This week’s Pick 6 includes another slate of great non-region contests, including our ITG Next Game of the Week: Woodward Academy at Collins Hill. Here are my score predictions for Week 2 of the 2024 Georgia high school football season.
Collins Hill vs. Woodward Academy
ITG Next is back on the road to bring you the live stream of this battle between the Eagles and War Eagles from Gwinnett County.
Both teams faced quite a challenge in their respective season openers. Woodward Academy lost 24-14 against Julian “JuJu” Lewis and Carrollton last week. The Drew Swick-led Collins Hill squad traveled to Grayson, where they stunned the Rams in a come-from-behind, 20-19 victory.
Collins Hill’s secondary will be tested by standout Woodward Academy wideouts Josiah Abdullah and Jerome Bettis Jr., as they’ll be the top targets for quarterback Landon Walker. Abdullah, a recent Virginia commit, also shines on special teams as Woodward Academy’s top kick returner.
Collins Hill’s offense will rally behind junior quarterback AJ Bush and will look for athlete Jeremiah Proctor to make an impact with the football whenever he gets an opportunity. Defensively, the Eagles are led by sophomore safety Jamel Tuff.
Phil’s Pick: Collins Hill 16, Woodard Academy 10
Buford vs. Benedictine
Which of these traditional Georgia high school football powerhouses will bounce back this week, and which one will start the season at 0-2? In addition to Buford’s loss to Milton, Benedictine fell to Rabun Gap 41-17 last week.
Both teams won state championships in 2021, with Benedictine also winning the Class 4A state title in 2022. Each squad has enough talent to do it again this season, but if either team has title aspirations, the one that wins this one takes a big step in determining if they have the right stuff to go all the way in 2024.
Phil’s Pick: Buford 21, Benedictine 17
American Heritage (Florida) vs. Milton
The defending state champion Milton Eagles of head coach Ben Reaves battled the Buford Wolves last week and came away with a 13-10 victory.
The opponent doesn’t get any easier this week as Milton travels down to South Florida for the second straight season to take part in the Broward County High School National Football Showcase. Milton lost to Western 14-10 at last year’s showcase, but then went on to win 12 of their last 13 games en route to the Class 7A state championship.
This time Milton is taking on American Heritage (Plantation), who played for Florida’s Class 2M state title in 2022, losing to Central Miami. The Patriots finished 10-2 in 2023.
Phil’s Pick: Milton 35, American Heritage 20
Coffee vs. Ware County
Coffee began the season where they left off last year: with a win. Head coach Mike Coe’s Trojans defeated Bainbridge last week in the season opener, and they’re looking to keep their undefeated streak alive, which is now at 16 straight, counting last season’s perfect 15-0 run.
In their first game of the season, the Ware County Gators defeated an Appling County team that was hurt by heavy graduation losses in the offseason. Ware County won 40-10.
I think Coffee keeps rolling this week.
Phil’s Pick: Coffee 28, Ware County 14
Perry vs. Peach County
Perry kicked off the season last week against Baldwin at Fort Valley State University in the Gridiron Classic. The Panthers looked solid against the Braves in their 40-21 victory, and Perry running back Ahmad Gordon had a solid game, rushing for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Perry makes their home debut in Week 2 by hosting Peach County, who also played in the Gridiron Classic last week, facing off against Northeast. Head coach Maurice Westbrook’s Trojans rolled to a 48-point win over the Raiders with a final score of 58-10.
One of this week’s great matchups will be watching Peach County standout defensive back Bryson Hughley as he tries to slow down Perry’s Gordon.
Phil’s Pick: Perry 33, Peach County 30
McIntosh County Academy vs. Charlton County
The Charlton County Indians ushered in the Demario Jones era last week with a big win against Brantley County 61-13.
This week Charlton County travels to Darien, Georgia, to take on McIntosh County Academy, who opened their 2024 season with a 22-0 shutout win over Islands in Savannah.
Like Charlton County, McIntosh County Academy and head coach Bradley Warren are hoping to return to better days, like in 2022 when they finished 10-2 and won their region with a perfect 4-0 mark.
This is a tough one to pick.
