Okay, y’all… (and that IS the official term around here…)

Did last week’s games add to the surprise factor… Or, I guess I should say “Surprise Factor…” from the week before…??? Let’s start with three defending champs now at 0-2- Allatoona, Westminster, and Colquitt County after losses to Alexander, GAC, and American Heritage…

According to our friends at the GHSF Daily, that hasn’t happened since 1998 when Parkview, Washington County, and Thomas County Central went that way. But, remember, 21 of those 32 teams have turned it around and made the playoffs.

So, as I maintain… the early start is not an indicator of where you finish. It’s just a way to get you ready for your region schedule- where you really have to make your hay…

Which leads us to my Question of the Week…

What, Dear Reader, was the biggest surprise for you in the second week of games that were played? You see, I phrase it that way because Tommy Palmer and I will continue to get in to it over the math of the deal. Last week was listed as Week Zero, but Tommy won’t call it that. To him, the first week of play is still the first week of play- thus, he’ll call it Week One…

I go with the tradition of the action, and therefore, I call it Week Zero…

So, let’s run through the week that was…

Down south, Valdosta is on a roll… and we’ll catch up with Wildcats head coach Alan Rodemaker in the “Jon’s Georgia” segment this week. Here’s what the team did after getting win #900 in the Winnersville Classic in a game against Woodland-Stockbridge. Theo and Jake have the highlights…

((HT: WALB-TV))

WALB.com, South Georgia News, Weather, Sports

Big wins for Clinch, Tift, TCC, Fitzgerald, Lowndes, and Lee County as well…

People in the northwest got a look at a great rivalry in Calhoun and Dalton- the first game of the year for one and the second for the other. Dave Staley has the quick highlights from our friends at Newschannel 9, WTVC-TV in Chattanooga- one of the surprises of the week, unless you ask those who follow the Catamounts…

Obviously, the thoughts and good vibes from everyone at GPB were in Fort Valley with the week the Trojans had after the passing of Raekwon Smith and the auto accident that injured three others. It’s a great town and a great football community and the elected to play football- with Houston County coming to town. Frank and Ben have the look at the Trojans and Bears on a night where two towns united to remember and start to heal…

((HT: WMAZ-TV))

In the east, Laney and Aquinas played for the first time since 1975. But, it was also a chance for our friends at WJBF-TV to take a look back at the match-up when it was the first integrated football game in Georgia history almost 50 years ago.

Last stop is in the west, where Dave and Tall Paul take a look at the 54th renewal of the Heritage Bowl- Carver and Spencer- and a lot of other stuff going on in the Columbus area. Here’s a look at what went down thanks to our friends at WTVM-TV.

Check out all their handy work here.

Go onto social media- the GPB Sports Facebook page, the GPB Sports twitter feed (@GPBSports), my Twitter feed (@OSGNelson), or answering down below in the comments section to let me know what’s going on in your neck of the woods

Now, your friendly reminder…

This week it’s another week of “Football Fridays in Georgia” across the GPB platforms- starting at 7:30 in Studio A with Mark, Jackie, Chuck, and myself. From 7:30 til 10, it’s us and you finding out what’s going on in high school football!

Play it safe, everyone… I’ll see you Friday night!