Phil Jones gives his score predictions for the top six games being played in Week 10 of the 2024 Georgia high school football season.
Tift County vs Colquitt County
The Tift County Blue Devils host the Colquitt County Packers in a key Region 1-6A matchup. This game features two neighboring counties separated by less than a 30-minute bus ride.
Colquitt County comes in following a tight road game against the Valdosta Wildcats last week, where they lost 7-3. Now they hit the road again for that short trip to Tifton.
Head coach Jeff Litleton’s Blue Devils are coming off their second region game of the year last week against Lowndes, and even though the Blue Devils lost, you can see that Tift County is improving. The Blue Devils need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Phil’s Pick: Colquitt County 21, Tift County 10
Irwin County vs Clinch County
The Clinch County Panthers have their second tough Region 2 clash in a row with a road trip to Ocilla to take on the Irwin County Indians.
Last week, head coach Jim Dickerson’s Panthers hosted the Brooks County Trojans in their second region matchup and fell to their rivals from Quitman.
Irwin County took care of business in their game against Charlton County, winning 64-34 in the battle of the Indians.
The winner this week takes a big step toward securing an early round home playoff game in Class 1A-Division II.
Phil’s Pick: Irwin County 30, Clinch County 28
Perry vs Ware County
Following two straight defeats against Florida high schools Bartram Trail and Lincoln, the Ware County Gators bounced back to defeat Benedictine last week in Savannah.
The Gators will have another tough task away from home against the defending state champion Perry Panthers, who are led by head coach Kevin Smith and feature double trouble in the run game with running backs Ahmad Gordon and Decorrion Daniels.
Can Ware County find a way to make it two wins in a row?
Phil’s Pick: Perry 21, Ware County 10
Carver (Columbus) vs Sumter County
This Thursday night affair pits two ranked Class 2A programs against each other with the No. 3 Sumter County Panthers traveling to the No. 5 Carver (Columbus) Tigers.
The Panthers are enjoying a resurgence under head coach Will Rogers. Their aggressive defense is led by strong safety Keaston Taylor, who is an interception machine with three picks on the season, including one returned for a touchdown. Sumter County also has Demontae Reeves as an offensive threat at running back and on special teams as a kick returner.
Carver has one loss on the year, while Sumter County comes in undefeated.
Phil’s Pick: Sumter County 26, Carver 16
Bacon County vs Worth County
The Worth County Rams made their way back into the ITG Next Class 1A-Division I rankings two weeks ago with their big upset win over Thomasville. They followed that up with a win over Berrien last week, and now head coach Jeff Hammond’s Rams will try to keep the win streak alive as they travel to Alma to take on the upstart Bacon County Red Raiders.
Bacon County is coming off a tough loss to Jeff Davis last week 24-14.
Still, Bacon County fans are enjoying what their team’s cooking this season, and a win in this one keeps those high hopes alive in 2024.
Phil’s Pick: Worth County 35, Bacon County 14
Oconee County vs Cherokee Bluff
The Bears of Cherokee Bluff have been one of the surprise teams in the state so far following their 7-0 start to the season. They are coming off a key Region 8-3A win against Monroe Area 52-24.
This week the Bears have yet another tough test as they travel to Watkinsville to take on the talented Oconee County Warriors of head coach Ben Hall. The Warriors have now won four games in a row after an 0-3 start to the season and sit atop the region at 2-0.
Can the Bears prove they are the real deal with a win?
