On the road again: Laurens teams head opposite directions toward Macon, Savannah in week 7

The song of this season’s first half, for local teams, could authentically channel the poignant Gregg Allman lyric, “The road is my only true friend.” 

Laurens County schools, so far, have had considerably more blues at home than away from it, holding a 2-8 combined record playing locally against a much-sunnier mark of 7-3 elsewhere. 

All three who are in action this Friday will put that win percentage to the test as they head their separate directions on I-16. 

Trinity (2-4 overall) travels to South Macon to take on a tough Windsor Academy (4-1). East Laurens (1-4, 0-1 region 2-AA) will go the same direction, and have its hands full on the north side against unbeaten (5-0, 1-0 region) ACE Charter. West Laurens (2-3, 1-0 region 3-AAAA) will go the opposite way to Pooler to visit New Hampstead (1-4, 0-1 region). 

The Crusaders will need to slow down the pace of play, where their defensive side of the ball matches an intended time-consuming tempo on offense, as well as Windsor’s productive QB-running back duo of Heath Woodard and Jaquan Lewis to have a shot at snapping their two-game losing streak. 

The Falcons have played well against ACE both the last two seasons, and beat the Gryphons in one of their season highlights a year ago. But they will probably have the toughest time of any matchup so far containing the multiple big-play weapons at the disposal of quarterback Ace Hatcher in an offense (averaging 31 points per game) as finely-tuned as any the Gryphons have fielded since their back-to-back eight-win seasons in 2022 and 23. 

For the Raiders, something similar to last week’s performance – easily their most complete and balanced so far – should have them in position to grab a second-straight win against a Phoenix team with some matchup issues at positions (particularly running back, where the stocky Christian Kinlaw features heavily in their overall attack), but a track record of inconsistency. 

The rest of a fairly busy week 7 will feature some more key region bouts, a clash of state title contenders in the GIAA and a few must-wins for some Class A teams vying to maintain a healthy playoff standing. 

Two more big ones are lined up in a second helping of top-10 competition in 2-AA, where Bleckley County (4-1, off of last week’s narrow loss to Dublin) and Swainsboro (2-3, 1-0 region), along with Vidalia (2-3, 0-1 region) and Dodge County (2-2) will fight it out for some more key region real estate. 

Brentwood (4-2) will face a stiff challenge “Between the Pickets” against a 6-0 Edmund Burke. 

Montgomery County (4-1) the same against the ever-salty Warren County (3-2). 

Wheeler County (1-3) and Hawkinsville (2-3) both go after a much-needed region win in Alamo, and No. 1 Johnson County (5-0, 1-0 region 5-A) will try to stay undefeated on a visit to Bud Dupree Stadium, where Wilkinson County (2-3, 1-0 region) put up half a hundred last Friday. 

Washington County (2-3, 1-0 region) is back home looking to make it two wins in a row against Cross Creek (0-5), Twiggs County (1-4, 0-1 region 5-A) tries to rebound as it hosts Glascock County and Treutlen (4-1, 0-1 region 4-A) goes on the road in search of a win to balance its league ledger at Turner County (1-4, 1-0).