The ITG Next Pick 6 enters its third week – three weeks already? – and so far, the season has given us some real jewels. This week is no different. The games I have selected for our Georgia high school football Pick 6 in Week 3 are some potentially close contests.
Cedar Grove at Westlake
Cedar Grove just wants to play someone after having their game against Edision canceled, rescheduled, and canceled one last time. Hopefully, weather will cooperate in their game against Westlake, but with so many games affected by mother nature so far, there are no guarantees.
The Saints have one of the most difficult schedules of any team in the state, with only one home game, and they must wait until the end of the season, on the first week of November, before they can enjoy that home cookin’. As for the competition they’ll face along the way, it’s also one of the most daunting, with this week’s Westlake contest kicking off a five-week run of opponents including the Lions, Collins Hill, Mill Creek, Colquitt County, and then a trip to the nation’s capital to take on the St. Johns Cadets, an 11-0 team from last season.
Westlake, on the other hand, doesn’t necessarily have a walk in the park with their ’22 schedule, having split matchups against North Cobb and Crisp County so far. This contest will be fun to watch, with the matchup of Lions dual-threat QB RJ Johnson going against EDGE rusher Adonijah Green and CB Kayin Lee just one example of the considerable talent in this Georgia Pick 6 showcase in Week 3.
Phil’s Pick: Westlake 26, Cedar Grove 20
North Cobb vs Buford
This is another compelling Georgia Pick 6 contest, with North Cobb coming into the Week 3 game rested after having a bye last weekend. They opened the season with a huge 21-17 victory over Westlake. QB Malachi Singleton will be looking to WR DJ Smith in this one, with protection afforded by a seasoned offensive line led by Blake Ellsworth. RB David Mbadinga came up big in the Warriors’ win with a late rushing TD to seal the victory for Shane Queen’s team.
Buford is as good as advertised, as they have shown in their two victories so far to start the season, especially in Week 1 against Thompson (AL). They continued to impress in last week’s win over Mallard Creek (SC). RB Justice Haynes is proving to be a more-than-capable replacement for the departed two-headed RB monster of Victor Venn and CJ Clinkscales. Will the rested North Cobb Warriors prove to finally be the team to stop the Buford runaway train?
Phil’s Pick: Buford 35, North Cobb 28
Northside (Warner Robins) vs Warner Robins
Chad Alligood’s Eagles came up big last week with a victory over Peach County. But there’s no time to celebrate. They now have to go up against defending two-time state champion Warner Robins, who are still smarting from their 17-point loss to open the season against Lee County. You can bet Maurice Westbrook went to work during the Demons’ open week to fix the penalties and mistakes that plagued them in that season-opening loss.
Junior QB Chase Reece, who came over to the Demons from Hawkinsville before the start of the season, is cut from the same cloth as Jalen Addie, who was the starter in 2020. Reece is tall and has a strong arm. Northside Warner Robins safety Ricardo Jones will try to step in front of a pass or two from Reece, and Eagles DL Isiah Harvey will try to put pressure on him. Expect a packed house at “The Mac” for this battle of neighboring schools.
Phil’s Pick: Warner Robins 17, Northside 14
Brooks County at Cook
This will be the biggest test for the Hornets and new head coach Byron Slack at the all-new Hornets Nest so far this season, and if Cook can pull the upset, this could go a long way to establishing the Byron Slack regime in Adel. The Hornets came out with a lot of energy and fire at Valdosta last week, but they couldn’t match the size and depth of the Wildcats.
Cook did open the season with a big win at home against Pelham. The Hornets are led by quarterback Drew Folsom and WR Nyshaun Wallace on offense and the LB duo of JD Smith and Jeremiah Williams on defense. The Hornets will need great performances from those four, as well as their teammates, if they are to upset a Brooks County team that is looking solid so far with wins over Thomasville and Wayne County.
The Trojans have been one of the most successful teams in Georgia over the last decade under Maurice Freeman. That includes three straight trips to the Class A state championship game, and finally a title to show for it last season with a resounding win over Irwin County. QB Jamal Sanders is back and he will be a handful for Slack and the Hornets. Can the Hornets find some magic in this one? They’ll be right there at the end in this Georgia Pick 6 contest in Week 3.
Phil’s Pick: Brooks County 21, Cook 14
Tift County at Colquitt County
The Blue Devils shocked everyone in the preseason with a scrimmage win over Lowndes that had Tift fans believing their time had finally come a little sooner than expected under second-year head coach Noel Dean. But their season-opening loss to Coffee reminded fans that Dean and the Blue Devils still have work to do.
They’ll get there. Tift fans are wondering if lightning can strike twice with another upset over a 1-AAAAAAA team. Tift and Colquitt have enjoyed some memorable games over the years, although the Pack seem to have Tift’s number, winning 11 of the last 12 meetings between these two teams, including last year’s 31-6 victory.
Colquitt is led by QB Niko Fann and RB Charlie Pace. TE Landon Thomas and WR Ny Carr give Colquitt a devastating pair of receiving weapons. Tift County’s Tyler Parker is a solid receiving target himself. He’ll need some help in this one, though, if the Blue Devils are going to upset Colquitt County.
Phil’s Pick: Colquitt County 35, Tift County 14
Thomasville at Cairo
Our final Georgia Pick 6 game in Week 3 features teams with new head coaches. The Bulldogs’ Johnathon Delay took over for Zach Grage, and David Coleman assumed the reigns of head coach of the Syrup Makers after Steve DeVoursney resigned late this offseason.
Thomasville reached the 2A state title game last year, but the Bulldogs are in a bit of rebuild this season. They’re coming off a big game against rival Thomas County Central, while Cairo is coming off its first win of the season last week over Monroe.
The Bulldogs are using a two-QB system with senior Parker Beckham and freshman Cam Hill each seeing playing time after the team’s starting QB from last season, Shannon White, graduated. Whoever is playing QB will look to returning receiver Cole Shaw as his likely primary target.
Cairo QB Braylon Robinson is quite the weapon and is receiving attention from several colleges for his abilities under center. He’ll look to WR Corey Baker, who caught a long pass from the QB in the season opener, while RB Amarion Byrden will pace the Cairo ground game.
These two first-year head coaches are looking for a win in this big Highway 84 rivalry. Who will get it?
Phil’s Pick: Thomasville 28, Cairo 20
