Most Georgia high school football teams will compete in scrimmages this weekend to get ready for the opening week of the season, which will feature a limited schedule of 70-or-so games. The first full-schedule weekend is Aug. 30-31.
Here are the five best scrimmages around the state, all scheduled for Friday:
Grayson at Gainesville: Quarterback Deshaun Watson, who committed to Clemson, leads defending Class AAAAA champion Gainesville. Watson holds Georgia's career record for passing yards. Grayson lost 20 of 22 starters, and seven signed with major FBS programs, but the Rams were state champs in 2011 and have the tradition of six consecutive 10-win seasons.
Northside-Warner Robins at Peach County: Middle Georgia's most successful programs of the past decade face off in Fort Valley. Peach County returns a 1,000-yard rusher (Keyshawn Lowe) and a 2,000-yard passer (Greg Williams). Northside's new quarterback is Marcus Ivory, younger brother of Marques Ivory, who led the school to two state championships in the 1990s.
Parkview at Mill Creek: Both of these Gwinnett County schools surprised last season with their 9-4 records and Top 10 finishes in AAAAAA. Both are run-oriented and graduated 1,000-yard rushers. Parkview's Justis Rosser and others will try to replace Chris Carson. Mill Creek's Jonathan Hawkins and Carter Governale hope to take over for Jacorey Lewis.
Stephenson at North Gwinnett: Both figure to be ranked in the preseason top five, North Gwinnett in AAAAAA and Stephenson in AAAAA. Each is loaded with college prospects. North Gwinnett breaks in a new quarterback in Hayden Sphire, son of coach Bob Sphire. Stephenson has a new feature running back in Dallas Rivers, a transfer from Tucker who committed to Vanderbilt.
Tucker at Marist: This was perhaps Metro Atlanta's best rivalry for a decade until the two moved into separate classifications last season. Tucker, 10-3 last season in AAAAA, has at least six players expected to sign with FBS schools. One is linebacker Detric Dukes, who committed to Georgia. Marist, 12-2 last season in AAAA, also has a Georgia pledge on defense in tackle Kendall Baker.
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