Phil Jones gives his score predictions for the top six games being played in Week 4 of the 2024 Georgia high school football season.
Thomasville vs. Thomas County Central
The ITG Next Game of the Week features a battle of highly ranked teams in the Rose City as the defending state champion Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets and the Thomasville Bulldogs meet at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Yellow Jackets have started the 2024 season in much of the same way they spent all of the 2023 season: dominating teams week after week. So far, so good for head coach Justin Rogers as Thomas County Central is off to a 3-0 start after defeating Florida High School last week.
Thomasville is also 3-0 following last week’s win over Dougherty.
The last two meetings between these two teams have seen Thomas County Central roll to consecutive 31-0 and 45-7 victories. But this year’s Thomasville team is much better; they’re currently ranked No. 1 in the ITG Next Georgia high school football Top 10 team rankings for Class 1A-Division I.
This should be one of the more competitive games between these teams in recent years.
Phil’s Pick: Thomas County Central 31, Thomasville 21
Douglas County vs. Hughes
The Hughes Panthers, led by head football coach Daniel “Boone” Williams, have scored 52 points in each of their first two victories of the season over Westlake and Mays. Quarterback Christian “C5” Langford has completed 25-of 32-pass attempts for 349 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Hughes offense.
Douglas County is 3-0 after a 35-15 win over the Newton Rams last week. This Tigers team features multiple playmakers, including quarterback DJ Bordeaux and top targets Aaron Gregory and James Johnson.
Get ready for an offensive explosion in this one.
Phil’s Pick: Hughes 35, Douglas County 34
Walton vs. Norcross
Walton quarterback Kaden Gilstrap and his Raiders will host the Norcross Blue Devils and their senior signal-caller, Dillon Mohammed.
Walton is coming off a tough 42-32 loss against the Roswell Hornets.
Norcross and head coach Keith Maloof should be well rested after enjoying a bye last week. They’ll try to get back over the .500 mark following a loss to Mill Creek two weeks ago, which has them sitting at 1-1 on the season.
Norcorss’s rushing attack is led by senior running back Kobe Robinson, who rushed for just under 200 yards through his first two games.
If it’s a close game late, the Blue Devils’ Jack Rouille could be a difference maker. The senior has successfully converted seven of his last eight field goal attempts over the past two seasons, including 2-of-2 this year. His longest was from 37 yards out.
Phil’s Pick: Walton 38, Norcross 31
Bainbridge vs. Tift County
Here’s the matchup Bainbridge and Tift County fans have been waiting on ever since it was announced during the offseason that longtime Bainbridge head coach Jeff Littleton was leaving the port city to become Tift County’s head coach.
The other twist is that Littleton’s successor at Bainbridge, current head coach Jay Walls, is a former Tift County head coach. Walls led the Blue Devils for seven seasons and is still the second-winningest head coach in Tift County football history with 44 wins and 34 losses.
Likewise, Littleton was successful during his 11 seasons leading the Bearcats, achieving a 72-36 overall record during that time and winning a state championship in 2018.
Littleton won his first game as Tift County’s head coach, a 43-0 stunner over Griffin.
Tift County is 1-2 heading into this matchup, while the Bearcats are 0-3.
Phil’s Pick: Bainbridge 28, Tift County 14
Mallard Creek (North Carolina) vs. Grayson
The Grayson Rams bounced back from a season-opening home loss against Collins Hill with consecutive wins over 2 out-of-state opponents, Thompson from Alabama and Dorman from South Carolina, to improve to 2-1 on the season.
This week they’ll continue that streak with a trip to North Carolina to battle the Mallard Creek Mavericks in Charlotte.
Standout linebacker and defensive end Tyler Atkinson, a junior, is averaging 13 tackles per game to lead the Grayson defense, and quarterback CJ Franklin has been a true dual-threat against opponents so far with his passing and rushing prowess.
Mallard Creek will try to knock off their second straight Georgia opponent in this game after defeating Prince Avenue Christian in their season opener 31-21.
Phil’s Pick: Grayson 22, Mallard Creek 21
Mill Creek vs. North Gwinnett
The North Gwinnett Bulldogs, led by head coach Eric Godfree, are coming off a big game that took them to South Georgia, where they defeated the Colquitt County Packers 14-3.
They stay on the road for the third consecutive week to start the 2024 season as they visit the Mill Creek Hawks, who are led by head coach Josh Lovelady and sit undefeated following last week’s win over Archer.
Mill Creek’s offense is led by quarterback Shane Throgmartin and running back Daniel Smith, while linebacker Connor Faber has emerged as the defensive leader.
North Gwinnett quarterback Ryan Hall is committed to Georgia Tech baseball, but is a threat both throwing and running the football. His top targets are Nick Bookman and Erik Ronning.
What a game this should be.
