ITG Next’s Phil Jones gives his score predictions for six of the top games being played in Week 11 of the 2026 Georgia high school football season.
Lowndes vs. Valdosta
Friday, Oct. 30
The biggest high school football stage in the state will be at Lowndes High School’s iconic Martin Stadium, also known as the Concrete Palace, when the Valdosta Wildcats and Lowndes Vikings square off in a battle of undefeated teams in this year’s Winnersville Classic.
Both ‘Cats and the Vikings are 8-0.
Valdosta is ranked No. 4, and Lowndes is No. 5 in both ITG Next’s Georgia high school football Class 7A top 10 ranking and the Georgia High School Football Daily composite poll, of which ITG Next is a participating member.
Valdosta won last year’s matchup 23-14. Lowndes won the 2024 Classic 30-20, which was the last time the rivalry was played at Lowndes.
Does that pattern continue, with the home team winning again?
Until someone shows me they can slow down the Valdosta offense, it’s going to be tough to pick against the ‘Cats.
Phil’s Pick: Valdosta 45, Lowndes 35
Veterans vs. Tift County
Friday, Oct. 30
This is exactly the type of matchup that the GHSA’s postseason ranking formula was intended for.
Under the old system of determining playoff eligibility, these two teams would have been playing for nothing but pride. Instead, the winner of this matchup between the Tift County Blue Devils and Veterans Warhawks could secure one of the final 32 playoff spots in Class 6A.
Veterans currently holds the No. 28 spot, but Loren Maxwell projects the Warhawks to finish at No. 34. Tift County heads into the game just outside the top 32 at No. 33.
While other variables could affect the final rankings, this could be a “win-and-you’re-in” game.
Phil’s Pick: Tift County 31, Veterans 28
Camden County vs. Colquitt County
Friday, Oct. 30
This is another big Region 1-7A matchup as Colquitt County head coach Sean Calhoun and his Packers prepare for another long road trip across the state to take on the Camden County Wildcats.
Earlier this month, Colquitt County traveled to Bryan County to face Richmond Hill and came away with a hard-fought 31-14 win.
The Packers are 5-3 overall with a 1-1 record in Region 1-7A.
Camden County is 5-4 overall and 1-2 in the region following losses to Lowndes and Valdosta. Camden County head coach Tucker Pruitt and his Wildcats hope to win their final regular-season game to finish 5-5 overall and 2-2 in Region 1-7A.
Camden County currently holds the No. 17 spot in the Class 7A PSR, and Colquitt County is ranked No. 10 heading into its ninth game of the season.
This should be a good one.
Phil’s Pick: Colquitt County 31, Camden County 21
Toombs County vs. Appling County
Friday, Oct. 30
It’s No. 1 vs. No. 2 as the 8-0 Appling County Pirates travel to Toombs County to take on the top-ranked Bulldogs, who also stand at 8-0.
Appling County head coach John David Sellers returned to his alma mater, where he served as the Pirates’ quarterback in 2004 before earning a college scholarship to play the same position at Austin Peay. Sellers served as Lowndes’ quarterbacks coach last season before being named Appling County’s new head coach this year.
Meanwhile, Toombs County head coach Buddy Martin is trying to get his Bulldogs back to the state championship game, where they fell to eventual state champion Worth County in last year’s Class 1A-Division I title game.
Toombs County will be the toughest team Appling County has faced so far this season. Can the Pirates rise to the challenge?
Phil’s Pick: Appling County 24, Toombs County 23
Jefferson vs. North Oconee
Friday, Oct. 30
This matchup has major implications as Region 8-5A rivals North Oconee and Jefferson battle for the region title. Jefferson is 7-2 overall, while North Oconee is 8-1. However, both teams are 4-0 in region play, making this a battle for the region’s No. 1 seed and a guaranteed home playoff game.
North Oconee currently holds the No. 2 spot in the Class 5A PSR but could move into the No. 1 overall seed with a win, according to Loren Maxwell’s Maxwell Ratings projections.
Jefferson is currently No. 12 in the PSR and could move into a top-10 seed with an upset.
Both teams are also ranked in the top 10 of the GHSF Daily Class 5A composite poll and ITG Next’s Georgia high school football Class 5A top 10 rankings. ITG Next ranks North Oconee at No. 5 and Jefferson at No. 8.
Then, there’s likely a bit of payback on Jefferson’s mind. Last year, despite finishing 13-2 and advancing to the Class 3A state championship game, Jefferson suffered a 35-0 shutout loss to North Oconee, one of its only two defeats. The other came against Sandy Creek in the state championship game.
Phil’s Pick: North Oconee 31, Jefferson 28
Cartersville vs. Dalton
Friday, Oct. 30
One of the top turnaround stories in Georgia high school football this season belongs to the Dalton Catamounts, who are 7-1 with their only loss coming against Cedartown.
Dalton head coach Chris Prewett left Roswell after the 2024 season to take over a Catamounts program that had gone winless the previous year. Prewett’s first-year team finished 3-8 last season, but this year’s squad has taken major steps forward.
Meanwhile, the Cartersville Hurricanes are on a roll, winning all eight games this season with little resistance.
The Hurricanes are averaging 52.5 points per game while allowing just 4.4 points per contest. Their closest game this season was a 35-point win over Mt. Zion-Jonesboro in the second game of the season.
Can Dalton keep it close enough to give itself a chance late?
