Last Week's Picks: 2-0
Season Totals: 38-6
It was a tough weekend for Evans High School. The Knights appeared to be headed to the second round of the state playoffs with a huge road win at Ware County.
The Knights led throughout the game and were up 14-6 in the closing minutes, but the Gators scored a pair of touchdowns in the final two minutes to upend Evans and end the Knights' season at 8-3.
The news was much better for Lakeside. The Region 3-AAAA champ used its signature stifling defense to smother Statesboro en route to a 16-0 win. The Panthers have yielded an amazing 39 points all year and have seven shutouts, including four in a row.
Westside-Macon (10-1) at Lakeside (10-1)
Last week: Westside-Macon beat Mount Zion-Jonesboro 33-7; Lakeside shut out Statesboro 16-0.
All-time: The teams have split a pair of games, with Lakeside winning 26-15 in 1999. Westside-Macon won the previous year, 35-21.
Points scored per game: Westside-Macon 33.9; Lakeside 28.3
Points allowed per game: Westside-Macon 8.9; Lakeside 3.5
Other facts:
Lakeside's defense leads the state with seven shutouts, and it is tops in Class AAAA and second among all GHSA schools in points allowed. Wesleyan, ranked No. 1 in Class A, has allowed just 38 points to hold down the top spot in points allowed.
Westside-Macon has had one of the state's top programs since it opened its doors in 1997. It has never had a losing season and has won 77 percent of its games (110-33).
First-year head coach Sheddrick Risper took over for Georgia coaching legend Robert Davis, who handed over the reins after leading the Seminoles to a 12-1 mark last season. Davis started the Westside-Macon program in 1997 and had a career record of 353-73-1 in 36 years (24 years at Warner Robins and 12 at Westside-Macon). His win total is second in Georgia history behind Lincoln County's Larry Campbell.
Westside wide receiver Ronald Carswell has committed to Alabama. The wideout has blazing speed. He posted a 4.44 second 40-yard dash time at this summer's Georgia high school football combine. He is rated among ESPN's Top 150 players in the country.
Lakeside is starting to make believers out of plenty of folks around the state. But Westside-Macon's offense will likely be the best Lakeside has faced all year. I must admit I am a little worried for the Panthers this week, but I think coach Jody Grooms and Co. will turn some heads again.
Lakeside 17, Westside-Macon 14
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