Clayton News Daily

Photo by Derrick Mahone Drew coach Jarrett Laws says that Friday's game against Stockbridge is one of the most in the program's young history.

When you are the boss, you are in charge of making some high-level executive decisions.

After learning that staff writer Darryl Maxie would be out this week attending to some personal business, the decision was made that his weekly prediction column must go on.

So, I dug through my old files that were boxed up in the basement to find my crystal ball. After spending the majority of the week dusting it off and making some minor repairs, I think it is ready to provide me with the knowledge to correctly predict this weekend games (hopefully).

We are about to surpass the midway point of the season, and several teams in the Southern Crescent are heavily involved in making a playoff run.

Lovejoy, Stockbridge and Eagle’s Landing Christian have garnered statewide recognition by appearing in either the Associated Press or PrepCountry.com/GACA Coaches poll. For Lovejoy and ELCA, this is nothing new.

At Stockbridge, its been a long time coming. The last time the Tigers were ranked L.B. Johnson was in the last months of being president. That would be October 8, 1968.

Speaking of the Tigers, they travel to Southern Crescent Stadium for the first time in school history to take on Drew.

For Drew, this might be the biggest game of its young existence. This game will pit two talent quarterbacks against each other in Leon Prunty of Stockbridge and Drew’s Jay Murray.

Take Stockbridge in a hard fought game.

The other big game on the slate is the clash between Jonesboro and Riverdale. The Cardinals are 4-0 and tied with Lovejoy for the lead in Region 4-AAAA. Riverdale has been impressive under first-year coach Olten Downs.

The Raiders have been solid with linebacker Sateri Powell. Riverdale will need a big effort from its defense and special teams to contain the weapons that Jonesboro will bring to Tara Stadium today.

Cedric Nettles. Cameron Sutton. Tauren Ferguson. Patrick Petty.

Riverdale needs a win to stay in the playoff race, but Jonesboro will be a little too much for them to handle.

Of course, if these predictions don’t pan out, I can always blame it on the crystal ball being out practice.

Winner Loser

Stephenson Luella

Jonesboro Riverdale

Mount Zion Mundy’s Mill

Creekside Forest Park

Stockbridge Drew

Eagle’s Landing Spalding

Henry County Locust Grove

Dutchtown Jones County

Griffin Woodland

Alcovy Ola

ELCA Whitefield

Lovejoy Tri-Cities

North Clayton Banneker