Matchups against nationally ranked opponents highlight Houston County’s Week 8 football slate

Region 2-6A is one of the toughest regions around, and a couple of Houston County teams will be reminded of that, as if they needed to be, this week.

Here’s a quick preview of this week’s football:

Find our Game of the Week preview, Perry vs. Jones County, online on Wednesday or in the Oct. 7 edition of the Houston Home Journal.

Houston County

Houston County (3-2, 1-0 Region 2-6A) broke their two-game skid with a blowout of Tift County last week, but the slate gets significantly more difficult starting this week.

The Bears host Thomas County Central, ranked 14th nationally by MaxPreps, in what will be their toughest test of the regular season.

The Yellow Jackets have lost two games since 2023, and two of those seasons they were 15-0 state champions. Former Rome quarterback Aidan McPherson has been unstoppable, combining for 1,438 yards and 27 touchdowns through six games.

HoCo’s brief history against TCC has not been a positive one; they are 0-6 all-time and only one of those games has been decided by two scores or less.

Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Freedom Field.

Northside

Northside (2-3, 0-1 Region 2-6A) finishes their two-game road trip at Tift County on Friday.

The Eagles are coming off of their second bye week looking to bounce back from a loss to Veterans in their region opener, an 18-point comeback for the Warhawks.

The Blue Devils lead the all-time series 7-6, but Northside has won four in a row in 2008, 2009, 2022 and 2023. The two programs first squared off in 1984, a 27-21 win for Tift County.

Last week, the Blue Devils fell short in their comeback attempt to Houston County in a 56-28 final.

Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Tifton.

Veterans

Veterans (4-2, 1-1 Region 2-6A) ramped up their region schedule in a hurry last week with a road trip to Thomas County Central, a 55-12 loss.

It doesn’t get much easier this week as the Warhawks visit Lee County, ranked 29th in the nation by MaxPreps.

The two teams have only played as region opponents, starting in 2022, and the Trojans have won every contest by at least five scores. So far, Lee County’s only loss is to Thomas County Central, 49-26.

Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Leesburg.

Warner Robins

Warner Robins (5-2, 3-0 Region 2-5A) is on back-to-back bye weeks after beating Locust Grove last week, 38-0. Their next game is on Oct. 23 at home against Ola.

Westfield

Westfield (4-3, 1-0 GIAA District 3-3A) is on their second bye week after their 35-15 homecoming victory over Tiftarea Academy last week. Next up is a road game at Central Fellowship Christian Academy on Oct. 16.