ITG Next Georgia is back with our weekly Pick 6 feature, in which I’ll choose six of the top games around the state, then tell you a little bit about each team before predicting the winner and the score. Officially it’s Week 2 of the Georgia high school season, but this is our first Pick 6, and there are some great games from which to choose.
The first game of our Georgia high school Week 2 Pick 6 is our ITG Next Game of the Week, which features McEachern taking on Langston Hughes. We also have the HoCo Bears and Perry Panthers battling it out as both team look to stake their claim as Houston County’s next program on rise. There’s nothing better than crosstown rivalries, and the matchup of Thomasville and Thomas County Central is right at the top. Our other games will see Bainbridge travel to Coffee, Camden take on Brunswick, and Northside WR and Peach County and their new head coaches, Ben Bailey and Marquise Westbrook, going at it. Here are the games, and my picks. Let’s see how I do.
McEachern at Langston Hughes
The ITG Next Georgia Game of the Week features the Langston Hughes Panthers and quarterback Prentiss Air Noland as they host the McEachern Indians in their 2023 home opener. Hughes is coming off last week’s highly anticipated matchup at Carrollton in which the Panthers fell behind early but came storming back to defeat the Trojans 39-34. McEachern, meanwhile, opened against Brookwood, one of the featured games that was part of this year’s Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic.
One of the key matchups to watch in this one will be Air Noland trying to avoid Indians All-State DB Daniel James, who has committed to the University of Cincinnati and is considered one of most physical and best coverage corners in the state. McEachern hired former Griffin head coach Kareem Reid in the offseason, and so far he has the Indians believing they can beat anybody in 2023. This one will certainly test their resolve.
Phil’s Pick: Hughes 31, McEachern 28
Houston County at Perry
Next up in our Georgia high school Week 2 Pick 6 is yet another game featuring two great quarterbacks, as the Houston County Bears of Jeremy Edwards travel a few miles down Highway 41 to take on Kevin Smith’s Perry Panthers. For years these two programs fought for football respectability among the county’s more established schools. But the tide has turned, with Perry and HoCo bringing in head coaches who have elevated their programs and their expectations.
Jeremy Edwards took HoCo to the Class 6A quarterfinals and a 10-win season in 2022, while Kevin Smith has led Perry to three straight region titles. AJ Hill leads the Bears’ explosive offense, while Perry QB Colton Ginn is in his first season under Smith’s watch after transferring from Peach County in the offseason. Look for these two to put on a show in this cross-county battle of high-octane offenses.
Phil’s Pick: Houston County 35, Perry 28
Thomasville at Thomas County Central
These teams met last year in a Georgia high school Week 2 game that saw Central strike early and often en route to a 31-0 shutout win. That came one week after Thomasville had lost its season opener to Brooks County. The Bulldogs were limping into the 2022 season under first-year head coach Jonathan Delay.
A year later, Thomas County Central is again showing it’s likely to be a force in Region 1-6A, with an impressive showing against Cook in a preseason scrimmage and a season-opening victory against Cairo. Meanwhile, Thomasville seems to be picking up right where it left off after rallying in the second half of the 2022 season. The Bulldogs avenged that loss to Brooks County in their Week 1 win over the Trojans by a 42-20 margin. Can they avenge yet another loss?
Phil’s Pick: Thomas County Central 30, Thomasville 23
Bainbridge at Coffee
The Bearcats of Jeff Littleton have a history of slow starts, but they seem to always find a way to finish strong. This year, however, Bainbridge came out swinging as it won in dominating fashion last week over ELCA, 55-3. The Bearcats don’t have much time to celebrate as they take on Coffee.
The Trojans of Mike Coe kicked off 2023 with a win against a still-rebuilding Tift County team. Bainbridge defeated Coffee 24-21 when these teams met last year in the Port City, and the Bearcats are hoping to make it two in a row. Will they?
Phil’s Pick: Bainbridge 28, Coffee 24
Peach County at Northside WR
Both of these teams head into the 2023 season with new head coaches as Marquise Westbrook moved from Warner Robins to take over the Trojans, while Ben Bailey left Peach County, where he was offensive coordinator last season, to take over the Northside Eagles football program. Peach County opened the season last week against Baldwin, while Bailey’s Eagles opened with Jones County, where the coach he replaced – Chad Alligood – now serves as the athletic director.
Westbrook isn’t the only new face on the Peach County sideline; the Trojans had to replace several of their key offensive contributors from last season. That includes former QB Colton Ginn, who transferred to Perry. His replacement is DJ Hudson, who was at Northside Warner Robins last season.
Phil’s Pick: Northside WR 31, Peach County 21
Brunswick at Camden
This Georgia high school Week 2 contest is the season opener for the Pirates, while Camden is coming off a season-opening win last week at home against Columbia. The Pirates had a successful 2022 season under first-year head coach Garrett Grady. He led Brunswick to an undefeated regular season and the Region 2-7A title, and he has one of the top receivers in the state in TJ Mitchell back this season. Jeff Herron also has some playmakers returning, including QB Mason Robinson and TE/WR Elyiss Williams, who transferred into the Camden school district from Charlton County.
Brunswick won last year’s meeting between the teams by a 16-10 final score. Something tells me to expect a few more points in this one.
Phil’s Pick: Camden 27, Brunswick 22
