Football season is here and it back like it never left. There are so many great matchups Week 1 to kickoff the season especially the ones that will be featured in the Corky Kell Dave Hunter Classic. Here are other matchups that will be happening around the state on Friday night with two of them being broadcasted on TV, one nationally and the other on GPB. Here is what to watch for in each matchup:
Buford vs. Milton — Friday, 7:30 PM — (GPB)
This game will featured on state-wide TV. GPB will broadcast this game in a can’t-miss matchup between two programs that have been fixtures in the state for the past ten years. Milton is the defending state champion, having won 7A last year. The Eagles had an incredible run to their second state championship in six seasons, defeating three nationally ranked teams in the playoffs (Colquitt County, Grayson, and Walton). Milton returned the majority of its roster, including dynamic duo quarterback Luke Nickel and wide receiver CJ Wiley, and is looking to make history in 2024 by winning back-to-back titles for the first time in program history.
Buford has been one of the most dominant programs over the past quarter century, winning 13 championships since 1999, winning in every classification except (5A and 7A) during that span.
Buford made it to the semifinals in class 7A before losing to county rival Grayson 19-14. It was the first time both teams went against each other in GHSA history despite not being far from each other.
Buford will have one of the more talented backfields, Tyriq Green and Jordan Baker, who are both capable of being the #1 backs for any team. Green was the starter for Kell last season and rushed for 769 yards and ten touchdowns. He is a dynamic running back in open space, making one cut, and can quickly get to the second level. Baker (Tennessee commit) battled injuries for a good chunk of the season for the Wolves but is now healthy and ready to finish his senior season strong. Despite the injuries, he still finished with 471 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Expect a big season from Baker.
Defensively, they are led by one of the best linebacking corps in the state. Mantrez Walker (Colorado commit), Jadon Perlotte (USC commit), Kenyon Rivera (Kansas commit), and four-star CJ Sibley will handle the defense. Perlotte is a top-200 national recruit and is one of the most versatile linebackers you will see. He can cover like a DB, blitz, and be disruptive in run support. Walker had 54 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks. Rivera had 36 tackles and three sacks in 2023. However, young Sibley has continued to show strong promise and will be a significant defensive factor for the Wolves. Lastly, when speaking about this defense, you can’t forget four-star DL Bryce Perry Wright, a top 70 prospect nationally, according to 247Sports.
Everywhere you look on the Milton roster, there is talent from top to bottom and many young guys ready to step up to the plate. The Eagles can beat you by throwing the ball to their talented playmakers, including Ethan Barbour (Georgia commit), Tristen Payne, Ryan Ghea (Auburn commit), and Wiley, as mentioned above. Milton can also run the ball with TJ Lester, the leading rusher with 744 yards on the ground and eight touchdowns. Defensively, Milton is led by their underrated linebacking corps of Hayden Tumminia, AJ Benton, and Tristan Lester. All played a significant impact on the Eagles winning a state championship. Benton and Tumminia combined for 229 tackles, 35 QB hurries and 8.5 sacks. Talented cornerbacks Dylan Lewis and Tyler Redmond return on the backend for Milton. The Tennessee commits combined for six interceptions and are both technically sound, rarely losing in man-to-man or zone.
Milton leads the series 4-1 all-time.
Carrollton vs. Woodward Academy — Friday, 7:30 PM — (ESPN2)
This matchup will be played on ESPN2 and certainly will feature fireworks. 2024 will mark the second year Carrollton is featured on ESPN to open the season. Last year, they played Langston Hughes in a highly anticipated matchup. Carrollton finished 11-2 and made it to the quarterfinals in 2023. In the three seasons that head coach Joey King has been at the helm, Carrollton has won two region championships and has made it to the state title game. This will be the final season for star QB Juju Lewis in a Carrollton Trojan uniform. Lewis has been integral to Carrollton’s success and continues to improve at the QB position. He’s been a starter since he was a freshman, and last season had one of the best seasons in his prep career, throwing for 3,094 yards and 48 touchdowns.
Woodward Academy made it to the state final before losing to Thomas County Central 49-28 in the 6A state championship. The Eagles finished 12-3 and had one of their better seasons under head coach John Hunt. Woodward Academy lost some significant pieces from last year’s team, with Ben Grice, Andrew Hines, Bradley Smith, and CJ Heard all graduating. London Merritt and Lucas Farrington will be on new teams in 2024.
Fortunately, Woodward Academy returns a lot of its offense from last season. WR Jerome Betis Jr and WR Josiah Abdullah all return for the Eagles. Last season, they combined for 82 catches, 1,155 yards and 14 touchdowns. Both receivers complement each other well. When you look at Abdullah, he is dynamic in the open field and a big yards-after-catch guy. Betis Jr is adept at winning the 50/50 ball and is a great red zone threat. He is also a very underrated route runner. QB Landon Walker will also return for Woodward Academy, and he threw for 1,437 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
Carrollton made it to the quarterfinals last year, and you can argue that their team this year is even better. Safety Zelus Hicks is an outstanding safety and will get some playing time both ways for the Trojans. He comes over from Parkview, where he finished with 67 tackles, five tackles for loss, and two sacks. Dorian Barney is a lockdown corner capable of taking away one side of the field himself. Last year, he finished with 32 tackles, ten pass breakups and four interceptions for Peachtree Ridge. Barney is ranked as a consensus top-100 recruit in the nation and gives Carrollton a chess piece they can move around. WR Ryan Moseley will be one of the lead guys on offense for the Trojans. Moseley finished with 31 catches for 471 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023. He had a great showing in a preseason scrimmage against Cambridge, finishing with two receiving touchdowns. He looks poised for a breakout.
The Trojans also have lead tailback Kimauri Farmer returning, who has improved at every look. Last season he took over for RB Bryce Hicks, who was injured in Week 1 of 2023 and filled in nicely by rushing for 1,433 yards and 22 touchdowns.
This will undoubtedly be an intriguing matchup for both teams, with talent on both sides of the ball. Woodward Academy leads the series 3-1 all-time.
Westlake vs Hughes — Friday, 7:30 PM
It’s another great game to open the season, and you better buckle your chin strap for this one. Westlake and Hughes are known for their physicality, and this game will be no different
Both programs are looking to contend for a state title in 2024.
Hughes went 9-3 in 2023 and made it to the second round of the playoffs. Head coach Daniel Williams helped Hughes capture their first title in program history in 2022. The Panthers looked the part in their scrimmage against 6A power Buford. RB Carsyn Baker rushed for a touchdown, and QB Christian Langford threw for one, too. Baker is one of the fastest players in the state, let alone in the country. Baker will be the lead guy for the Panthers in 2024. Langford is ready for his opportunity and looked comfortable in the offense back when I saw him in the spring.
Westlake will have a new head coach at the helm, with Morris Mitchell taking over. Mitchell is a first-year head coach who will have a lot of talent returning, starting with QB Sean Smith. Smith threw for 1,173 yards and 14 touchdowns. Georgia State RB commit Tomir Bransford also returns and is coming off 630 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. The most talented is senior WR Travis Smith Jr (Tennessee commit). Smith Jr had 587 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 2023. I saw Smith Jr several times in the spring, and he looked explosive and practically unguardable. Smith Jr was recently named to Mr. Georgia’s football watchlist for the upcoming season.
Hughes also has one of the top tight ends in the country, Xavier Tiller. Tiller finished his sophomore season with 352 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. What stands out about Tiller is that he is not only dynamic with the ball in his hands in the open field but also great at blocking. He likes to put his hand in the dirt and block opposing edge rushers or even out on the perimeter in the screen game.
Both offensive lines have talented prospects, starting with Westlake’s four-star OL, Juan Gaston. Gaston stands at 6’7 and 345 pounds and bulldozes opposing defensive linemen. He is a pancake machine and possesses tremendous athleticism. The Georgia Commit is an anchor on the offensive line for the Lions. Gaston was named first-team all-state by the AJC in 2023.
On the other side, for Hughes, you have four-star OL Dontrell Glover and four-star OL Tavaris Dice. Both are glass eaters and move defensive linemen with ease. Glover stands at 6’2 and 315 pounds, while Dice is 6’4 and 295 pounds. Both are among the top 300 recruits nationally, according to 247Sports.
This is the first time we have seen this matchup since 2021, when Westlake won 31-24. Hughes leads the all-time series 6-4, with their last victory coming in 2020, a 26-21 victory.
Warner Robins vs. Lee County — Friday, 7:30 PM
This middle Georgia matchup will be one to watch on Friday night. Warner Robins finished 9-4, making it to the quarterfinals and winning its first region championship since 2020. Lee County finished 10-3, making it to the quarterfinals.
The chess match of this game will be intriguing to watch. On one side, you have four-star RB Ousmane Kromah, who can explode any game, evidenced by his classic performance against Houston County on TV last season, rushing for 322 yards despite nursing a calf injury. On the other hand, you have a dominant defensive front for Warner Robins, led by one of the best edge rushers in the country, Isaiah Gibson. Gibson is ranked as a five-star prospect for On3 and 247Sports and the No.1 edge rusher by both. He likely will face a lot of double teams in this game. The Georgia commit is capable of wrecking a game if you aren’t careful and don’t send added attention his way.
Another player to watch for is the safety for Warner Robins, Rasean Dinkins. Dinkins has been heavily recruited since playing his varsity ball as a sophomore. It seems like he is coming into this season with a different edge. In a scrimmage against Peach County, Dinkins had a forced fumble and two interceptions. It seems like he is just playing at a different speed right now. The Georgia Tech commit will be a valuable piece in this matchup especially in trying to contain Kromah.
Lee County will return three-year starter QB Weston Bryan, who had a good junior season passing for 1,697 yards and 20 touchdowns. The Georgia Southern commit has gotten better each season he has been a starter. Defensively, there will be one to watch for the Trojans after losing seven seniors on that side of the ball, including Leroy Jackson (North Carolina).
Here is what Warner Robins Head coach Shane Sams said about the matchup back at Media Day in July and why he scheduled it:
“You want to find the elite teams and find the best teams to go against all the time. That’s what we did, and we are very excited about it. Coach Dean Fabrizio does a tremendous job down there in Lee County. They are always a well-coached team. We wanted a physical game, so going down there is very exciting,” said Sams.
The series is tied 3-3 all-time. Lee County has won the last two matchups. This will be the second year in a row when both teams open the season against each other.
Fellowship Christian vs. Bowdon — Friday, 7:30 PM
Bowdon is the two-time defending state champion, and head coach Rich Fendley helped the Red Devils accomplish something they never have in team history: winning back-to-back championships for the first time ever. Bowdon has also won four consecutive region championships. Fellowship Christian went 10-3 and made it to the quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champion Pierce County.
The Paladins are led on offense both with their balanced attack. Five-star OL Josh Petty is one of the best tackle prospects in the country. Petty has a different motor and loves to pancake opposing defensive players. He plays both ways for the Paladins and is equally great on the offensive and defensive lines.
CJ Givers is one of the best running backs in the 2026 class. Last season, he rushed for 1,471 yards and 24 touchdowns. One of his best games came against Athens Academy when he ran for 309 yards and three touchdowns. They also have dynamic and fast WR Evan Haynes, who has improved each year. Haynes finished with 671 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He is also a star on the track, posting multiple PRs and making state in the 200M. He was named an all-state defensive back by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association.
A talented playmaker returns for Bowdon in Kaiden Prothro. Prothro is rated as a five-star prospect and the No. 26 player nationally according to 247Sports Composite. He had 33 receptions for 831 yards and 13 touchdowns during his sophomore season. Bowdon lost one of their more talented players in QB Kyler McGrinn, who combined for 4,154 yards and 58 touchdowns (pass and rushing) for the Red Devils last season. Dylan McGrinn, who led the team with 151 tackles, will be a player to watch defensively for the Red Devils. McGinn has a nose for the football and possesses excellent instincts. He had nine games with 10+ tackles last season, and four came in the playoffs during Bowdon’s state championship run.
This will be the second-ever matchup between both these teams. Fellowship Christian leads the series 1-0 all-time, winning the matchup 47-12 in 2017.
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