If you’re like us, as soon as the high-school football schedules are released you’re scanning the weeks and teams for those can’t-miss games. Here are Score Atlanta’s 20 games to watch for the upcoming season.
Top Games Against Out-of-State Opponents
5. Charlton County vs. First Coast (Jacksonville, Fla.) (Sept. 5 – Camden County) – Like Buford, Charlton is another 2A school that is challenging itself with talented out-of-staters.
4. Camden County at Hoover (Hoover, Ala.) (Sept. 12) – It will be a new-look Hoover team this year, as former head coach Rush Propst is now at Colquitt County, but there is still talent at the Alabama powerhouse.
3. Buford at Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, Tex.) (Aug. 30) – The Wolves laid the wood to a good Class 5A Ohio team at last year’s Herbstreit Invitational, and will try to take out Mansfield, a team stocked with college prospects, at this year’s Herbstreit showcase.
2. Northside-Warner Robins vs. Washington (Miami, Fla.) (Sept. 5) – The Eagles get the traditional south-Florida power at home … This matchup is speed, speed, speed.
1. North Gwinnett vs. Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.) (Aug. 29) – North takes on the reigning 5A champs in South Carolina, who are ranked in every preseason national poll.
Top Non-Region Games
5. Brookwood vs. North Gwinnett (Sept. 5) – A rematch of the second round of the playoffs last year, won by North Gwinnett 17-3.
4. Ware County vs. Stephenson (Sept. 19) – DeKalb power makes the long trip to The Swamp to meet Class 4A’s top team.
3. Norcross vs. Camden County (Aug. 23) – The Kell Classic delivers yet another huge matchup.
2. Carver-Columbus vs. Northside-Warner Robins (Sept. 12 – Columbus Memorial) – Two reigning champs, now two classifications apart … We know there’s parity in high-school football, but just how much?
1. Lowndes vs. Peachtree Ridge (Sept. 5) – Some are already calling for a 15-0 season for the Vikings, but the talented Lions could prove to be a stumbling block.
Top Region Games
5. Rome vs. Dalton (Oct. 24) – The two best squads in a subdivided Region 7-AAAA will fight for the ‘A’ division title.
4. Chamblee vs. Tucker (Oct. 17 – Adams Stadium) – Talented Region 6-AAAA rivals are both preseason top-five teams in Class 4A.
3. LaGrange vs. Carver-Columbus (Oct. 30) – Second to last game of the season could determine Region 2-AAA title.
2. North Gwinnett vs. Norcross (Sept. 19) – Norcross has won Region 7-AAAAA the last two years despite North’s postseason success.
1. Lowndes vs. Northside-Warner Robins (Oct. 3) – Lowndes gets home-field advantage for what should be the game of the year in Region 1-AAAAA.
Top Rivalry Games
5. Savannah vs. Benedictine (Sept. 5) – The state’s oldest rivalry dating back to 1902, these teams haven’t met since 2003.
4. Parkview vs. Brookwood (Nov. 7) – Always a classic, but Brookwood has owned this one the last few years.
3. Thomas County Central vs. Bainbridge (Nov. 7) – TCC’s rivalry with Thomasville is legendary, but head coach Ed Pilcher’s offseason move from TCC to region rival Bainbridge means this one will be downright dirty.
2. Northside-Warner Robins vs. Warner Robins (Oct. 31) – Two programs with great histories, Northside took the game last year in a rout.
1. Valdosta vs. Lowndes (Oct. 10) – Lowndes is the reigning “Winnersville” champion, and will likely keep that title this season.
Speaking of rivalry games, tomorrow’s installment in our 15-day high-school football preview features a comparison of the Northside/Warner Robins and Valdosta/Lowndes series. Which one is truly the top rivalry in the state? Also, check back Sunday for full coverage of all four games of the Corky Kell Classic.
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