VALDOSTA — It is a light load of high school football action tonight, but that isn’t stopping Christian Malone and I from picking some games and enjoying the night.

Only four of our coverage area schools are in action tonight. Lowndes and Valdosta are both in action in their final non-region games of the year, while Berrien hosts Turner County. Brooks County is visiting Mitchell County. None of these games are really getting me excited.

Saturday’s Valdosta State-West Alabama game at Bazemore-Hyder is getting me all giddy inside.

If you don’t know, I have taken over the Gulf South Conference blog for d2football.com, and with this weekend being the conference opener for both teams, I am excited to see what happens throughout the conference.

As for tonight, I think we will see some lopsided games, especially at Lowndes and Valdosta. Remember, Valwood, Cook, Lanier County and Clinch County are all off tonight.

Looking at the standings, Christian and I are both 20-7 this season with our picks.

Let’s get down to tonight’s action.



Hardaway at Lowndes

This is our Game of the Week, and it is also homecoming for the Vikings. Lowndes is 3-0 and looking for its first 4-0 start since 2009. Hardaway is 2-1, which is a surprise. Last year, the Hawks were just 1-9. Then again, who have they played this year? The answer: nobody worth mentioning. Lowndes is looking to overcome a very slow offensive start to last week’s game against Windsor Forest and I expect the Vikings to come out tonight and score a lot of points, early, especially with Colquitt County lurking next week. Defensively, Lowndes’ defense is playing at a very high-level. The Vikings have pitched four shut outs the past six games, dating back to last season. I don’t think they shut out the Hawks tonight, but I don’t see them giving up a ton of points, either.

Ed: Lowndes wins 44-7

Christian: Lowndes 38, Hardaway 0



Newton at Valdosta

For the second straight week, Valdosta is hosting a team that has yet to score a point this season. That’s right, we are nearly through the month of September and the Rams haven’t found the end zone. I expect much of what ’Cat fans saw last week. I expect this thing to get out of hand and early. I also expect the Valdosta starters to be pulled out of this game early since the state’s top-ranked team, Camden County, is set to visit Bazemore-Hyder Stadium next week.

Ed: Valdosta wins 44-3

Christian: Valdosta wins 49-0



Brooks County at Mitchell County

This game is simple, Brooks County is very good and Mitchell County is not. After a week off, I expect the Trojans to have a big night tonight and score a lot of points. And heck, if Valdosta can’t beat Brooks County, Mitchell County has no chance. If you need proof, Brooks County opened its season with a thrashing of Clinch County (43-3). The following week, Clinch turned around and beat Mitchell County by 16 points (36-20). And now Brooks is visiting Mitchell County. Good luck to the Panthers. The Trojans are bringing the hammer.

Ed: Brooks wins 44-6

Christian: Brooks wins 49-7



Turner County at Berrien

The Berrien Rebels are 2-1? What? Good for Rob Armstrong and the Rebels. After back-to-back years of being the laughing stalk of South Georgia, the Rebels have a winning record three games into the season. Last week’s win was the most impressive of the two wins, too. The Rebels took the Lanier County Bulldogs behind the wood shed and gave them a royal beating. The surprising thing about it was that Lanier County beat Calhoun, who beat Berrien earlier in the year. I thought the Rebels didn’t have much of a chance in last week’s game. I was wrong.

Tonight, the Rebels host the Rebels of Turner County, who have beaten a terrible Crisp County team and Calhoun County. Yes, the same Calhoun County that beat Berrien but lost to Lanier, who lost to Berrien. I’m getting confused. Turner lost its second game to Seminole County, 34-32. So, as for my prediction, I am going to ride the Berrien winning streak for another week.

Ed: Berrien wins 30-26

Christian: Turner County wins 24-21



West Alabama at Valdosta State

The Blazers open their conference season Saturday with a visit from West Alabama. Tabbed as the top two teams in the Gulf South Conference this season, the Blazers and Tigers meet in what could be the possible conference championship game. Yes, I said it — a conference championship game in September. The main thing will be can the Blazers stop UWA running back Matt Willis and can the Tigers stop VSU wide receiver Gerald Ford? It will be a fun game and I think the Blazers’ experience will be the difference, although it will be close.

Ed: Valdosta State wins 24-21

Christian: Valdosta State wins 28-24



*Christian and I both forget upset picks last week. We are back at it this week.

Ed: Apalachee beats Gainesville

Christian: Charlton County over Fitzgerald