Callaway Cavaliers at Troup Tigers*
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Callaway Stadium, LaGrange
Records, rankings: Callaway is 3-0 and No. 2 in Class AA; Troup is 3-0 and No. 6 in AAAA.
Last meeting: Callaway won 42-24 in 2015.
Maxwell's projection: Troup by 5
Watch the game: Online at NFHS Network.
Notes: These Troup County rivals met every year from 2008 to 2015 but did not play each other the past two seasons. The series is tied 4-4, although Callaway has won three of the past four meetings. Callaway was without two of its offensive leaders in a 50-0 victory over Cross Keys last week. QB Jacob Freeman (9-of-16 passing for 132 yards, 170 yards rushing on 17 carries for the season) left the LaGrange game on Aug. 31 with an injury and was held out as a precaution. RB Tank Bigsby (357 yards on 40 carries) was rested against an overmatched Indians team. QB Demetrius Coleman and RBs Qua Hines, Charlie Dixon and Antinius Barnes filled in against Cross Keys, and each had a touchdown run of at least 22 yards. Troup QB Kobe Hudson is 42-of-68 passing for 894 yards and nine touchdowns, and he has run for 184 yards and four TDs on 18 carries. Last year, he played wide receiver, his projected position in college (committed to Auburn), and had 45 catches for 896 yards and 12 TDs. WR Jamari Thrash (10 receptions for 317 yards and three TDs), a three-star recruit with 14 offers, leads a group of six players with at least 100 receiving yards this season.
*Courtesy of GHSF Daily
Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane at Dodge County Indians
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium at John M. Peacock Field, Eastman
Records, rankings: Fitzgerald is 3-1 and unranked in AA; Dodge County is 3-0 and No. 6.
Last meeting: Fitzgerald won 13-6 in 2007.
Maxwell's projection: Dodge County by 5
Notes: The Purple Hurricane lost their No. 9 spot in the rankings for losing 16-10 to Irwin County, the No. 2 team in A-public, but should probably still be ranked. They're definitely playing like a top 10 team, rebounding from the loss to beat A-public's then-No. 6 Dooly County before beating AAAA's Upson Lee 28-24 last week. The Indians haven't lost a regular season game since Oct. 14, 2016, when Washington County edged them 18-14. They've won 13-straight regular season games since. The Indians haven't blown away their competition in 2018, beating AAAAAA's Bradwell Institute 23-15, AAAA's West Laurens 22-10 and AAA's Appling County 14-7. This should be another close game. The Purple Hurricane own the all time series at 15-8, with Fitzgerald winning the last meeting led by coach Robby Pruitt, the father of current Purple Hurricane coach Tucker Pruitt.
Brooks County Trojans at Dublin Fighting Irish
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Shamrock Bowl, Dublin
Records, rankings: Brooks County is 2-1 and unranked in AA; Dublin is 3-0 and No. 8.
Last meeting: This is the teams' first meeting.
Maxwell's projection: Brooks County by 7
Notes: The Trojans are another team that lost their No. 5 spot in the rankings by losing to a ranked team, as A-public's Clinch County beat them 37-7 in their second game. They rebounded last week with a 15-13 win over AAAAA's Bainbridge. They're taking a three-hour bus ride to get to Dublin, where the Fighting Irish are coming off a hard-fought 20-13 road win over Swainsboro. They won their previous two games against then-A-public No. 3 Emanuel County Institute and Tattnall Square by a combined 97-7. This should be a close game and, should the Trojans win, they could find themselves back in the rankings, whereas Dublin would surely exit the top 10.
Washington County Golden Hawks at Swainsboro Tigers
When, where: 7:30 p.m., Friday, Tiger Field, Swainsboro
Records, rankings: Washington County is 3-0 and No. 9 in AA; Swainsboro is 2-1 and unranked.
Last meeting: Washington County won 61-25 in 2013.
Maxwell's projection: Washington County by 8.
Notes: The Golden Hawks are off to a strong start, with their signature win thus far against then-No. 9 Jefferson County, 35-14. They also beat AAAA's Baldwin and AAAAAA's Greenbrier a combined 74-13. The Tigers are a bubble team that could fight their way into a spot in the rankings with a win. They too beat Jefferson County — the week before Washington County did — in their season opener, 14-12, when the Warriors were No. 8. They came off a bye and nearly beat another No. 8 team in Dublin, but came up short, 20-13. The Tigers rebounded last week with a 42-14 win over AAAA's Cross Keys. The all-time series between Swainsboro and Washington County is knotted at 16, though the Tigers haven't beat the Golden Hawks since 2003, which was five meetings ago.
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