Our Georgia high school Week 11 Pick-6 features teams that are all likely to make the state playoffs, but don’t think these aren’t big games, because they are. On the line are potential region championships, which means a No. 1 seed and home field advantage for at least the first two playoff games.
Cook at Fitzgerald could determine the region champion in 1-2A, but the Hornets have to find a way to win at Jaycee Stadium, something that has not come easy for the program. Other games include Lee County and Thomas County Central, where TCC is in the driver’s seat in the race for the region title. A Yellow Jackets win seals the region title outright, while a Lee County win brings the Trojans into a tie heading into the final week of the regular season.
Other big ones are Colquitt vs. Valdosta, Brookwood vs. Parkview, Dougherty vs. Carver, and Crisp taking on the region 1-3A champs, Thomasville. I’m trying to bounce back after my worst week of the year (2-4). Here’s my chance at redemption!
ITG Next Game of the Week
Cook at Fitzgerald
This big Region 1-2A matchup in Week 11 of the Georgia high school football season lost some of its luster when Cook, possibly looking ahead to this winner-take-all game, lost in an upset against Dodge County last week. Still, it’s quite a big game for the Hornets, who could still grab the region title with a win and some help, while Fitzgerald looks to clinch another region title on the way to defending their GHSA Class 2A state championship. Cook enters this game at 6-2 on the season, while Fitzgerald comes in undefeated at 8-0.
The Hornets are led by first-year head coach Dr. Byron Slack, who has come in and turned around a program in need of self discipline, and players have responded. They also are led by junior QB Drew Folsom and freshman MJ Tippins, who has been a Swiss Army knife-type player for the Hornets this year, contributing wherever needed.
Purple Hurricanes head coach Tucker Pruitt will rely on his triple-option, run-heavy offense with Sultan Cooper, Ty Solomon, and Drew Moore all serving as primary ball carriers. Cook has been getting solid special teams play this year, and this is just the kind of game where an opportunistic unit could find a big play to win the game. Can Cook go into Fitzgerald’s back yard and snatch a region title away from the defending state champions?
Phil’s Pick: Fitzgerald 35, Cook 21
Brookwood at Parkview
Here is another classic battle between long-time rivals as the Brookwood Broncos head into The Big Orange Jungle to take on Eric Godfree’s Parkview Panthers, with a region title hanging in the balance. The Panthers come into the game with a 6-2 record, while Phillip Jones’ Brookwood squad enters the contest at 4-4.
The truth is, neither of those records mean much of anything; it’s the region records of each team that determine where the Broncos and Panthers end up in Region 4-7A, which will determine their playoff seeding. Both squads are 2-1 heading into the game. The winner gets the upper hand in the region, with the unbeaten Grayson Rams controlling their own destiny for the region title. (The Rams have Archer next week, with Parkview their last opponent.) A lot of possibilities still remain, but the only thing that should matter to Parkview and Brookwood right now is each other.
Phil’s Pick: Parkview 33, Brookwood 28
Colquitt County at Valdosta
This will be a tough challenge for Valdosta, as the Wildcats come into this Georgia high school Week 11 game against Colquitt County having lost last week against Camden County. The Valdosta defense had been the talk of the state before that defeat; now you can bet the Colquitt County coaching staff is looking at what Camden County did, which no one else had been able to do all season: move the ball against the ’Cats.
That Valdosta defense is led by the player many coaches are calling the best defensive lineman they’ve ever seen, DE Eric Brantley, Jr. He has a strong supporting cast around him, however – players who are also very good at their craft.
The Packers are led by Sean Calhoun, who has the Pack playing as well as anyone in the state in 7A. They enter this contest having played Lee County, Camden County, Cedar Grove, and Deerfield Beach (FL) and are coming off a big win against the Vikings.
It will be worth the price of admission watching UGA commits Landon Thomas (TE) and Ny Carr (WR), along with QB Neko Fann and RB Charlie Pace, matching up with Brantley, Omar White, and that steel-curtain defense – no, not the Pittsburgh Steelers, but that other team that happens to wear black and yellow. The Pack are playing at the top of their game right now.
Phil’s Pick: Colquitt County 28, Valdosta 13
Thomas County Central at Lee County
Wow. Week 11 offers yet another huge slate of great Georgia high school games, and this one is right there at the top. Lee County hosts Thomas County Central in a battle of 1-6A programs fighting to claim the region title. It’s a tight race for the No. 1 seed right now, with Thomas County Central standing alone atop the region standings after Lee lost last week against Northside Warner Robins.
The Yellow Jackets come into this matchup after a big win against QB AJ Hill and Houston County last week. It makes you wonder who will be left standing in this region after the “Battle Royale,” where every opponent beats up on each other until there’s just one left standing. OK, it’s not that bad – after all, four teams are going to the playoffs, but this game could determine who ends up as the No. 1 seed and region champion.
These teams feature two great QBs in Sam Brown for TCC and Weston Bryan for Lee County. They’ll each have great receivers to throw to with JD Fugerson catching passes from Bryan and Adam Hopkins hauling in throws from the senior Brown. That’s just two pairs of many great playmakers in this game.
If there is a deciding factor for me, it’s the schedules. Lee has faced Colquitt, Warner Robins, Lake Gibson (FL), and Houston County, while TCC is coming off a solid win over Houston County. But I think the tougher slate has been Lee’s opponents week in and week out. That is what drives my decision:
Phil’s Pick: Lee County 35, Thomas County Central 31
Crisp County at Thomasville
What a turnaround Thomasville has made under first-year head coach Johnathan DeLay. After an 0-2 start, the Bulldogs have stormed back to win five out of six, capturing the region championship after a huge win against Dougherty last Thursday in Albany. Now, the Bulldogs look to end the regular season with another win against Crisp County.
The Cougars are also led by a first-year head coach, Lawrance Smith. He was an assistant under previous head coach Miguel Patrick; when the latter left for Ohio State University, Smith was elevated to head coach. He has led the Cougars to a 5-4 record, including last week’s home win against Columbus. The Cougars will try to keep their winning ways going in pursuit of their second straight region win.
Phil’s Pick: Thomasville 28, Crisp 25
Carver-Columbus at Dougherty
After suffering a tough 1-point loss against Thomasville back in the first week of this month, the Tigers have bounced back to win two straight, including last week’s 35-19 road win over Monroe. They enter this Georgia high school Week 11 matchup at 6-2 overall, and more importantly they are 3-1 in Region 1-3A. They make a return trip to Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany for the second straight week to battle Johnny Gilbert’s Dougherty High Trojans in a Thursday night affair.
Carver is led by senior dual-threat QB Navell Dean, who has over 1,000 combined passing and rushing yards this season. Dean was used primarily as a receiver and running back last season, as well as a kick and punt returner.
Dougherty enters the game with an 8-1 record overall and 3-1 region record, and is also led by a QB with dual-threat skills. That, of course, would be Kam Davis. The sophomore is committed to FSU, where he’s projected to be a college RB. He already is as much a threat running the football as he is as a passer, so Carver will certainly have to prepare for anything with Davis.
Phil’s Pick: Dougherty 29, Carver 20
