Cook High Hornets (0-1) at Tift County Blue Devils (1-0)
Series Record: Tift leads 8-1-1
After beginning their season with a successful 41-0 win over South Effingham at the Erik Russell Classic in Statesboro, the Tift County Blue Devils will open up their home slate Friday night with a contest against I-75 rival, the Hornets of Cook High School. Tift showed what could be a potent offensive attack against South Effingham, putting up 41 points, all in the first half. Quarterback Griffin Collier led the Devils. He went 8-for-9 passing for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Rashod Bateman caught four of the Collier aerials for 147 yards. Cook fell to state Class AA power Brooks County, 21-14 in overtime in its season opener. Facing a 4th-and-20, Cook quarterback Cedarius Arnold hit Gunner George on a touchdown pass with 1:12 left to send the game into overtime. But Brooks was the only team that could score in the extra session and ended up winning the game. Brandon Poe led Cook with 176 yards rushing on 33 carries.
Tiftarea Academy Panthers (1-1) at Southwest Georgia Academy (0-2)
Series Record: Southwest Georgia leads 15-9
After beginning the season with a loss, the Tiftarea Academy Panthers rebounded last week with a 15-7 win at Georgia Christian. The Panthers will travel to Damascus this week to face a Southwest Georgia Academy Warrior team that has 0-2 mark to start the 2016 season. First-year head coach Parker Rentz's team has been outscored 62-20 in those two contests. Tittarea head coach Tully Payne's team has a four-game losing streak to Southwest Georgia, but every one of those games has been close.
Irwin County Indians (1-0) at Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes (0-0)
Series Record: Fitzgerald leads 42-17-3
This will be the 63rd meeting between the Indians and the Canes, but it will be the first time both schools come in after each finishing as state runners-up the previous year. The contest will be the season opener for the Purple Hurricanes, ranked No. 1 in Class AA in almost every state poll. The Canes will be led by running back JD King and quarterback James Graham. King was the named to the state Super 11 by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the first Hurricane ever to receive that prestigious honor. He is a verbal commit to Oklahoma State. While King is a senior, Graham is a junior. The quarterback is also receiving national attention as just this week he received an offer from Arkansas in the SEC. Tight end Lecitus Smith has also received offers from numerous Division I universities. Irwin opened up its 2016 season with a 42-7 win over Berrien High. The Indians, ranked No. 3 in most state public school Class A polls, were only up 14-7 at the half, but finished with a strong second half to put away Berrien. Jay Ashley led the Indians' offense with 75 yards rushing and 84 yards receiving. New Irwin quarterback Will Stephens was 8-for-16 passing for 153 yards, and t here touchdowns. Irwin put up 438 yards of total offense in the game. Irwin led 14-7 at halftime, then scored touchdowns on its first four drives of the second half.
Berrien High Rebels (0-1) at Lanier County Bulldogs (0-0)
Series Record: Berrien leads 5-3
After beginning the year with that 41-7 loss to Irwin, the Berrien High Rebels will be on the road Friday against the Lanier County Bulldogs. Berrien head coach Bill Cribb said after the Irwin game, his team played well in the first half, but struggled in the second half. The Rebels will hope to continue that good first half play against a Lanier squad, that will be opening its season.
Worth County Rams (0-1) at Turner County Rebels (1-0)
Series Record: Worth leads 21-15
Two teams that had completely different starts to their respective seasons meet in Ashburn. Class A Turner County battled neck-and-neck with Class AAA Dougherty High and finally came away with a 34-32 win, while the Class AAA Worth County Rams were taking a 48-7 drubbing from Class AAAAA Thomas County Central. Against Dougherty, the Rebels rolled up several yards as every Turner score came on plays of 29 yards or longer. Tamorrion Terry, a preseason All-State pick at wide receiver had an 80-yard touchdown run, Quarterback Jarvis Hall hit Ontario Wilson on a 29-yard scoring pass in the game, and Wilson also added a score on a 63-yard punt return. Worth only managed two first downs in the first half against TCC, as the Yellow Jackets swarmed all over the Rams.
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