ITG Next’s Phil Jones gives his score predictions for the top six games being played in Week 7 of the 2026 Georgia high school football season.
Cook vs. Berrien
Friday, Oct. 2
The Berrien Rebels lost their first game of the 2026 season last week after starting the year with four straight wins. The Thomasville Bulldogs came to Nashville, Georgia, and defeated Berrien 56-21, leaving both head coach Jonathan Delay’s Bulldogs and head coach Jackson Dean’s Rebels at 4-1 in what was the region opener for both programs.
Now Berrien must travel to Adel, Georgia, to take on the Cook Hornets, who haven’t played since their 6-0 win over West Laurens three weeks ago.
Cook head coach Cornelius “Pig” Brown’s Hornets are 2-2 on the season, and this week’s matchup will be Cook’s region opener in the rivalry known as the Battle of the Border.
Can Berrien shake off last week’s 35-point loss and get back to its winning ways, or will Cook take advantage of the long rest and move one game above .500?
Phil’s Pick: Cook 18, Berrien 15
Roswell vs. Gainesville
Friday, Oct. 2
Roswell head coach Jonathan Thompson’s Hornets are looking for their third straight win over the Gainesville Red Elephants after two consecutive thrillers decided by a field goal or less. The Hornets are also seeking their eighth straight region win after capturing the Region 7-5A regular-season championship last year with a perfect 6-0 record.
Roswell opened its 2026 region schedule with a 39-15 road win over Lanier last week to improve to 4-1.
Gainesville is 3-2 overall after playing one of the toughest schedules in the state, including games against Buford, East St. Louis, and McEachern. Gainesville head coach Santavious Bryant’s Red Elephants also won their region opener last week, defeating Alpharetta 50-0.
Can Roswell keep its region winning streak going?
Phil’s Pick: Roswell 38, Gainesville 35
Coffee vs. Lee County
Friday, Oct. 2
Lee County head coach Dean Fabrizio’s Trojans hosted the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets last week in their region opener, falling behind early in the game and never recovering.
Coffee head coach Mike Coe’s Trojans are looking solid. I think they could be the surprise in Class 6A this season with an offense led by a strong rushing attack and a solid defense.
Coffee went to Tifton, Georgia, and defeated the Tift County Blue Devils 35-14 last week at Brodie Field but will return home to Jardine Stadium to host a Lee County team looking to avoid an 0-2 start in Region 2-6A.
Coffee is the No. 2 team in ITG Next’s 2026 Georgia high school football Class 6A top 10 poll, while Lee County currently sits at No. 4.
Can Fabrizio’s team bounce back and win a tough road game against a good Coffee squad?
Phil’s Pick: Lee County 35, Coffee 21
Brookwood vs. Parkview
Friday, Oct. 2
These two longtime, blue-blood programs in Georgia high school football are looking to find their way back to competing for region championships and state titles.
The Brookwood Broncos appear to be on their way back after finishing 10-3 last season, including a 6-1 record in Region 7-6A. The Broncos are off and running this year too with a 6-0 overall record and a 2-0 start in Region 7-7A.
The Parkview Panthers also appear to be on the right track since hiring Adam Clack as head coach. The former Milton head coach rebuilt the Eagles into a state powerhouse after years of futility and is trying to do the same thing with the once-mighty Panthers.
Clack guided Parkview to a four-win season last year in his first season in Lilburn, Georgia, and he has already matched that win total through the first six games this season. The Panthers are 4-2 overall and 1-1 in region play.
Brookwood may be a bit stronger, but I really like Clack and his ability to motivate in big games.
Phil’s Pick: Parkview 30, Brookwood 28
Walton vs. Marietta
Friday, Oct. 2
It’s a big Region 5-7A matchup between head coach Daniel Brunner’s 2-3 Walton Raiders and head coach Cameron Duke’s 3-2 Marietta Blue Devils. Both teams enter the game at 1-1 in region play.
Marietta had its three-game winning streak snapped two weeks ago with a 35-28 loss to North Paulding. Walton lost to the same North Paulding team three weeks ago 35-7. Walton bounced back two weeks ago with a 49-3 win over Wheeler.
Both teams are led by two of the finest quarterbacks in the state, each of whom has thrown for more than 1,000 yards in 2026. Marietta quarterback Jayden Whiteside has thrown for 1,075 yards through five games, and Walton quarterback Christion Peacock has thrown for 1,210 yards.
The two teams are evenly matched, making this game a tough one to pick.
Phil’s Pick: Marietta 32, Walton 21
Peach County vs. Mary Persons
Friday, Oct. 2
Two teams ranked in ITG Next’s 2026 Georgia high school football Class 4A poll face off as the No. 8 Mary Persons Bulldogs make the short drive to Fort Valley, Georgia, to battle the No. 3 Peach County Trojans.
It’s also a big-time Middle Georgia matchup between Region 2-4A foes. Head coach Brian Nelson’s Mary Persons program is 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the region, while head coach Marquis Westbrook has Peach County undefeated at 5-0 overall and 2-0 in region play.
The last time Mary Persons and Peach County was in 2023, when the Bulldogs defeated the Trojans 13-7. Peach County defeated Mary Persons the previous season 35-18.
Like any good rivalry, you can toss out the records when these two teams get together.
Will that be the case in this game?
