GAME OF THE WEEK: Houston County football hits the road to take on juggernaut Thomas County Central in potential region championship game

Friday will be a battle of the unbeatens as 8-0 Houston County and Thomas County Central go at it in the Jackets’ Nest, potentially for the Region 2-5A championship.

The Bears are 8-0 for the first time in program history, but this is familiar territory for the Yellow Jackets who went 15-0 in 2023 to win a region a state championship.

Thomas County Central has been a juggernaut since head coach Justin Rogers arrived in 2022. The Yellow Jackets saw an immediate turnaround from their perennial five or six win teams, with eight wins being exceptional.

Rogers has only lost three games in his (almost) four years in Thomasville, and they’ve won a region championship in two of those four. If they beat Houston County on Friday it’ll likely be three of four.

The Yellow Jackets have seven players in the top 200 of 2026 recruits in Georgia according to 247Sports, and six of those are committed to Division-1 schools.

Though he’s not the highest rated of the bunch, running back Christian “Deuce” Lawrence certainly highlights the group and has turned heads across the state and beyond with his play this season.

Ranked 126th in the state and 71st at his position Lawrence (Wake Forest commit) is the complete package.

On the ground he’s a great mix of agile, strong and fast. He doesn’t have elite top speed, but he can easily turn the corner and leave defenders in the dust.

If he breaks free through his arsenal of jukes he’s incredibly difficult to bring down, and that’s not just because of his speed. He has several “how is he still up” runs on tape. He can push through a good wrap-up for extra yards or extend into the end zone on the goal line, or he can shake tackles in the lane or open field to break free for big gains.

He’s currently averaging 10.4 yards per carry (through seven games at the time of writing) with 76 carries for 791 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has four games with over 100 yards rushing.

But he’s also a capable pass catcher, and can go up and get balls out of reach and still come down with them. He’s third on the team in receptions with 13 for 255 yards and five touchdowns.

Thomas County Central also has two offensive linemen in the top 200, Artem Korchagin (Cal commit) and Deontavis Cooper (Tulane commit). Both are big, beefy interior linemen at 6-foot-4, 315 pounds and 6-foot-3, 295 pounds respectively.

Korchagin plays center and thrives in the Yellow Jackets’ run-heavy offense, swinging some lanes open like barn doors for Lawrence or other backs to run through for big plays.

Cooper, though listed at interior lineman, has played a lot of tackle this season. He can do run blocking or pass protection well and moves better than you’d expect for someone of his size.

The last offensive players in the top 200 are 36th ranked wide receiver Rodney Dunbar and 197th ranked quarterback Jaylen Johnson.

Dunbar is committed to Pitt, and though Johnson is uncommitted, he has 11 offers from schools like Mercer, Georgia State, Charlotte and others.

The Yellow Jackets don’t pass nearly as much as they run, but Dunbar has pulled down 16 receptions for 239 yards and six touchdowns through six games. He’s 6-foot-5, 173 pounds and makes for a great target anywhere on the field.

While he’s perfectly capable of pulling down those contested catches on corner routes in the end zone, or over the middle, or streaking down the seam, he’s more than just a tall target.

He’s got surprising speed and get off for someone of his size. It’s not elite speed, he’s listed as having a 4.7 40-yard-dash time, but he will get behind the defense if he’s allowed a runway.

With Johnson throwing him the ball, too, the Bears’ secondary will have their hands full.

Johnson is 74-of-110 (67%) for 1193 yards, 22 touchdowns and two interceptions through seven games. He’s got a strong, accurate arm and delivers well-placed balls for his targets.

One of the best

There are two defensive players in the top 200, and they’ve helped the Yellow Jackets field what will end up being one of the best defenses in school history.

The best is already out of reach, with that being 33 points in 1973 and 40 allowed in 1972, but the 2025 team sits in third place (49 points allowed) with two games to go. If they allow less than 35 points in the remaining two games they’ll finish top three, but as long as they allow less than 39 they’ll finish top five.

EDGE and Cal commit Cam Brooks is the highest rated defensive player on the team at 68th in the state and 50th at his position. He’s listed at 6-foot-2 1/2, 225 pounds and is one of the team’s best pass rushers.

Through six games listed on MaxPreps he leads the team with six sacks, is second with nine quarterback hurries and 8.5 tackles for a loss.

Brooks’ best clips are speed rushes, using his get off to get around offensive tackles and to the quarterback. He didn’t break many blocks on tape, so keeping him engaged will be important for the Bears’ offensive linemen.

Linebacker and Kennesaw State commit Omari Stephenson is the other defensive member of the top 200. He’s third with 29 tackles (19 solo), has five TFLs, three QB hurries and two sacks.

Stephenson usually mans the middle and is like a heat-seeking missile going to the ball. He can muscle through blocks but also step outside for coverage in the flat or attack plays from the weak side. He’s versatile and can hurt you in several different ways.

While these two, and the other offensive players, highlight the Yellow Jackets in the recruiting rankings, there are plenty of other players you can expect to make an impact.

Expect Friday to be a championship night with a championship atmosphere in Thomasville.