Class AA kicks off on Thursday, but before we preview the top AA games to watch for Week 1, let's take a look at the preseason rankings, which were released on Sunday:
1. Callaway
2. Hapeville Charter
3. Fitzgerald
4. Dublin
5. Heard County
6. Rockmart
7. Rabun County
8. Washington County
9. Brooks County
10. Swainsboro
No surprises here. Callaway and Hapeville Charter, which are loaded with D-I talent, are 1-2, respectively. It will be interesting to see what happens in the rankings should Hapeville beat Cedar Grove, regardless of what Callaway does in its opener. Fitzgerald lost almost all of its offense but that didn’t stop pollsters from placing the Purple Hurricane inside the top five along with Dublin and defending state champions Heard County. State runner-up Rockmart is right behind Heard County, and Rabun County, Washington County, Brooks County and Swainsboro round out the top 10, though if Jefferson County beats Swainsboro on Friday, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them take Swainsboro’s spot.
Now, onto the top AA games for Week 1:
Hapeville Charter Hornets vs. Cedar Grove Saints
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Buck Godfrey Stadium
2018 records: Hapeville went 10-2; Cedar Grove went 14-1
Rankings: The Hornets are No. 2; The Saints are No. 2 in AAA
Last meeting: This is the first time these teams have met
Maxwell's projection: Cedar Grove by 14
Notes: The Saints are AAA's defending state champions, capturing their second title in three seasons — the first two in program history — both of which came under coach Jimmy Smith, who left the program after six seasons to join the college ranks as an assistant at Georgia State. To take his place, the Saints promoted assistant Miguel Patrick, who served as defensive coordinator on both title teams and has been at the school 13 years. The Saints graduate a senior class that reached at least the semifinals all four years. Though they lost AJC's 2018 Player of the Year in receiver Jadon Haselwood — he graduated and is now at Oklahoma — they have a returning junior in Austin Smith at quarterback and a plethora of other D-I talent scattered over the field. Speaking of D-I talent, the Hornets have three four-star recruits in receivers Rico Powers — who transferred from Benedictine — and Jaquez Smith, and linebacker/defensive end Zavier Carter to lead a talented program looking to emulate the Saints' accomplishment of two titles in three years, having won AA in 2017. Winston Gordon, who founded the program in 2011, returns to coach his ninth season.
Callaway Cavaliers at Opelika (Ala.) Bulldogs
When/where: 8 p.m. (7 p.m. Central Time) Thursday, Bulldog Stadium
2018 records: Callaway went 11-3; Opelika went 7-5
Rankings: The Cavs are No. 1; Opelika is unranked
Last meeting: Callaway won 35-21 in 2018
Maxwell's projection: N/A (out of state opponent)
Notes: The Bulldogs reached the quarterfinals last year in as a Class AAAAAA school in Alabama, while the Cavs reached the semifinals. Callaway hosted and beat Opelika in the 2018 season opener, which was the first-ever meeting between the two. The Cavs return AJC Player of the Year candidate and Auburn commit Tank Bigsby, a dominant running back who will look to jump-start his team's season as they seek the first state title in program history. The Bulldogs have one D-I commit in senior three-star defensive back Jaylen Stinson (Purdue). Though unranked by the Alabama Sports Writers Association, MaxPreps ranks the Bulldogs as the No. 16 team in their classification.
Dublin Fighting Irish at Emanuel County Institute Bulldogs
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Rountree Stadium
2018 records: Dublin went 11-2; ECI went 7-5
Rankings: The Fighting Irish are No. 4; the Bulldogs are unranked in A-Public
Last meeting: Dublin won 42-7 in 2018
Maxwell's projection: Dublin by 10
Notes: Though the Fighting Irish won big last season, Maxwell's projections forecast a much closer game this time around. The Bulldogs reached the second round of the playoffs last season after starting 0-3 thanks to a six-game win streak in which they went 5-0 in Region 3 play. However, the Fighting Irish have never lost to the Bulldogs, going 8-0-1 against them in a rivalry that dates back to 1921 but was renewed last year after a 63-year hiatus. The Fighting Irish reached the quarterfinals last year and are seeking their first state title since 2005, with coach Roger Holmes returning for his 18th season. Leading the team are three-star linebacker Romello Height, who is committed to Miami, and Jaques Smith, a three-star athlete.
Rockmart Yellow Jackets at Cedartown Bulldogs
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Doc Ayers Field
2018 records: Rockmart went 14-1; Cedartown went 5-6
Rankings: The Yellow Jackets are No. 6; the Bulldogs are unranked in AAAA
Last meeting: Rockmart won 2014
Maxwell's projection: Rockmart by 4
Notes: This storied rivalry of two programs located just 17 miles apart dates back to 1923, with the all-time series going to Cedartown, 50-22-2. This will be the 75th meeting between the Jackets and Bulldogs, and last year's win by the Jackets ended a seven-game losing streak in the series. The Jackets didn't lose a game in 2018 until the state title game, and their 14 wins mark the most in program history. This season they'll seek their first championship since 1950. Gone are their starting quarterback and two feature running backs, but they return 18 seniors whom coach Biff Parson believes can step in and produce at a high level, including three-star Juke Boozer, who holds a D-I offer from Virginia, and tight end Reed Couch. Dual-threat Javin Whatley will quarterback the team. Cedartown is led by four-star running back and Clemson commit Kobe Pryer and three-star quarterback and East Carolina commit Taji Hudson.
Rabun County Wildcats vs. Bremen Blue Devils
When/where: 6 p.m. Saturday, Allen E. Paulson Stadium (Georgia Southern)
2018 records: Rabun County went 11-2; Bremen went 9-3
Rankings: The Wildcats are No. 7; the Blue Devils are unranked
Last meeting: Bremen won 13-10 in 2018
Maxwell's projection: Rabun County by 10
Notes: This game marks the head coaching debut for Jaybo Shaw, son of his predecessor, Lee Shaw, who came to Rabun County in 2012 and turned the program around after more than a decade of futility, producing six straight playoff trips and Region 8-AA titles, including a championship appearance in 2017. Those are big shoes to fill for Jaybo, who previously served as the Wildcats' offensive coordinator, but he's got one of the country's top quarterbacks to work with in sophomore Gunner Stockton, who holds offers from Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech and West Virginia among many other Power 5 schools. The Blue Devils got the best of Rabun County in last year's Erk Russell Classic with a 24-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Wildcats its first regular season loss in three years. This will be the third meeting between the teams, with the first coming in 2015, when the Wildcats won 49-14. The Blue Devils returned to AA in 2018 after two seasons in AAA and will look to make noise in a Region 5 that includes top-ranked Callaway and No. 5 Heard County.
Washington County Golden Hawks vs. Baldwin Braves
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Five Star Stadium (Macon)
2018 records: Washington County went 10-3; Baldwin went 7-6
Rankings: The Golden Hawks ranked No. 8; the Braves are unranked in AAA
Last meeting: Washington County won 19-7 in 2018
Maxwell's projection: Washington County by 3
Notes: This rivalry of schools about 30 miles apart dates back to 1959 and is just about even, with the Golden Hawks holding a 21-19-2 edge and winning four of the last five. The Golden Hawks are looking to build off their 10-3 season in which they reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2014, but will do so having lost six starters on offense and two defensive ends, a four-year starting linebacker and the entire secondary on defense. Sharmarcus Poole, who was a 1,000-yard rusher last season, will lead the pack for a Golden Hawks team that runs 90-percent of the time and doesn't use a quarterback. The Braves are coming off a Region 3-AAAA title, their first league crown since 2009, which was the last season their current coach, Jesse Hicks, was there for his first stint before leaving for seven years and returning in 2018.
Jefferson County Warriors at Swainsboro Tigers
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Tiger Field
2018 records: Jefferson County went 10-3; Swainsboro went 9-3
Rankings: Swainsboro is ranked No. 10, Jefferson County is unranked
Last meeting: Swainsboro won 14-12 in 2018
Maxwell's projection: Jefferson County by 4
Notes: The Warriors hold a 9-7 advantage in the all-time series, though the Tigers edged the 14-12 for their first win at Jefferson County since 1997. Warriors coach JB Arnold enters his 19th season with the program. They'll switch from a Wing-T offense to multiple formations after graduating quarterback Jaden Jenkins, now at Georgia Southern. They're led on defense by senior Kydran Jenkins, a three-star linebacker committed to Purdue. Their trip to the quarterfinals last season was the furthest they've gone since 2015, when they reached the semis. The Tigers come in fresh off a Region 2-AA title, their first league crown since 2010. It will be the third season for coach Scott Roberts, who has improved the team's record in each of his first two seasons, guiding them to 6-4 in 2017. This marks the first time the Tigers have been ranked since 2011, when they opened the season No. 8 before losing their first four games on the way to a disappointing 3-7 finish.
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