Week 5 of our 2026 Georgia high school football season game predictions could include potential upsets in every contest.
Grayson vs. Buford
Friday, Sept. 18
They don’t get much bigger than this.
The top-ranked and unbeaten Class 7A Buford Wolves will head to Grayson to take on a resurgent Rams team that seems to have found its mojo after starting the season 0-2.
First-year Grayson head coach Greg Carswell has rallied his team to wins over Hughes and, most recently, Brunswick, after suffering season-opening losses to North Gwinnett in the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic and to Sandy Creek.
Buford has, as usual, looked strong in starting the season undefeated with wins over Gainesville, North Carolina’s Mallard Creek, and Florida’s Miami Central.
Those were all top-tier programs that Buford beat, but I think this could be the toughest game yet for head coach Bryant Appling and his Wolves squad.
Does that mean we’ll have an upset?
If there was an upset brewing for Buford, this is it.
Phil’s Pick: Buford 38, Grayson 28
Irwin County vs. Berrien
Friday, Sept. 18
The Berrien Rebels return to action this week after a bye and will take their 3-0 record into Ocilla, Georgia, to take on an Irwin County Indians squad that is 2-2 and playing much better under new head coach Beau Johnson.
Berrien head coach Jackson Dean has turned a Rebels program that won just three games in the two seasons before his 2025 arrival into one that believes it can win every time it takes the field, which the Rebels have done so far this year.
Berrien’s three wins came against Lanier County, Early County, and Charlton County.
This matchup has upset written all over it. Irwin County is at home, and Berrien is undefeated. I’m sure Dean is warning his team about that very possibility.
Phil’s Pick: Berrien 27, Irwin County 14
Statesboro vs. Benedictine
Friday, Sept. 18
This will be the first meeting of the two Southeast Georgia programs since 1997, with Benedictine leading the overall history of the series 18-8.
Both the Benedictine Cadets and Statesboro Blue Devils are defending region champions. Benedictine won Region 1-4A last year for its first region championship in two seasons, and Statesboro edged out Effingham to capture Region 1-5A last season, its first region title since 2011.
This season the two teams find themselves in the same region for the first time, with Benedictine and Statesboro now members of Region 1-5A.
On paper Benedictine is favored to win. The Cadets lost their opener to Toombs County, but have bounced back with impressive wins over Hebron Christian and Camden County. However, Statesboro is undefeated at 3-0 this season and has looked pretty good in the process, with wins over Southeast Bulloch, Burke County, and Emanuel County Institute.
This one is a tough pick.
Phil’s Pick: Benedictine 35, Statesboro 31
Gainesville vs. Oceanside Collegiate (South Carolina)
Friday, Sept. 18
Another interstate battle awaits Gainesville as the Red Elephants face their second out-of-state opponent in the past three games. Gainesville traveled to East St. Louis, Illinois, two weeks ago and lost to the Flyers 24-21. This week, the Red Elephants face the Oceanside Collegiate Academy Landsharks of South Carolina.
Oceanside Collegiate has won back-to-back South Carolina state titles, capturing the Class 2A championship in 2023 and the Class 3A championship in 2024.
Oceanside Collegiate is off to a 2-2 start in 2026, while Gainesville is 1-2 after earning its first win of the season last week against McEachern. It was the first victory for new Red Elephants head coach Santavious Bryant. Gainesville also lost to Buford 39-19 to open the season.
All eyes will be on the two quarterbacks in this one.
Oceanside Collegiate is led by senior quarterback Aiden Manavian, who is closing in on 10,000 career passing yards. He threw for 42 touchdowns in 2025.
Gainesville is led by senior quarterback Kharim Hughley, a Clemson commit, who left last week’s game in the second half with a leg injury after playing his best game of the season. He led the team with 116 rushing yards and 84 passing yards, so his availability this week is critical for Gainesville against a solid Oceanside Collegiate squad.
Phil’s Pick: Gainesville 26, Oceanside Collegiate 21
Worth County vs. Fitzgerald
Friday, Sept. 18
A battle of ITG Next Georgia preseason No. 1 teams features the defending state champion Worth County Rams hosting head coach Wesley Tankersley’s Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane.
Worth County is looking to bounce back after suffering its first loss in 17 games last week at Thomasville. The loss dropped Worth County to 2-1 on the season.
Meanwhile, Fitzgerald is looking to stay undefeated as it enters the contest with a 3-0 record.
Worth County won this matchup 30-7 last season in one of its best performances of the year.
The two offenses are about as different as possible. Fitzgerald rarely throws the football, instead relying on a ground game led by running back LJ Devine that gives the Purple Hurricane all the scoring power they need. Worth County loves to put the offense on the shoulders of quarterback Lyndon Worthy, one of the state’s best. He has thrown six touchdowns in the Rams’ three games so far.
Phil’s Pick: Worth County 35, Fitzgerald 28
Carrollton vs. West Charlotte (North Carolina)
Friday, Sept. 18
The Carrollton Trojans will play their second out-of-state opponent in three games when they host the West Charlotte Mighty Lions of North Carolina.
Carrollton head coach Joey King’s squad traveled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, two weeks ago and routed 11-time state champion Catholic High 61-27. The Trojans have scored 61 points or more in three of their four victories this season, with a 55-7 win over Rome in the season opener representing their lowest point total so far.
West Charlotte dropped its season opener to Grimsley 24-0 but has bounced back to win three straight, defeating Monroe 22-20, Summerville 20-19, and West Mecklenburg 36-0.
The Mighty Lions won the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Class 3A state championship in 2024, finishing 13-2 and defeating Seventy-First High School 14-7. Last season, they advanced to the quarterfinals and finished 10-3 in the Class 8A state playoffs.
Can West Charlotte’s Mighty Lions be the team that finally slows down Carrollton?
Uh, no.
