In conversations with several top coaches all across the state this past summer, I asked all of them if they felt that the defenses were finally catching up with the spread option offenses which are very prevalent in all classifications. Almost to an individual, the coaches gave a resounding “yes” in response to my question. After five weeks of play, I see some defensive improvement from some teams, but for the most part, offenses are still lighting up the scoreboards in every corner of this state.

A  few cases in point: Rome 65, Carrollton 51.  Centennial 69, Cambridge 35. Greenville 62, Jordan 49. Washington County 47, Swainsboro 45. And Miller County 82, Randolph-Clay 22. It’s a wild, wild world on the offensive side of the ball in 2018. 

There were some upsets this past weekend. In Class 7A, Roswell upended neighborhood rival Milton, 22-20. Class 4A Wayne County downed Class 6A No. 6 Glynn Academy. 29-14. St. Pius X tossed a shutout at rival Marist, 17-0, and Clinch County, the No. 1 team in Class A, fell to No. 3 Irwin County, 21-3.

Many teams across the state took the week off as part of their regular schedule, all Chatham County Schools and several coastal private high schools took a break from action due to the tropical effects of Hurricane Florence.

A few of the postponed games will be made of this week. Calvary Day will meet Treutlen on Tuesday, while Benedictine Military will also play Groves on that same day at the newly refurbished Memorial stadium.

Valdosta’s scheduled game against Beaufort, S.C., postponed from this past Friday night due to inclement weather, will be played on Sept. 28. 

In other top games this week, it’s top-ranked Class 7A power Colquitt County at Grayson, the No. 3 team in 7A. Seldom do games of this magnitude live up to expectations, but a quick look back at last week’s Class 5A showdown between Rome and Carrollton ruins that theory. Colquitt County vs. Grayson is the GPB-TV Football Friday game of the week this week. The All-Access pass kicks things off at 7 p.m., with game action kicking off at 7:30 p.m.

Other top games across the state finds Harrison at Dalton, Effingham County at Burke County and in one of the top games each season, it’s Warner Robins at Northside-Warner Robins at McConnell-Talbert Stadium in a classic mid-state matchup.

Just down the road in Houston County, there’s another great game to be played as the unbeaten Veterans Warhawks, 5-0 on the season take on the Perry Panthers, 4-0.

In other areas of the state, Morgan County is at unbeaten Monroe Area, Milton at undefeated Parkview, Glynn Academy at Ware County in Waycross and Appling County at old rival Wayne County in Jesup. 

The headliner in the southern portion of the state this week has the Lowndes Vikings at the Valdosta Wildcats in the annual Winnersville Classic at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. This game is no longer a key Region 1 matchup, but this game is played for annual bragging rights in Valdosta.