Here’s what you’ll hear on this week’s installment of the High School Football Round-Up Podcast on the Southwest Georgia Network:
-Lee County remains unbeaten.
-Dougherty County teams struggle.
-Quick recap & preview of this week’s games.
-Plus, an even quicker update on Hurricane Florence.
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High School Football: Week 4 Scoreboard
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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.
Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.
On this installment of the “High School Football Round-Up Podcast”, you’ll hear a look back on Lee County’s convincing win over Dr. Phillips of Orlando in the Georgia-Florida State Champions Challenge, Monroe’s double-digit win over Terrell County to go to 2-0, plus a preview of Week 3 action, and a whole lot more.
Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.
Editor’s Note: Any and all historical information is courtesy of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association at http://www.ghsfha.org/.
FIRST DOWN: Westfield at Deerfield-Windsor
The GISA Region 3-3A Knights (7-5 overall in 2017) will take the field for the first time to open the 2018 season against the GISA Region 4-3A Hornets from Perry. DWS holds a 19-16 lead in a series that dates back to 1973. Westfield looks to bounce back after a dismal 2-9 campaign last fall. The Knights downed the Hornets 28-7 in last year’s meeting.
SECOND DOWN: Terrell County (0-1) at Monroe (1-0)
The Tornadoes return to Hugh Mills Stadium for the second of three straight games there to begin the season, this time taking on the Greenwaves. In last week’s 47-14 over Jordan, quarterback David Dillard passed for more than 170 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 110 yards and three touchdowns. Monroe leads Terrell County 16-4 in the all-time series, with the Tornadoes defeating the Greenwaves 33-14 in their last meeting in 2015. Terrell County will try for their first win of the season after losing 46-32 to Chattahoochee County last week.
THIRD DOWN: Dougherty (0-1) at Americus-Sumter (0-1)
There will be lots of “firsts” in this contest. It will be the home opener for the Panthers, who fell at Crisp County 17-14 in overtime. It’s also the GHSA Region 1-4A opener for both teams. Additionally, it’s the first-ever meeting between the two first-year head coaches at both schools, in Damien Gary at Dougherty, as well as Larry Harold at Americus-Sumter. If that wasn’t enough, the winner of this game will not only get their first win of the 2018 season but also get their first region win of the year. That’s not to mention that the winner will also get their first win under their new head coaches. The Trojans from Albany opened the 2018 season with a 47-6 loss to the Lee County in the Hamp Smith Classic at the Albany State University Coliseum last week.
FOURTH DOWN (GAME OF THE WEEK): Dr. Phillips at Lee County (1-0)-(Georgia vs. Florida State Champions Challenge)
Speaking of the Trojans from Leesburg, it’ll be a battle of first-time state champions on Saturday, as the defending GHSA Class 6A champion Lee County Trojans will play host to defending Florida Class 8A champion Dr. Phillips of Orlando. While Lee County is coming off a convincing win over this aforementioned Dougherty squad, it’s the season for the Panthers of Dr. Phillips, who finished the 2017 season at 13-2 overall, defeating Delray Beach Atlantic for the Class 8A championship. The Georgia vs. Florida State Champions Challenge should serve as a valuable measuring stick for both teams as August comes to an end, and September arrives.
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A quick look back at Week 1 action, including Lee County’s easy win over Dougherty in the Hamp Smith Classic, as well as a quick look ahead to Week 2 action, on this week’s episode of the High School Football Round-Up, only on the Southwest Georgia Network.
Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.