The Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic begins the high school football season Wednesday with two premier matchups and closes on Saturday with a four-game, championship-caliber lineup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
All games will be broadcast on the Peachtree Sports Network and digitally on the Atlanta News First app and the NFHS Network. For the schedule, follow the link.
Walton vs. Brookwood
Walton is coming off one of its best seasons in program history where the Raiders returned to the state finals for the first time since 2011 last season. Head coach Daniel Brunner has led the Raiders to the postseason every year he has been a head coach and has won two region championships in his tenure.
The Brookwood Broncos missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015 last season. Head coach Philip Jones is the third longest-tenured coach in 6A having been at the helm for 10 seasons. During his decade run, Jones has had six winning seasons with the Broncos.
Brookwood is led by one of the best running backs in the country in the 2027 class Brayden Tyson. You may remember Tyson put on a show last year in the Corky Kell and was named offensive player of the game in the Broncos’ victory over McEachern. In that game, he rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown.
The Broncos graduated their top receiver Lee Niles, who finished with 34 catches for 476 yards and five touchdowns last season. This year’s passing attack will have 6-foot-4, 230-pound tight end Evan Gober as a weapon. Gober has already received 12 D1 offers.
Defensively, the Broncos will be led by their staple veteran Cole Van Hassel who will be a senior. During his junior year, Van Hassel finished with 108 tackles (second on the team) and two sacks. He was a first-team all-region selection.
Another player to watch defensively will be sophomore Julian Elzey. Elzey is a ball hawk at the DB position and is excellent at playing man-to-man coverage. He is very technically sound and has great instincts when driving on the ball and creating a pass break-up or interception.
Walton will look a lot different in 2024 after replacing a great senior class. Some of their key players this season will be WR Christian Ward, ATH Alexander Ward, QB Kaeden Gildestrap, RB Lucas Farrington, TE Jude Cascone, LB Jake Thorner, and LB Noah LaValle.
Ward is a receiver who can stretch the field and is a big play threat. He only had 12 catches last season but five of them were for touchdowns. He finished with 362 yards for the Carrollton Trojans.
Alexander Ward is young but ready to capitalize on his opportunity. He’s created quite the buzz for himself picking up Alabama, Georgia, and Georgia Tech offers before his sophomore season even began. During the summer, he was a standout in 7 on 7 and at different camps. Ward could potentially go both ways for Walton in 2024.
QB Kaeden Gildestrap is one of the most athletic QBs that Walton has had in their program. The Wofford commit is a multisport athlete who plays football, basketball, and baseball. Gildestrap also flashed his escapability and potential this offseason putting together impressive performances in 7 on 7.
A position of strength for Walton will be their linebackers. Despite losing Ashton Woods (North Carolina) to graduation, the Raiders return a good chunk of their starters and players with experience at that position. Walton will be led by LB Jake Thorner and LB Noah LaValle who each will play pivotal roles for the Raiders. LaValle had 43 tackles, four tackles for loss, and an interception. LaValle already holds three ACC offers out of his total of four.
Thorner put together a strong showing in 2023 finishing with 144 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, and five sacks. He will be the signal caller for Walton in 2024.
A position to watch for the Raider program will be the defensive line after losing two key defensive starters from last year’s state runner-up in Lota Ugokwe (BYU) and Wendell Gregory (South Carolina). They combined for 20 sacks last season.
A matchup to pay attention to in this game is Walton’s run defense against Brookwood’s potent rushing attack. Walton had a very stout defensive front last season that combined for 42 sacks and 66 quarterback hurries. The defensive line will look different this year for Walton. Brookwood is expected to be stout on the offensive line and like to pound the rock especially with Tyson being back there. His 6’0 and 215-pound frame is tough to bring down.
Saturday will mark the fifth consecutive year that Walton and Brookwood have faced off. Walton leads the series 6-5 with their last victory coming in 2023 a 65-17 victory. Walton has won three consecutive games in this series.
Alpharetta vs. Houston County
It doesn’t get much better than two teams meeting for the first time on the gridiron. We will get to see that when the Houston County Bears face the Alpharetta Raiders in the Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic.
Alpharetta went 5-6 last season and has made the playoffs for eight-consecutive seasons. Head coach Jason Kervin has led the Raiders to the playoffs every season since he took over in 2020. Since their inception in 2004, the Raiders have won four region championships.
Houston County has won nine games or more in the first two seasons under head coach Jeremy Edwards and made the quarterfinals in his first year at the helm. Last season they made it to the second round of the playoffs before losing to Woodward Academy.
You may remember last year seeing Houston County on the Peachtree Sports Network last year. The Bears gave us a thrilling game on September 29th against Lee County in a game that came down to the wire with Lee County winning 44-35
This year will look a little different for the Bears after graduating 36 seniors from last year’s team. There will be a lot of inexperience on the team. Coach Edwards is expecting the young guys to step up.
Houston County will be led by four-year starter Antwann Hill who is one of the best quarterbacks in the 2025 class.. The Memphis-commit passed for 2,732 yards and 31 touchdowns last season at a 65% completion rate. He made first-team all-state by the Georgia Athletic Association and was named region offensive player of the year by Georgia High School Football Daily.
Houston County will replace their dynamic playmakers in Kale Woodburn (Cincinnati) and Ricky Williams (Mississippi State). Between the two they combined for 1,838 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. A player to watch this season in the receiving corps will be Isaiah Mitchell, who is a senior who is ready to capitalize on his opportunity.
Returning in the backfield for Houston County will be Amir Thomas who rushed for 586 yards and seven touchdowns during his junior season. Thomas will be the featured running back after running back Ryan Taleb graduated.
Defensively the Bears will be led by four-star safety Jordan Smith who had a stellar sophomore campaign. He led the team with 88 tackles, five tackles for loss, and three interceptions. Smith holds 30 offers notably from Alabama, Florida State, Florida and more. What makes him special is he is great at reading coverage and making a play on the ball. He also is equally as good at tackling in the open field and making big hits.
For Alpharetta, rising sophomore quarterback Matt Schletty will take over the reins of the offense this season. Kevin Lipscomb will be a major receiving threat. He had 17 catches for 412 yards and four touchdowns last season. Another threat in the passing attack will be Tucker Kelleher, who was a second-team all-region selection. The BYU commit is expected to have a big season for the Raiders.
Alpharetta will have a productive backfield this season with two running backs expected to take a big leap. Ayden Williams will return for the Raiders after he rushed for 387 yards and a touchdown. Alongside him will be Jrue Keeling who took advantage of his touches last year rushing for 377 yards and four touchdowns. Keeling was also selected second-team all-region by Georgia High School Football Daily for his efforts in 2023.
A matchup to watch in this game will be the Houston County offensive line against the Alpharetta front seven.
The Bears will look to replace their staple offensive lineman Kahlil House (Stanford). Houston County returns Hayes Ellerbee. The Bears also have a new addition to the offensive line in Peyton Joseph (Florida State commit) who comes over from Peach County to help bolster the trenches. Joseph is massive at 6-foot-3 and 309 pounds and is an absolute mover in the run game.
On defense, the Raiders will be led by Julius Holly (Michigan Commit) who is a force on the EDGE. Holly has a great first step and uses his hands well to get past the opposing lineman. On the other side rushing the passer who is expected to have a big role for Alpharetta is his brother Jaxon Holly. The Holly brothers are a dynamic tandem and will be a problem for defenses in 2024. On the interior, JaQuention Madison will be one to watch for Alpharetta. Madison was a first-team all-region selection during his junior campaign.
McEachern vs. North Gwinnett
A budding rivalry and classic Cobb versus Gwinnett heavyweight showdown is on hand when these two teams take the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. North Gwinnett has won the last six matchups when these teams have faced off. McEachern’s last victory over the Bulldogs came in the series opener in 2011 with a 26-17 victory.
When talking to both sides at the Georgia High School Football Media Day, there was intrigue and intensity from both teams wanting to come out with a win. There was no love lost and each program wants to outduel the other for the bragging rights.
McEachern won its first region title since 2021 after going 7-5 and winning seven of their last eight games. The Indians have won three region championships in the past five seasons. Head coach Kareem Reid has been successful at multiple stops (Westlake, Griffin, McEachern) winning four region championships in just six years as a head coach. Reid was named Region 3-7A coach of the year by Georgia High School Football Daily.
North Gwinnett went 8-4 last year and made it to the second round of the playoffs before losing to Walton, under head coach Eric Godfree in his first season with the Bulldogs.
McEachern will be led offensively by three-star running back Jayreon Campbell, who is considered one of the best running backs in the state and was an all-region first-team selection in 2023. He has great instincts and balance at the running back position and is also very explosive. Campbell put together an impressive sophomore campaign and was named first-team all-state by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association.
The Indians made a big splash in the offseason landing four-star wide receiver Nalin Scott who has 16 offers and major Power 4 programs interested in him at the next level. He adds a different dimension to the McEachern offense that makes them tougher to stop. His ability to win the 50/50 ball and also pick up huge YAC (yards after catch) will make teams’ game plan for the Indians differently.
McEachern is known for having a dominant offensive line each year and is one of the staples of their program. The offensive line will look different this year after the Indians graduated three all-region first-team selections last season (Leon Wesley, Keydrell Thomas, and Zayden Charity). This year they will be led by Paul Bowling who is a three-star prospect committed to Troy. Bowling was selected first-team all-state by the Georgia Athletic Association.
Defensively the Indians will lean on junior edge rusher Zakir Abdul-Salaam to get pressure on the quarterback. Salaam is a coveted college prospect holding offers from Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky, Texas A&M and more.
For North Gwinnett, Ryan Hall will be the leader offensively. Hall passed for 2,178 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also was very accurate completing 65% of his passes. He also rushed for 723 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hall built off a good sophomore season where he had his coming out party against McEachern in 2022.
The Bulldogs will have a new running back room heading into the 2024 season after Julian Waters graduated. Tommy Lafayette (Stanford commit) will be the starter. Last season he rushed for 236 yards and two touchdowns.
North Gwinnett also has a good receiving core returning in Erik Ronning and Nicolas Bookman. Ronning was the leading receiver last year for the Bulldogs finishing with 34 catches for 584 yards and eight touchdowns. Bookman finished with 34 catches, 377 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Bookman flashed his potential this summer by being a go-to threat offensively and churning out huge yards in the open field. He also caught the game-winner to help North Gwinnett win the Corky Kell Dave Hunter 7 on 7 tournament.
When you look at the defense for North Gwinnett they have a player at every level. Cole Funderburk is a terror off the edge for the Bulldogs and finished with 65 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 25 quarterback hurries and 16 sacks. The Wake Forest commit has gotten better this offseason.
Jake Godfree had an impressive freshman season and led the team with 78 tackles, three sacks, and an interception. At defensive back, North Gwinnett has one of the best tandems in the state in Malachi Weedon and Chandler Jordan. Both are special in their own way and complement each other well on the back end. Jordan is listed as a cornerback heading into the season which showcases his versatility after being predominantly a safety.
This game has the potential to be one of the best in this season’s Corky Kell.
Douglas County vs. Cedar Grove
Douglas County is back with a heightened focus after reaching the Class 6A semifinals last season when 6A was the second-highest class. Cedar Grove is the sitting Class 3A champion. The Saturday nightcap game and Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic finale could be one of the greatest high school football games of the season, and it’s only Week 1.
Douglas County entered the semifinals last season as the No. 3-ranked team in the state against No. 10 Woodward Academy, hoping for a championship berth and following the 24-21 loss, the Tigers were left wanting more.
And the loss became fuel.
“Every practice,” Douglas County head coach Johnny White said, emphasizing his next statement with a resounding ‘sir’.
“We use the clock on our scoreboard and put that score from last year’s game on it. 24 to 21. So if you go to practice, you remember what happened last year. We didn’t match our potential.”
The experience gained by Douglas County during that semifinals run was valuable, especially for a team that might’ve over-kicked its coverage, so to speak.
“We started 15 sophomores last year,” White said. “I told my coaches last year, that was a hard way to go. But if I’d told them last August that we would be 13-1 and in the semifinals for the first time in 21 years, I think everyone would have taken it.”
Junior quarterback DJ Bordeaux – 6-foot-2, 190 pounds – transferred to Douglas County and will help to lead the talented offense. The backfield includes junior Zamarcus Lindley and senior Kendan Arnold. The receiving corps of senior star James Johnson, senior Brandon Ellison, junior Devin Carter and junior Aaron Gregory will catch the passes.
“James Johnson is a four-year starter for us with 45 offers and is just dynamic with a football in his hands. He can play anywhere – quarterback, receiver, running back and safety or corner,” White said. “He’s a pure athlete – the best I’ve coached since Eric Berry.”
Berry – who played at Creekside – was inducted into the inaugural Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame in 2022. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs as the fifth pick of the 2010 NFL Draft and played eight seasons there before retiring.
Carter, Douglas County’s junior wideout, played football at Cedar Grove last season before transferring to Douglas County. He was the Saints’ leading receiver and Cedar Grove’s cornerbacks and safeties might enjoy the matchups against a former teammate.
Despite being in a lower classification, Cedar Grove is a powerhouse of football talent. The program has won five state championships since 2016, winning in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 and last season. It’s also seen its alumni populate NCAA and NFL rosters with regularity.
“I think they’re addicted to winning,” White said, chuckling.
Interestingly, the team has turned over four coaches in that span. Jimmy Smith coached the Saints to championships in 2016 and 2018 before Miguel Patrick took over and led the Saints to the 2019 state championship. Patrick left in 2020 and first-year coach John Adams led the Saints to a championship in his first season – 2021 – and last season – 2023.
Now it’s Roderick Moore’s turn. He was the head coach for McNair from 2005 to 2008 and Redan from 2014-2017. He was the defensive coordinator at Dougherty before taking the Cedar Grove job.
And he’s got a tall task in somewhat rebuilding parts of the Cedar Grove team. But he’s up to the task.
The Saints will have to weather quarterback EJ Colson’s departure to Central Florida. Through the semifinals last season, Colson was 182-of-285 passing for 2,636 yards and 31 touchdowns with 132 carries for 868 yards and six touchdowns.
Those are big shoes to fill.
However, the Saints return Boden Walker, who had 250 carries for 1,579 yards and 29 touchdowns, each stat is team-leading. Sophomore Kingsley Dudley rushed 41 times for 197 yards and a touchdown and could see improvement from his freshman numbers.
Andrew Leslie – now that Carter is at Douglas County – is the Saints’ leading receiver with 35 catches for 468 yards and six touchdowns last season. But freshman King Parrom passed 15 times for 24 yards last season and other than Colson, Carter was the only Cedar Grove player to throw a touchdown pass last season.
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