Friday Forecast: Picks for Georgia’s 6 Biggest Week 5 Games

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>*Use code "jackson30" for 30% off your PRZ subscription*</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For many, region play gets underway tonight. For others, consequential PSR games set the stage. Here is my take and picks on 6 of the biggest games this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Buford at Grayson</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The headlining game of the week is this Gwinnett County matchup, which will feature dozens of P4 prospects. Buford is off to a 3-0 start, including blowout wins over Gainesville, Mallard Creek (NC), and Miami Central (FL). Grayson, who limped out of the gate to a 0-2 start, is back on track with wins over Langston Hughes and Brunswick. This is the second all-time meeting between these two, with the first coming in the 2023 playoffs, ending with a 19-14 Grayson victory. Grayson RBs [player_tooltip player_id='970537' first='Brandon' last='Gray'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1654199' first='Ashton' last='Turner'] have both rushed for over 200 yards this year, combining to average over 7 YPC. They will have to create similar success against a Buford front seven loaded with P4 talent, headlined by [player_tooltip player_id='475331' first='Jalen' last='Brewster'] on the DL. Joshua Echols and [player_tooltip player_id='942255' first='Brady' last='Wagner'] are having a big year at LB. Both teams are going to squeeze each other, and whoever wins will be the team that can break off that one big play when needed. <strong>Final: Buford 24 | Gainesville 17</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Spalding at Troup County</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Troup County and Spalding battle yet again, this time as two undefeated teams. Troup County has flexed its muscles this year with 3 wins over LaGrange, Hampton, and Calhoun. Spalding is coming off a dramatic 34-33 win over Trinity Christian. Spalding will have to rely heavily on productive RB Camauri Berry offensively, who will have to find his way behind an OL that will battle with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='2128364' first='Monyah' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1924595' first='Jeremiah' last='Culpepper']. [player_tooltip player_id='1539181' first='Javarris' last='Warner'] is off to the hottest start of his career and is knocking on the door of 600 yards. Troup County has one of the best defenses in the state, and they are emerging as a legitimate threat to win the state title. <strong>Final: Troup County 31 | Spalding 14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Westlake at Houston County</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westlake walks into Warner Robins 4-0 with victories over Lovejoy, Wheeler, Hillgrove, and Northside. Houston County has blowout wins over West Forsyth and Jones County, but is coming off a dramatic loss to Central-Carroll, 73-66. Despite the loss, [player_tooltip player_id='703811' first='Austin' last='Stinson'] was able to rush for over 400 yards. He should surpass 1,000 yards for the year tonight. Both QBs, [player_tooltip player_id='410856' first='Cannon' last='Robinson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='991472' first='Ryan' last='Maxwell'], are off to a hot start in their own right. Whichever team can get a stop down the stretch will win this one. This is giving strong "whoever has the ball last will win" indications, and I expect that to be how this game plays out, regardless of who wins.<strong> Final: Houston County 42 | Westlake 38</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Archer at Roswell</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Archer powers into Roswell off to its hottest start in years, 4-0 with blowout wins over Northgate, North Forsyth, Mill Creek, and Collins Hill. '28 QB [player_tooltip player_id='2133948' first='Jamal' last='Ambler'] is having a breakout campaign and a stable of productive receivers in [player_tooltip player_id='950771' first='Robbie' last='Dunn'] Jr., Avery Booth, and [player_tooltip player_id='1201088' first='Jayden' last='Davis']. Roswell has wins over Walton and Etowah, but was handed a blowout loss to Newton in week 2. They are led offensively by QB [player_tooltip player_id='1698115' first='Matthew' last='Schletty']. '28 TE [player_tooltip player_id='2226537' first='Sean' last='Smith'] is the leading receiver, followed closely by '29 WR Chase Jackson. Archer looks like a well-oiled machine offensively, but this will be their biggest test yet as Roswell looks to build some momentum headed into region play. <strong>Final: Roswell 28 | Archer 24</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Benedictine at Statesboro</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benedictine opened the year with a blowout loss to Toombs County. They bounced back with strong wins over Hebron Christian and Camden County. Statesboro is 3-0 with wins over Southeast Bulloch, Burke County, and Emmanuel County Institute, but this will be a significant step up in competition. [player_tooltip player_id='2149420' first='Eron' last='Mallard'] and Stanley Smart are two of the best playmakers in the state, and they will be featured heavily in what I believe will be the third straight win for Benedictine. <strong>Final: Benedictine 35 | Statesboro 21</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Cass at Villa Rica</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cass rolls into region play with 4 consecutive wins over Flowery Branch, Sprayberry, Creekview, and Heritage. Villa Rica is also undefeated with wins over Alexander, Hiram, South Paulding, and Seckinger. This is one of the best starts in recent school history. This region is deeper than expected, so whoever wins will buy themselves much-needed breathing room for playoff implications. This is one of the most exciting RB matchups of the week between Villa Rica RB [player_tooltip player_id='2058718' first='Emmanuel' last='Ajayi'] and Cass RB [player_tooltip player_id='1588905' first='Kalil' last='Charles']. I think Cass has slightly more firepower, which will put them over the edge here. <strong>Final: Cass 28 | Villa Rica 21</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->