 loss at Hugh Mills Stadium last Friday. It doesn’t get any easier for Monroe this week, as they play host to a Perry Panthers team that has won all three games by 11 points or less, including a close win over Westside (Macon) last week. With three more non-region games to play before starting GHSA Region 1-3A action at Crisp County on October 12, the Tornadoes need every win they can get before the end of September, as there are just four teams in the region, with three of them being guaranteed a playoff berth. The fourth-place team from Region 1-3A will be placed into a pool of seven fifth-place teams from Regions 2 through 8 for the at-large playoff berth from Class 3A, as determined by the power ratings.
THIRD DOWN: Lee County (3-0) at Americus-Sumter (1-1)
The defending Region 1-6A and GHSA Class 6A state champion Trojans from Leesburg will make the approximately 30-mile trip to Americus to take on the defending Region 1-4A champion Americus-Sumter Panthers. While Lee County has yet to give up an offensive touchdown, outscoring their opponents 115-9 in three games so far this season, the Panthers played Crisp County close before falling 17-14 in overtime in their opener, before rolling past Dougherty 43-7 two weeks ago. The Trojans lead the all-time series against Americus-Sumter 5-3, with Lee County winning last year’s meeting 49-14.
FOURTH DOWN (GAME OF THE WEEK): Heritage (3-0) at Deerfield-Windsor (2-0)
Coming off of two close wins to open the 2018 campaign; 15-12 over Westfield, and 13-10 over Glenwood (Ala.), the Deerfield-Windsor Knights will try to start a season at 3-0 for the first time since 2010 against the Heritage Hawks of Coweta County in an unlikely battle of unbeaten teams at Webb Stadium. That team went to finish undefeated en route to winning the GISA Class 3A state title that season.
As for Heritage, the Hawks have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 132-25 in their three wins over Terrell Academy, Flint River, and Creekside Christian so far this season. The Hawks finished the 2017 campaign at 7-4 overall, losing to Frederica in the quarterfinals of the GISA Class 3A state playoffs. On the other hand, the Knights finished last fall at 7-5 overall after defeating Bulloch Academy in the first round and losing to Gatewood in the quarterfinals.
This week’s contest marks just the second meeting between Deerfield and Heritage, with the Knights outlasting the Hawks 27-19 to win the GISA Class 3A crown in 2012, which turned out to be the last state championship for DWS. This year’s meeting between the Knights and the Hawks could not serve as a measuring stick for both teams in early-season action but also could be a sign of things to come for postseason play later this season.
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