5 Top Games in Week 1
The 2019 season will start with a bang! Here are the top five games of Week 1, which features four contests between teams in the pre-season Top 10.
No. 2 (Private) Athens Academy vs. No. 6 (Private) Savannah Christian.
In the only Week 1 matchup of top 10 private schools, defending state runner-up Athens Academy will try to duplicate last year’s 20-7 win over the Raiders in the 2018 season opener. Both return key players from last year’s successful seasons. Among those returning for the Spartans, whose only loss last season was to Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in the private school title game, are pre-season all-state candidates ATH Deion Colzie (6-4, 190), a junior, and LB/RB LenNeth Whitehead (6-2, 225), a senior. Savannah Christian won the Region 3 title last season, with its only losses coming to Athens Academy in the opener and to ELCA in the semifinals. Seniors RB/DB Marquell Brown (5-7, 175), RB/DB Nate Moon (5-10, 170), QB Spencer Robicheaux (5-10, 170, Jr.), RB/LB Chase Beard (5-10, 170), and WR/LB Mike Vidan (5-10, 170,) along with junior WR/DB Bradley Anderson (6-3, 180) all return for the Raiders.
No. 7 (Private) Hebron Christian Academy at No. 1 (Public) Clinch County.
This one is Week 1’s only private vs. public top 10 contest. Clinch County defeated the Lions 24-17 in last season’s opener, en route to winning its second consecutive public school state title, the Panther’s third in the past four seasons. Both teams lost their best players to graduation: Clinch LB Trezman Marshall, the Class A Defensive Player of the Year, is now at UGA. Hebron WR Jeffery Saturday is at North Carolina. This season Clinch will be led by senior ATH Tyler Morehead (6-0, 180) and junior WR Jeremiah Johnson (6-7, 200), while the Lions will be paced by junior QB Colton Gauthier (6-3, 200),
No. 6 (Public) Schley County at No. 4 (Public) Marion County.
This top 10 public school matchup features teams that met three times last season. Marion won all three: in the season opener (28-7), in the region title game (21-6), and in the second round of the state playoffs (34-27). They were the only games Schley lost all year. The Wildcats hope to reverse the outcome of last year’s opener behind the efforts of senior DL Zykeivious Walker (6-4, 290), one of the best players in the state. The Eagles counter with junior QB Trice McCannon (5-8, 165).
No. 8 (Public) Mitchell County at No. 9 (Class AA) Brooks County.
Mitchell County was no match for the Trojans last season, losing 43-6 in last year’s opener. But the Eagles rebounded and didn’t lose again until the final week of the regular season. Senior ATH James Thomas (6-3, 190) looks to lead Mitchell back to the state playoffs, while ATH Nitavon Burrus (6-0, 180) will lead Brooks County, a team on a mission this season. The Trojans are dedicating their season to assistant coach Marvin Mitchell, who is battling kidney disease and in need of a transplant.
No. 3 (Private) Prince Avenue Christian at Mount Vernon Presbyterian.
Prince Avenue showed how explosive its offense was right out of the gate last season when the Wolverines put up 55 on Mount Vernon (55-27) in the opener. PAC went on to average 43 points per game behind now junior QB Brock Vandergriff, the private school Offensive Player of the Year last season, a candidate for state Player of the Year and Oklahoma commit. On the other side, the Mustangs are led by junior QB Blake Kyle (5-8, 155).
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