Class AA blog: What to watch in Week 2

Last meeting: Rockmart won 51-7 in 2018.

Maxwell's projection: Rockmart by 32

Notes: The Jackets' quest to return to the AA title game is well on track following their 31-12 win over AAAA's Cedartown last week, which moved them into the No. 1 ranking. Though they lost their quarterback and two primary running backs from last year's runner-up squad, their replacements looked capable in this year's debut, led by junior quarterback Javin Whatley, who rushed for 156 yards and four touchdowns. Juke Boozer, a three-star recruit with an offer from Virginia, had three catches for 40 yards. Central is coming off a 33-8 win over South Atlanta, besting last year's season-opening effort in which they edged the Hornets, 21-20. Senior running back Braden Dunson had a team-high 115 rushing yards and touchdown runs of 16 and nine yards for the Lions. Their other running back, senior Shane Bruce, is committed to Coastal Carolina. Expect this game to be won with the ground game, as the Jackets and Lions threw 22 times between them in their openers with no touchdown passes. Whatley went 7-for-12 for 54 yards and Lions quarterback Kashif Taylor completed five of 10 passes for 44 yards. Central leads the all-time series 16-5, with the Jackets' win last year breaking a three-game skid.

High School Sports

Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane at Irwin County Indians*

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Indian Field, Ocilla

Records, rankings: Fitzgerald is 1-0 and No. 3 in AA; Irwin County is 1-0 and No. 2 in Class A-public.

Last meeting: Irwin County won 16-10 in 2018.

Maxwell's projection: Irwin County by 3

Notes: Irwin County beat Fitzgerald last season for the first time since 1999, breaking an 0-17-1 drought. Irwin held Fitzgerald to 175 yards of total offense. Both teams won easily last week. For Irwin, Zach Smith was 8-of-10 passing for 171 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-7 victory over Berrien. The varsity allowed only 51 yards of total offense and no points before being pulled. Irwin's all-state running back, D.J. Lundy, missed the game with a knee injury and won't return for several weeks. Fitzgerald quarterback Rashad Davis was 6-of-7 passing for 69 yards and rushed for 33 yards on four carries in limited work last week in a 46-3 win over Bacon County. Fitzgerald's strength is in defensive linemen Maucarie Holmes (6-foot-2, 260 pounds), Tony Duffie (6-foot, 340 pounds) and Dequavion Harper (5-foot-11, 240 pounds). Irwin coach Buddy Nobles was a Fitzgerald assistant from 2007 to 2011, and his son Kaleb was an all-state quarterback for Fitzgerald.

*Courtesy of GHSF Daily

Washington County Golden Hawks at Jefferson County Warriors

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Warrior Field, Louisville

Records, rankings: Washington County is 1-0 and No. 7; Jefferson County is 0-1 and unranked

Last meeting: Washington County won 35-14 in 2018.

Maxwell's projection: Washington County by 10

Notes: The Golden Hawks are coming off a 42-7 win over Baldwin that ended at 1 a.m., after lightening delayed the game's kickoff until 11 p.m. They rushed for more than 400 yards, led by Malyk Carter's 227 yards and two touchdowns, one of which went for 81 yards. The new-look defense also notched a safety. For the Warriors, they'll play a ranked AA team for the second time this week, on just four days rest. They lost 37-14 to Swainsboro on Monday in a game that was also delayed by weather — it was originally scheduled for last Friday. They are led by three-star linebacker Kydran Jenkins, who is committed to Purdue. If the Warriors lose and start 0-2 for the second year in a row, that might not be a bad thing. Last year they followed the skid with a 10-0 run to the quarterfinals. The Golden Hawks own the all-time series with an 11-1-1 edge. The Warriors last won in 1998 and the tie came in 2010.