Sep. 19—THOMASVILLE — On Friday night Thomas County Central will host the Godby Cougars for their 2023 Homecoming game. This is sure to be a fun contest for Yellow Jacket fans as they get ready to watch the number eight ranked team in the state of Georgia take on the Cougars.

Central has been fantastic all season, granted their competition through the first four games has been less than stellar. The Yellow Jackets offense and defense has been cooking. Through the first four games of the season, Central has put up 172 points while only allowing a total of 28 points to their four opponents.

Jaylen Johnson has stepped into the quarterback role nicely as he continues to get more comfortable and gain more confidence. He and Trey Brenton have proven to be one of the best backfields in region 1-6A. Brenton is the second leading rusher in the region with his 428 rushing yards on 66 carries and eight touchdowns. Johnson also ranks second among region quarterbacks with 46 completions on the season for 816 passing yards and eight touchdowns. The young QB also has 128 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground this season.

On top of their excellent backfield, Central has a stellar receiving core making it easy on their young quarterback. It's led by sophomore Tre'von Pringle, who is one of the best receivers in the region. Currently, he has 12 receptions for 273 yards and three touchdowns this season. Tight end Malachi Thomas also has three touchdowns and 11 receptions for 223 yards.

The Yellow Jackets defense will also be giving Godby a run for its money. Not only has the defense allowed just 28 points all season, but they have been dominant against the run, allowing under 35 rushing yards in three out of four games. They have shown the ability to be a seriously disruptive presence and have guys who can play all over the field. Three different Yellow Jacket defenders have led Central in tackling stat categories and it's no surprise when you watch them play. They play defense with an intensity that is unmatched.

Central will need to watch out for Godby's sophomore quarterback Lazarus Chambers. The Cougars had success in the passing game against Cairo, who has a solid secondary. Chambers completed 50% of his passes against the Syrupmakers, going for 160 yards and three touchdowns. Godby also boasts a solid running back in Demyric Bentley, who had 10 carries against Cairo on which he averaged 8.1 yards per carry.

The Yellow Jackets will meet the Cougars on Homecoming night at 7:30 p.m.