Tift County High Blue Devils vs. ThunderRidge (Colo.) High Grizzlies
ESPN Wide World of Sports (Walt Disney World)
Series Record: First meeting
After an impressive 2-0 start, the Tift County High Blue Devils will be on the road Thursday for a game at the ESPN Wide World of Sports against the ThunderRidge High Grizzlies from Highlands Ranch, Colo. It will be the first game of the year for the Grizzlies. ThunderRidge is ranked 13th this week in the MaxPreps Colorado 5A Poll, which is the state's highest classification. The Denver Post website has a roster for the school and the size will compare to AAAAAAA schools in Georgia. One interesting thing about Thursday's game is the temperature at Highlands Ranch was listed as 67 degrees Wednesday. That may give Tift an advantage, unless the heat in Orlando has been tempered by this week's tropical weather. The Blue Devils will be coming into the game off of a 56-14 win over neighboring Cook High last Friday. In that game, quarterback Griffin Collier was 14-of-27 passing for 190 yards. Brant Watson caught two passes for touchdowns, while Cam Cobb caught one. Rashod Bateman had six catches for 81 yards to lead in receiving yards. At 2-0, Tift is the only unbeaten team in Region 1-AAAAAAA as Colquitt and Camden each have two losses, while Lowndes has been defeated once.
Friday, Sept. 2
Gatewood School Gators at Tiftarea Academy Panthers
Series Record: First meeting
After already equaling their win total from last season with a 13-7 win over Southwest Georgia Academy last Friday in Damascus, the Tiftarea Academy Panthers will return to the friendly confines of the Panther Pit Friday for a game against the Gatewood School Gators. It'll be the first meeting ever between the schools according to the Georgia High School Football Historians website (www.ghsfha.org).
Macon County Bulldogs at Irwin County Indians
Series Record: Series tied 1-1
The Bulldogs and the Indians have only met twice, but both meetings were in the state playoffs. Friday's game at Indian Field will have a state playoff feel as Macon County will come in ranked third in most state Class A public school polls, while the Indians are ranked eighth in most of those same polls. Preseason All-State quarterback K'hari Lane will lead the Bulldogs into Ocilla. Lane was impressive last year as Macon County made it all the way to the state Class AA quarterfinals, before being defeated by eventual state champion, Pace Academy, 33-26. Lane passed for 264 yards in Macon's only game this season, a 45-0 win over Dooly County. Among his top targets is 6-foot-4 LaDarrius Harttry. Jared Daniels rushed for 131 of the Bulldogs' 167 yards against Dooly County. Making sure that the skill people are protected is 6-foot-3, 330-pound tackle Christian Meadows. Irwin County will be coming off of a 56-19 loss to the top-ranked team in Class AA, Fitzgerald. The Indians went into the game with quarterback Will Stephens and running back Kyle Jones home, due to a missed class. Jay Ashley led the Indians with two touchdowns and 84 yards rushing against Fitzgerald. Cartavion Benyard set up an Irwin score with a 58-yard kickoff return, and added a touchdown of his own with an 82-yard return.
Crisp County Cougars at Turner County Rebels
Series Record: Crisp leads 12-6
After going 1-1 to begin the year against Region 1-AAA foes, Dougherty and Worth County, the Turner County Rebels will go against another school from that league, the Crisp County High Cougars, Friday night in Ashburn. The Cougars have relied heavily on the run in going 2-0 on the year, 38-6 over Dooly and 31-14 over Americus-Sumter. Crisp has rushed for 447 combined yards in those games, while throwing for 154. Turner suffered a heartbreaking 39-36 loss against Worth County last Friday at home. Worth scored 17 points in the final nine minutes to take the victory.
Veterans High Warhawks at Worth County Rams
Series Record: First meeting
The Worth County Rams got two late touchdowns from Malik Dassie and a field goal from Seth Souter with seconds left in the game to gain a 39-36 win over Turner County last week. After beginning the year with a 1-1 record after a pair of road games, Worth returns home finally Friday for a first-ever meeting against the Veterans High Warhawks. Veterans High from Houston County will come into the game with an 0-2 mark with losses to Northgate, 10-0, and Dublin, 21-20. Veterans is a member of 1-AAAAA.
Brunswick High Pirates at Cook High Hornets
Series Record: Brunswick leads 2-0
After an overtime loss to Brooks County and a drubbing against Tift County, the Cook High Hornets will take an 0-2 mark into their first home game of the year Friday against the Brunswick High Pirates. Brunswick is also without a win this season. The 2-AAAAAA Pirates were defeated by Coffee High, 21-20, in their only game of the year. Brunswick will have to figure out a way to slow down Cook's Brandon Doe. A junior, Doe rushed for 176 yards against Brooks, and then went for 201 against Tift. Doe also had touchdown rushes of 90 and 55 against the Tift Blue Devils.
Dougherty High Trojans at Berrien High Rebels
Series Record: First meeting
The AA Rebels of Berrien High went to 1-1 on the year last week with a 10-6 win over Lanier County. Berrien will move up this week to host the AAA Dougherty High Trojans, who will be coming in from Albany. It'll be the first game for Dougherty since falling 34-32 to open the 2016 season against Turner County.
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