Season's first victory will continue to elude Lakeside

A.B.'s high school football picks

Last week: 3-1

Overall: 19-3

Evans (1-4) at Cedar Grove (2-2)

The Knights lost a heartbreaker to Lithonia last week at Blanchard Stadium. This Friday the young Knights will try to get it right when they travel to Ellenwood, Ga., to take on a talented - but up and down - Cedar Grove team.

The Saints feature one of the state's top defensive linemen, in 6-2, 290-pound Justin Wade. The Cedar Grove standout has narrowed his college choices to Florida, Georgia, LSU, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Cedar Grove also has a big-time lineman on the other side of the ball - 6-5, 307-pound Shelton Bynum, who is being courted by Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and Auburn.

Look for the Knights to play hard this week, but come up just short.

Cedar Grove 23, Evans 16

Cross Creek (0-5) at Greenbrier (3-2)

Last week's overtime loss at Hephzibah could come back to haunt the Wolfpack when the state playoffs roll around. That would be a repeat of last season, when Greenbrier just missed the postseason, mainly because of a 3-0 loss to the Rebels.

The Pack is in a must-win situation Friday against Cross Creek, and the Pack should have no problems with the Razorbacks.

Greenbrier 38, Cross Creek 7

Lakeside (0-5) at Baldwin (5-0)

The Panthers are still searching for their first win of the 2002 season, and Baldwin is probably not the best place to travel when you're looking for victories.

The Braves will extend Lakeside's search for another week.

Baldwin 34, Lakeside 14

Josey (1-4) at Harlem (3-2)

Harlem has two losses, but both were against very good teams - earlier this season to Elbert County, and last week at Washington County. After the 40-10 defeat to Washington, the Bulldogs will be in a pretty bad mood this Friday night. Harlem will take out some frustration on Josey.

Harlem 37, Josey 20

Augusta Christian (4-2) at Southland Academy (3-4)

Southland Academy snapped a three-game losing streak last week with a 47-0 win over Windsor Academy. The Lions didn't play last week, but are still smarting from a 30-0 rout at First Presbyterian Day School. AC should be rested a ready Friday night in Americus.

Augusta Christian 31, Southland Academy 13