HS football preview: FPD and Tattnall battle for region, Northeast hosts Dodge for key game

With the high school season almost wrapped up, several Middle Georgia regions will come down to the wire in the final two weeks. Here’s a look at some pivotal games this week that will likely decide playoff positions for Macon teams.

Northeast vs. Dodge County

Macon plays host to one of the most important Region 2-A Division I games of the year when Dodge County comes to town to face the Northeast Raiders.

The Indians remain undefeated, while the Raiders are 6-2 overall and 6-1 in the region. The two have locked up the top three spots in the region for themselves, but it remains to be seen what order they’ll finish in. The matchup between Dodge and Northeast could determine whether the Raiders play at home or away in the postseason.

Regardless, Northeast bounced back from a 17-7 loss on the road against Dublin in proper fashion last week, dispatching Central with ease in a 39-0 win. With their solid rushing offense back on track, the Raiders will look to spoil the Indians’ perfect season.

Perfect record or not, Dodge County has looked vulnerable on occasion. A 19-16 win over Bleckley County looked impressive to open the season, but the Royals are now seventh in the region with a 1-5 record against fellow Region 2 teams. 

Northeast also struggled with Bleckley, of course, needing a second-half comeback to win 33-30. But aside from that game, the Raiders have either won in thoroughly convincing fashion — their wins have come by 39, 46, 47, 32 and 22 points — or lost by a handful of points.

The Indians saw a few more momentum changes in their first eight games. After the narrow in over the Royals came a blowout of cellar-dweller Central, then a tight contest with ACE that came down to the Gryphons’ final drive — another win that seemed like a statement at the time but appeared less impressive after Northeast and Dublin each smothered ACE in blowouts.

Other close games followed later in the season: 13-7 against Region 3 Vidalia and a surprisingly intriguing 35-24 game against Washington County, a team Northeast defeated 41-9 earlier this year.

But Dodge County notched some blowouts, too, and certainly has no shortage of talent. Running back and linebacker Duke Johnson has made headlines around the area as an Alabama commit with a propensity for tough runs on offense and big hits on defense.

It will be an intriguing game. If Northeast can win it, a second-place region will be very probable with only a date against East Laurens left on the schedule. A Dodge County win would set up a de facto region title game next week when the Indians meet the Fighting Irish.

—Micah Johnston

FPD vs. Tattnall

Opposite the big game for Northeast is a pivotal showdown between Macon rivals in the GIAA as FPD and Tattnall clash for region supremacy.

Both teams are about as hot as they come. The Trojans are on a particularly nice streak. They’ve won seven games in a row since falling to Brookstone in their season opener. Not all those wins have been convincing — a zany game against Mount de Sales and a slow start versus a struggling John Milledge team come to mind — but Tattnall has, on the whole, looked like a stout foe.

FPD won two games before its first loss, an 18-6 stumble against St. Anne-Pacelli in Columbus, then went on a six-game tear similar to Tattnall’s. The Vikings have looked like serious title contenders for the past two months, averaging a margin of victory of 27.2 points following a 6-3 win over Brookstone Sept. 6.

Save for a five-point Homecoming win over Westfield, the Vikings’ recent run has looked dominant. FPD won a game over Pinewood Christian 47-0 without attempting a single pass. The team can adjust to circumstances perhaps as well as any team in the GIAA field.

The Trojans have done their fair share of adjusting, too — without star rusher Antone Johnson last week, Tattnall still got past John Milledge 28-17. As Johnson dealt with injuries against Mount de Sales earlier this year, the Trojans still defeated the Cavaliers 31-18 despite throwing two pick sixes.

Both teams rode their hot streaks right to the top of the region, and Friday’s game will determine the winner and top dog before playoffs begin. The game will also determine which “Big Four” Macon GIAA will reign supreme, as both squads already defeated Stratford and Mount de Sales.

—Micah Johnston

Howard at Harlem 

It took nearly a month for Howard to get a chance to extend its two-game winning streak to three games, thanks to the effects of Hurricane Helene on the eastern part of Region 4-3A in the Augusta area.

After a sluggish first half, the Huskies exploded for 35 second-half points to dump Cross Creek 42-6 last week after not having played since Sept. 20.

Now, the Huskies will travel east to try and maintain a spot among region contenders when they visit Harlem.

The two are tied at 3-1 in region play, Harlem at 5-1 overall and Howard 4-2. West Laurens and Westside-Augusta are tied for first at 4-1.

Harlem’s weather-induced break lasted a week less than Howard’s, as the Bulldogs lost to Aquinas 12-7 on Oct. 18, then thumped Westside-Augusta 24-0 last week for the Raiders’ first loss.

Both coaches and the officials agreed to call the game with a little more than three minutes left.

The Huskies last won four straight to open the 2022 season, only to lose four of their final six games to finish 6-4 and miss the playoffs.

Harlem went 10-2 in 2022 and won the Region 4-3A region title, then lost in the second round. Head coach Mark Boiter is 29-21 in his fifth season, owning the program’s first region title since 1974.

The Bulldogs are scoring 22.7 points a game and giving up 12.2, while the Huskies put up 31.8 and allow 17.5.

Malik Tyler leads the Harlem offense with 527 yards on 89 carries with four touchdowns. The Bulldogs have used Mercer Barton and Giovanni Arroyo at quarterback. Barton threw for 107 yards in the loss to Aquinas, Tyler running for 67 yards.

Banks Young and Levi Rickerson lead Harlem’s defense.

Howard quarterback Deon Wellons comes off a career game, completing 12 of 15 for 196 yards and two touchdowns. 

Jaylen Wallace caught two passes for 105 yards, Terrance Brown leading the run game with 105 yards on eight carries.

Zelin Pollard and Tristan Sands shared tackle honors with seven each against Cross Creek, Courtney Wallace adding five stops.

The Huskies thrived last week despite some composure penalties on a flag-heavy performance, more than a dozen for nearly 150 yards.

Howard was flagged almost a half-dozen times for unsportsmanlike penalties, mostly for excessive celebration, to go with normal penalties.

“Sometimes they can get away with some of the celebrating,” head coach Trey Porter said. “But spiking the ball ain’t gonna be one of them.

“We’re bad right now, and it’s partially my fault. A lot of guys didn’t play last year, so, ‘You’re in the end zone, have fun, you never know when you’re going to get in there again.’ 

“But the honeymoon’s over. We’re past that now. We’re winning. Let’s act like winners.”

—Michael A. Lough

Other key games

Rutland and Westside meet in another all-Macon game this week with playoff position on the line. 

The Hurricanes have struggled mightily so far this season, going 0-8 thus far and failing to score more than 12 points in any game. In three region games, Rutland lost 26-7 to Jackson, 55-12 against Morgan County and 41-0 versus Callaway.

Westside has had more success, albeit inconsistently. The Seminoles fought hard in a 35-32 loss to then-No. 2 Morgan County to open region play before falling 34-14 to Callaway. Westside then salvaged its region showing thus far last week with a 35-21 victory over Pike County.

Westside controls its own destiny at 1-2 in region play, as a win over the Hurricanes would almost certainly secure the Seminoles a playoff position. Defeating Jackson next week could even earn Westside third place instead of fourth and a better matchup in the opening round.

But Rutland, despite a winless season to this point, is still in the hunt. A win would tie the Hurricanes with the Seminoles and give Rutland hope going into the last game of the season against Pike County.

Stratford gets the week off over in GIAA, while Mount de Sales travels to John Milledge for its final game hoping to break a three-game losing skid. The Cavaliers showed flashes at times this year and have a chance to end the season on a high note.

Southwest hits the road against Washington County hoping to rebound from last week’s tough loss against ACE.

ACE takes that momentum into its road test against a weaker-thannormal Bleckley County this week. After the big rebound win, the Gryphons could put themselves in position to snag the region’s fourth and final playoff spot with a win.

Central has the toughest task of any Bibb County school, traveling to Dublin to take on the undefeated Fighting Irish. Dublin is the clear favorite to win the entire region, a fate that will likely be decided next week when they face Dodge County.

The Chargers are on the other end of the spectrum, still searching for their first win in a tough season as part of a crowded region. With little offense to speak of and a defense that’s had a hard time slowing down opponents, it will be tough sledding for Central.