Week 2 high school football predictions

Picking the winners of high school football games in the first week of the season can be tricky. You have to base your selections on tradition, last year’s results and whatever previews you might be able to find. In other words, you’re guessing.

Last week, I went into detail about three games and missed on two of them. Southwest DeKalb put up a fight but lost to a strong M.L. King team, and I was way off the mark picking Marist over St. Pius. Only Peachtree Ridge came through as predicted. That’s not exactly the way I wanted to make my debut. Overall, however, I got 77 percent of the winners across the state correct, which is pretty good.

Now we move to the second full week, which presents its own set of problems. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what to make of the first week’s results. For instance, is Lakeside-DeKalb returning to respectability, or is Columbia in for a long season? Has Leo Barker turned around Roswell after going 5-5 in his first season, or is Tift County down a bit? Is Hiram’s offense that good, or is Washington’s defense that bad? Only time will tell.

So now we head into Week 2, armed with as many questions as answers:

Peachtree Ridge at Lowndes: This is the big game of the week, if not the entire regular season. Both teams are on the short list of teams seen as having a shot to win Class AAAAA. Peachtree Ridge, ranked No. 3, looked impressive in beating Harrison 35-13 last week. And I would imagine No. 1 Lowndes looked better than average in putting up 75 points against Woodland-Stockbridge. Lowndes won 22-7 last year, but Peachtree Ridge later played for the state championship. Take Lowndes again this year, but in a closer game. And don't be surprised if they play this one again in December.

Brookwood at North Gwinnett: Last week we mentioned Grayson and Peachtree Ridge as state championship contenders from Gwinnett County. Well, you can throw North Gwinnett's name into consideration as well after the Bulldogs surprised Alabama powerhouse Prattville 14-11 in a well-played game Saturday. Don't expect the Bulldogs to get derailed this week, especially after the way Brookwood was run over by McEachern at the Corky Kell Classic.

Lakeside-DeKalb vs. Tucker (at Adams Stadium): Lakeside lost to Columbia 70-7 last year, then turned around and beat the Eagles 21-7 to open this season. The Vikings can only hope for a similar result against Tucker, which beat them 50-0 in 2008. Lakeside might be better this season, but don't count on another 77-point turnaround. The defending Class AAAA champions win big again.

Centennial at Roswell: Roswell was coming off a 32-21 loss to Tift County last year when it easily handled Centennial. This time, the Hornets are coming off a 42-7 victory, and they'll make their record 2-0 after taking out the Knights again.

Hiram at Northwest Whitfield: The Hornets' 55-point performance against Washington last week opened eyes, but can they keep it going against a Northwest Whitfield team that is a perennial Class AAAA playoff contender? They probably won't get anywhere near 55 points again, but they should be able to leave Tunnel Hill with a victory.

Weekend predictions

Last week: 132-40 (.767); Overall: 132-40 (.767)

Winner+Loser

Friday

Adairsville+West Forsyth

Alexander+Northgate

Alpharetta+Wheeler

Americus-Sumter+Crisp Co.

Apalachee+Cedar Shoals

Appling Co.+Effingham Co.

Armuchee+North Paulding

Athens Academy+Whitefield Academy

Avondale+Druid Hills

Baldwin+Troup

Benedictine+Savannah

Berrien+Lanier Co.

Blessed Trinity+Riverwood

Bowdon+Haralson Co.

Bradwell Institute+Wayne Co.

Brantley Co.+Atkinson Co.

Brookstone+Chattahoochee Co.

Brunswick+Cook

Buford+North Hall

Calhoun+Ridgeland

Carrollton+Douglas Co.

Cartersville+Rockmart

Central-Carroll+Bremen

Chattooga+Allatoona

Clarke Central+Monroe Area

Claxton+Metter

Clinch Co.+Irwin Co.

Coffee+Pierce Co.

Collins Hill+Dacula

Colquitt Co.+Thomasville

Commerce+Morgan Co.

Creekside+Pebblebrook

Dalton+Sprayberry

Dooly Co.+Macon Co.

Dougherty+Kendrick

Duluth+Meadowcreek

Dunwoody+Oconee Co.

Dutchtown+Lee Co.

ELCA+Holy Innocents’

East Coweta+Mundy’s Mill

East Jackson+Fannin Co.

East Laurens+Bleckley Co.

Eastside+Alcovy

Elbert Co.+Social Circle

Evans+Lakeside-Evans

Fellowship Christian+Prince Avenue

Fitzgerald+Hawkinsville

Flowery Branch+Lumpkin Co.

Gainesville+Franklin Co.