Football season is back! To get things started, here’s an early snapshot including a look at five teams to watch on both the public and private sides.
Defending champs: Eagle's Landing Christian completed one of the most dominant seasons in Georgia high school history, finishing undefeated (14-0) and winning the private title, 55-3, over Athens Academy. It was the Chargers' third consecutive state title and fourth overall. Clinch County won its seventh state championship overall, and its second in three seasons, 21-12, over Irwin County. The Panthers lost the regular season contest against Irwin (21-7) in the first Region 2 game of the season.
All-State players returning: (Private) Christian Parrish, QB/DB, Sr., Prince Avenue Christian; Dylan McMahon, OL, Sr., Savannah Christian; Jalen Leary, LB, Sr., Calvary Day; Noah Chumley, P, Sr. Savannah Christian; Payton Bowles, RB, Sr., Athens Academy; (Public) Bo Lawson, QB, Sr., Dooly County; D.J. Lundy, RB/LB, Jr., Irwin County; Brandon Mackey, RB, Sr., Wheeler County; Raykwon Anderson, WR, Sr., Charlton County; Deondre Lester, WR, Sr., Washington-Wilkes; C.J. Gwynn, OL, Sr., Clinch County; Curtis Fann, DL, Sr., Emanuel County Institute; Trezmen Marshall, LB, Sr., Clinch County; Javon Stanley, DB, Sr., Irwin County; Kevin Umanzer, P, Jr. Marion County
Pre-season Top 10 (Private):
- ELCA
- Prince Avenue Christian
- Athens Academy
- Mt. Paran Christian
- Calvary Day
- Darlington
- Stratford Academy
- Savannah Country Day
- Aquinas
- Wesleyan
Pre-season Top 10 (Public):
- Clinch County
- Irwin County
- Emanuel County Institute
- Mt. Zion-Carrollton
- Macon County
- Charlton County
- Washington-Wilkes
- Manchester
- Dooly County
- Commerce
Five teams to watch (Private)
ELCA. The Chargers are trying to become the first team in GHSA history to win four consecutive state crowns. They have won eight straight Region 5 titles. Leading the way will be senior QB Brayden Rush, who is 28-0 as a starter.
Prince Avenue. The Wolverines finished 11-2 last season with their loses coming at the hands of rival Athens Academy in the regular season finale and champion ELCA in the state semifinals. PAC will feature one of the state's best quarterback-receiver tandems in sophomore Brock Vandagriff, son of head coach Greg Vandagriff, and senior Christian Parrish
Athens Academy. The Spartans won their first region title since 2012 and equaled the best record in school history, 13-1, after falling in the title game to ELCA. Athens Academy is 31-6 in three seasons under Josh Alexander. This year the team will be led by seniors William McLanahan (LB), Payton Bowles (DB/RB), juniors Kurt Knisely (DB) and Len'Neth Whitehead (RB/LB), and sophomore Deion Colzie (WR/DB)
Mt. Paran Christian. The Eagles lost to Athens Academy in last season's semifinals, 14-7, as a turnover late in the third quarter sealed their fate. Still, it was yet another successful season under Mitch Jordan, the school's only coach in the program's 10 seasons, as Mt. Paran won its second region title. Jordan's and Mt. Paran's all-time record is 80-34, 45-6 over the last four seasons. The Eagles will be led this year by senior OL Landin Jackson.
Trinity Christian. After finishing as the runner-up in the highest classification of the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA), the Lions make the jump to the GHSA this season. They will compete in Region 5 with ELCA, Wesleyan and upstart Mount Vernon Presbyterian. A familiar face will be on the sidelines and Trinity is coached by former Landmark Christian head coach and ELCA defensive coordinator Kenny Dallas. Leading the way will be seniors Zach Seymour (QB) and Zack Jones (DB).
Five teams to watch (Public)
Clinch County. Last season, the Panthers finished 12-2 and won their fifth state title. With another 10-win season, Jim Dickerson can tie Donald Tilson for the all-time lead in wins (149). Clinch will be led by seniors C.J. Gwynn (OL) and Trezmen Marshall, a linebacker who is an AJC Super 11 member. He has committed to Georgia.
Irwin County. A late turnover doomed Irwin's shot at the state championship as they fell to Clinch County 21-15, after defeating the Panthers in the regular season, 21-7. Irwin will be led by senior DB Javon Stanley and junior LB DJ Lundy, who holds offers from Auburn and South Carolina, according to 247Sports.
Emanuel County Institute. The Bulldogs won their third straight Region 3 title and 11-win season last year. But also for the third year in a row, they failed to make it out of the semifinals. To make it to the finals and contend for the program's third state title, ECI will have to tighten up on defense. The Bulldogs yielded a little more than 20 points per game, the second-highest total in the seven seasons that Chris Kearson has been in charge in Twin City. Senior DL Curtis Fann will lead the defensive resurgence.
Mt. Zion-Carroll. It wouldn't be too farfetched to pick the Bulldogs as one the teams competing in the public school final in Mercedes Benz Stadium in December. Mt. Zion was one game away last year. After upsetting then-unbeaten Manchester in the quarterfinals, the Bulldogs gave eventual champion Clinch all it could handle in the semifinal, before falling 23-20. Mt. Zion is talented and experienced on offense with seniors Tyriese Farley (WR/DB) and Iaan "Man Man" Cousins (QB/WR) leading the way.
Manchester. The Blue Devils' won their first region championship since 2001 and finished the regular season undefeated for the first time since 1995. But the magical season ended with a thud in just the second round of the playoffs, as Manchester was upset by Mt. Zion-Carroll, 10-8. Since Evan Hochstetler took over the program three years ago, Mt. Zion is a combined 29-7.
