Our Georgia high school Pick 6 predictions for Week 3 include our ITG Next Game of the Week between Colquitt County and Tift County. The Packers will be favored, but look for Tift to challenge the Pack at Brodie Field in this one.
The other Georgia high school Week 3 predictions in this “pick ’em as I see ’em” group of 6 include teams from all corners of the Peach State, with Rome and Carrollton battling it out in Northwest Georgia, Jones County and Perry in a Middle Georgia matchup, and Thomas County Central heading to the far southwest corner of the state to battle Bainbridge in the Port City.
In Atlanta, two Metro-area teams will battle it out with athletes all over the field as coach John Adams takes his Saints to Westlake to face Rico Zachary’s Lions. We also look to Southeast Georgia, where Appling County hosts Wayne County in Baxley. Goodness, there are some tough predictions to make here in Week 3 of the Georgia high school season, but here we go.
ITG Next Game of the Week
Colquitt County at Tift County
We begin our Georgia high school Week 3 predictions with the ITG Next Game of the Week at Tift County, where the Blue Devils of coach Noel Dean will host the Packers of Sean Calhoun. The Packers are off to a 2-0 start after last week’s win over Stockbridge their season-opening victory over Dutch Fork in the Georgia-Carolina Challenge at the Hog Pen. Colquitt has some of the state’s best talent on both sides of the ball, and especially on the offense, with senior QB Neko Fann leading the way. Of course, Fann has quite a cast of supporting talent around him with two AJC Super 11 selections in WR Ny Carr and TE Landon Thomas.
Tift County has some pretty good talent of its own, including sophomore cornerback Javion Romer, who already has 15 D-1 collegiate offers and is considered one of the top CBs in the state. He’ll likely be tasked with covering Carr in this battle of teams from neighboring counties. On the Blue Devils offense is another big-time recruit in QB Chris Martin, who has committed to Alcorn State. He’ll try to lead his Blue Devils to an upset win at home. Can he and Tift County do it? I think Tift is still a year away from being able to beat the Pack, but Noel Dean has his team headed in the right direction, and this one will be closer than you think.
Phil’s Pick: Colquitt County 38, Tift County 28
Carrollton at Rome
Better buckle up for this one. Rome has some defensive superiority, with a talented front that includes three All-Region defensive linemen in seniors Treyvon Adams, Justin Terrell, and Rishard Sullivan. The Trojans also must look out for senior head-hunting DB Joe Wilkinson, who was chosen as the game MVP for his performance in the Wolves’ 34-0 win over Cass in the season-opening Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic at Barron Stadium. Not to be outdone, Wilkinson’s teammate, junior Tinerious “Toot” Stallings, was chosen as the Player of the Game for his stellar play against the Colonels. Stallings poses a threat on either side as a WR and DB. He’ll be a favorite target for Rome senior QB Reece Fountain.
Another quarterback all eyes will be on in this matchup is Trojans sophomore Julian “JuJu” Lewis, who last week made his post-high school intentions known by announcing that he will remain a Trojan and head west to Southern Cal. Lewis and his Carrollton teammates enter this one with a 1-1 record after losing their season opener to Langston Hughes in a nationally televised matchup at home. Can Rome give Carrollton a second loss in what is still the first month of the season? My crystal ball for Georgia high school Week 3 predictions says yes.
Phil’s Pick: Rome 28, Carrollton 26
Cedar Grove at Westlake
The Lions are off to a great start at 2-0, but on the other sideline, the Saints are scratching their heads, trying to find answers for their usually dependable defense. After giving up 33 points to Dutchtown in a 1-point win to start the season, the Saints defense again gave up a ton of points in a loss to Monarch (FL) on Thursday night. Defense has always been the one constant in Cedar Grove’s run over the last six years, but with the Saints’ surrendering an average of 51 ppg over the first two weeks of the season, it appears the offense will need to rise up and carry Cedar Grove until head coach John Adams and his defensive coordinator can figure things out.
The Saints can certainly move the ball behind QB EJ Colson, while Westlake counters with its own playmakers in WR Travis Smith and RB Naeem OIdeniyi. QB Sean Smith has played well since taking over for the graduated RJ Johnson, who has moved on to Toledo University.
Phil’s Pick: Westlake 38, Cedar Grove 35
Thomas County Central at Bainbridge
As is the case each season, Bearcats head coach Jeff Littleton has scheduled tough early-season opponents. Bainbridge opened up with ELCA, which when it was first announced, appeared to be a much tougher matchup than it actually turned out to be. Bainbridge dominated the traditional 2A powerhouse by a 52-point margin. The 55-3 final was the Chargers’ worst loss in 21 seasons. Last week saw the Bearcats visit Coffee, where they fell to the Trojans in Douglas.
This week Bainbridge returns home to host Class 6A’s Thomas County Central, which has opened up with Class 4A Cairo and crosstown rival Thomasville from Class 3A. TCC and Bainbridge are led by running backs who possess breakaway abilities, with Keenan Phillips carrying the rock for the Bearcats and Trey Brenton leading the rushing attack for the Yellow Jackets. Look for them to have big games, regardless of who wins. As far as that is concerned …
Phil’s Pick: Thomas County Central 30, Bainbridge 20
Jones County at Perry
The Greyhounds were able to rebound last week with a win over the Falcons of Dacula after dropping their season opener to Northside WR 33-21. Perry is also coming off a tough season opener that saw the Panthers fall to Houston County by a touchdown. They would love to get their record evened up at 1-1 with a win over Jones County at home.
The Greyhounds are led by QB Judd Anderson, who made his college choice this offseason by announcing he would be heading to South Florida to attend Miami. On the Panthers side, they too have a good signal-caller in Colter Ginn, who transferred in the offseason from Peach County. Ginn is currently uncommitted but is considering numerous schools. Both QBs possess big-time arm strength, and this game is an opportunity for them to elevate their games.
Phil’s Pick: Perry 31, Jones County 28
Wayne County at Appling County
There have been some stellar coaching jobs around the state, with coaches coming in and taking over programs that needed a lift, and at Wayne County, Jaybo Shaw has done about as good a job as anyone. He arrived in Jesup before last season to take over a program that had gone winless the year before and had won just three games the season before that.
The former Rabun County coach led the Yellow jackets to a remarkable 10-3 season last year, capped by a trip to the state quarterfinals. Shaw’s Jackets have started this year 2-0 and now take on a tough Appling County team that lost to defending Class 5A state champion Ware County to open the season, despite outplaying and outgaining the Gators by 74 total yards. Appling evened its record last week with a 54-13 win over Aiken (SC).
Phil’s Pick: Appling County 15, Wayne County 14
