It’s hard to believe, but this week signals the seventh week of regular season Prep Football schedules. By week’s end, there will only be six more weeks of play remaining before regular season play comes to an end. For many teams, Friday November the 10th will be playoff bracket night and a look at first round opponents in the second season of play. However, for many teams across the State of Georgia, that same date signals the end of the 2017 Football season.

This week it’s time for a progress report and a closer look at some of the 2017 Prep Football teams that are raising their game to another level. I call it a mid-season progress report.

The Warner Robins Demons have been one of the surprise teams in prep football this season. Undefeated at 5-0 on the season, this team finished last season with only three wins to their credit and endured an uncharacteristic losing season at one of the State’s proudest football programs. 2017 has been very good to the Warner Robins Demons thus far and a deep run into the Class 5-A playoffs is almost a certainty. 

Another team that is drawing a lot of attention is Meadowcreek. The Mustangs are now 5-0 on the season and winning games with relative ease. This team was 1-9 a year ago, and quite honestly, I don’t think anyone thought that they would be unbeaten at this midpoint of the 2017 season. With a couple of key wins down the home stretch, Meadowcreek could make the playoffs for the first time in many years. The Mustangs take on Berkmar this week.

Other than the aforementioned Warner Robins, another Mid-State surprise team is Howard of Macon. The Huskies have reeled off four straight wins after opening the season with a loss to crosstown rival Westside-Macon. Howard’s 4-1 record at midseason is going to be challenged this week as they travel to region foe West Laurens in Dexter.

Bradwell Institute is unbeaten; the Tigers are now 4-0 for the year after several years of losing marks, and the Wayne County Yellow Jackets are also 4-0 after a 2-8 mark a year ago. Other teams that are flexing muscle across the state include Winder-Barrow at 5-0, and Starr’s Mill at 5-0 as well.

It’s only the halfway point in the season, but these teams deserve a second look for what they have accomplished thus far in 2017.

There are many top games scheduled this week and several have Region Title implications. Carrollton is at Rome in a key game in Region Seven 5-A, Griffin plays at Starr’s Mill in a Region Three 5-A matchup and Parkview is at Norcross in Region Seven 7-A. Mill Creek travels to North Gwinnett in a Region Six, Class 7-A game, and in non-Region affairs, it is Class 6-A Coffee at 5-A Warner Robins, Class 7-A Lowndes at 5-A Ware County and Class 4-A Crisp County is at 2-A Brooks County in a battle of unbeatens.

Other top games finds Bleckley County at Dublin in Region 3-AA, Wesleyan at Eagles Landing Christian Academy in Region 5-A, and Irwin County is at Charlton County in Region 2-A.

Don’t miss this week’s edition of Football Friday Nights in Georgia on GPB-TV at 7PM-10PM. We’ll take you all across the State to the top games being played, keep you updated with scores and let you know about the top recruits in the state as well.

See you this Friday…