ITG Next’s Phil Jones gives his score predictions for the top six games being played in Week 9 of the 2026 Georgia high school football season.
Colquitt County vs. Valdosta
Friday, Oct. 16
A rare South Georgia appearance by GPB Sports tells you just how big this matchup is, not only to fans of the two programs, but to high school football fans across the state.
The Colquitt County Packers got off to a great start in region play last week with a 31-14 road win over Richmond Hill, holding the Wildcats scoreless in the second half while adding two touchdowns of their own. This week head coach Sean Calhoun’s Packers host another group of Wildcats as Valdosta comes to Moultrie, Georgia.
Colquitt County will need to slow down what may be the best one-two backfield punch in the state with Deron Foster and Marquis Fennell while also limiting turnovers.
With a statewide television audience and a packed stadium, you can bet the Hawg Pen will be rocking.
Phil’s Pick: Colquitt County 31, Valdosta 30
Newton vs. Grayson
It’s a battle of the Rams in this Region 4-7A showdown.
Grayson has fought back after a slow start that saw head coach Greg Carswell’s Rams lose their first two games. Since then, Grayson has won 4-of-5 games and is 1-0 in Region 4-7A.
Grayson travels to take on undefeated Newton, which is 7-0 overall and 1-0 in the region. Newton features perhaps one of the best running backs in the state in Kevin Hartsfield.
The winner gets the upper hand in the region race.
Phil’s Pick: Grayson 35, Newton 31
Dougherty vs. Cairo
It’s a battle of Region 1-4A foes as the 5-1 Dougherty Trojans host the 7-0 Cairo Syrupmakers. Both teams are neck and neck for the region lead, with Dougherty at 4-0 and Cairo at 5-0.
Cairo head coach David Coleman’s Syrupmakers have looked impressive so far with an offense led by quarterback Bryce Puckett, who has thrown for 12 touchdowns and just over 1,000 yards this season.
Dougherty is led by quarterback Micah Joyner, who has thrown for 1,419 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Both offenses can score, with Cairo averaging 42 points per game and Dougherty averaging 35. Look for the defenses to be the difference in this one.
Phil’s Pick: Cairo 42, Dougherty 28
Camden County vs. Richmond Hill
It’s a battle of Wildcats in this key Region 1-7A matchup. Both teams are coming off losses in their region openers last week, with Richmond Hill falling to Colquitt County and Camden County coming up on the wrong end of a 50-13 final at Lowndes in a rain-soaked affair.
Despite both teams being 0-1 in Region 1-7A, Richmond Hill is 5-2 overall, while Camden County is 4-3 overall.
Richmond Hill head coach Matt LeZotte’s Wildcats have lost two in a row after starting the season with five straight wins, including a 13-7 win over Ware County on a blocked kick returned 95 yards for a touchdown.
Camden County started the season with impressive wins over Brunswick and Glynn Academy but is 2-3 since, with losses to Benedictine, Ed White, and Lowndes.
Phil’s Pick: Richmond Hill 28, Camden County 17
Thomasville vs. Jeff Davis
This game is going to be huge. The Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets bring their 6-0 overall record and 2-0 region mark into Thomasville’s Veterans Memorial Stadium to battle the Bulldogs, who are 6-1 overall and 3-0 in region play. These region foes sit atop the Region 1-2A standings as the only two teams without a region loss.
Jeff Davis head coach Lance Helton’s Yellow Jackets love to run the football, with quarterback Mark Durden serving as more of a threat on the ground than through the air. He has completed just 6-of-9 passes this season but has rushed for 550 yards and eight touchdowns.
Thomasville, on the other hand, has dual-threat quarterback Christian Hayes, who has rushed for 760 yards and thrown for 625 yards with 20 total touchdowns.
Thomasville head coach Jonathan DeLay’s Bulldogs are tough at home and are riding a six-game winning streak.
Phil’s Pick: Thomasville 37, Jeff Davis 35
Cook vs. Fitzgerald
The Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane travel to Adel, Georgia, to battle the Cook Hornets in a key Region 1-2A matchup that could spell trouble for the loser while putting the winner back in the mix for a region title and guaranteed playoff spot.
Fitzgerald loves to run the football with its vaunted ground game and enters the contest at 5-2 overall. Both losses have come against region opponents, leaving the Purple Hurricane at 1-2 in region play.
Cook has gone with a triple-option attack in head coach Cornelius “Pig” Brown’s first season. So far, the results have been mixed, with the Hornets scoring a region-low 89 points.
The good news for Cook is that its defense has been one of the region’s best, allowing just 38 points in its two region contests against Brooks County and Berrien.
Can Cook pull the upset and pick up its first region win of the year? The Hornets will need their defense to come up big in this one.
