Georgia High School Football Previews
School is back in. The days are slowly getting shorter as we approach the midpoint of August. That can only mean one thing…High School Football is back in the state of Georgia! Welcome to our weekly segment of our high school football previews that we like to call Eight Greats Around the State; where we preview 8 intriguing matchups across the state.
This week we start with a matchup of former region rivals as Calhoun travels to Roswell to take on Blessed Trinity. New head coach Ed Dudley and his Titans will have their hands full trying to contain the explosive Yellow Jackets and Caden Williams. Meanwhile over in Carrollton, the Trojans will host the Langston Hughes Panthers in a battle of the state’s top quarterbacks. Will Juju Lewis and Carrollton out-duel Prentiss “Air” Noland and the defending Class 6A Champs?
Down in Ocilla, the Irwin County Indians will host the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricanes. Both teams will be replacing a lot of talent lost to graduation. Will Shane Marshall be able to run wild for Irwin County or will it be Diondre Paschal and his Canes teammates that will have success on Friday? Finally in Northeast Georgia, the Hart County Bulldogs will host the Elbert County Blue Devils. Will running back Nori Moore be enough to steady the young Hart County offense or will Jayvyn Hickman and the Blue Devils find success through the air?
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Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)
Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
The Skinny
The Ed Dudley era begins this Friday night as the Blessed Trinity Titans host the Calhoun Yellow Jackets. The Titans return all region quarterback Brooks Goodman, who passed for 1,185 yards and 14-TDs last season. Expect for Zyon McKenzie and Bryce Lewis to be top targets for Goodman. The ground game lost most of its production to graduation, Kamernon Betts and Dylan Terrico could be players that the Titans look towards to pace the ground attack. The defense will be anchored by Adrian Forbes and Paul Harrington, while all-region selection Spencer Kramer will help lead the secondary. D.J. Jacobs will look to see his first high school action as the freshmen has already been turning heads at linebacker and defensive end.
The Calhoun Yellow Jackets have an impressive 23 year streak of making the post season. During that time, Calhoun has won three state titles and most recently played for a state title in 2021. The Jackets offense returns pre-season All-State selection Trey Townsend (QB) and Caden Williams (RB). Townsend loses some of his top targets from a year ago, but expect for tight end Emaree Winston and receiver Bryant Arnold to pick up the slack. Kristyane Gregory (DL) and Christian Smith (LB) will lead the Jackets defensively.
This should be a fun matchup, with two talented QBs. There will be a lot of pressure on the Titans defense to find a way to slow down Townsend and Williams. We like the home field advantage for the Titans, but the explosiveness and experience of Caden Williams could be the difference. Calhoun by 3.
The Skinny
The Carrollton Trojans will start their 2023 campaign looking to get back to the state finals. They return a bevy of talent from their 2022 team including sophomore quarterback Julian “Juju” Lewis, who threw for 4,118 yard and 48 TDs. Lewis will return four of his top 6 receivers from a year ago including Caleb Odom, Jordan White and the versatile Bryce Hicks. Hicks is also the teams top running back from a year ago. He will look to pick up where he left off last year after rushing for over 1,600 yards with 22-TDs. Defensively, Carrollton will be led by linebackers Brody Bradburn, Montreze Smith and Jacob Levy.
The Langston Hughes Panthers fresh off their state championship run from a year ago will waste no time jumping in to the fire in 2023. The Panthers have a star quarterback of their own in Ohio State commit Prentiss “Air” Noland. The southpaw threw for 4,095 yards and 55-TDs last season. Noland will have a young receiving group this season as four of his top five targets from a year ago have graduated. Justus Savage will return in the backfield after rushing for over 1,000 yards a year ago. Ameir Glenn returns to lead the defense that allowed 11.8 points per game a year ago.
This game features some of the best talent in the state. Expect for Hughes to be game to stay with the Trojans for the first three quarters. We believe Carrollton’s depth at receiver will be too much for Hughes in the end. We like the Carrollton by 8.
The Skinny
Irwin County is in the midst of a historic run in which they have reached the semifinals in 9 out of the last 10 seasons. This year, the Indians will have to replace some standouts as they say goodbye to players like two way star Demarkus Lundy and quarterback Cody Soliday. The Indians do return experience in the backfield in Shane Marshall. The rising junior rushed for 845 yards and 14-TDs a year ago. Having Marshall’s experience should take some of the pressure off of first year starter Luke Snyder at quarterback. Defensively, the Irwin welcomes back All-State lineman Michael Joiner who will spearhead a unit that allowed only 11 points per game last season.
Fitzgerald is in the midst of an impressive run themselves, as they made the state playoffs for the 23rd consecutive season last year. During that stretch the Purple Hurricanes have won one state title and appeared in the finals six times, included three appearances in the last three years. The Canes return Diondre Paschal in the backfield and we expect the bruising back to pick up where he left off last season. Pashcal will have some familiar faces to run behind as Christian Riggins and Gabe Pearce return to anchor the line of scrimmage.
We expect for both teams to try to impose their will along the line of scrimmage. Irwin will keep this one close at home, but we like Paschal and the Canes on the road by 6.
The Skinny
The Hart County Bulldogs will look to get back to the playoffs after missing out last season. Offensively, they will lean pre-season all-state selection and senior running back Nori Moore who tallied over 1,800 yards from scrimmage last season. Moore is an explosive back with big play potential every time he touches the ball. The Bulldogs will be breaking in a new quarterback as Jashon Gaines moves over from receiver to take over the quarterbacking duties. Defensively, the Bulldogs will look to All-Region performers Trevion Jones and Trey Fouch to set the table for a defense that allowed 21 points per game a year ago.
The Elbert county Blue Devils will look to build on their success from last season. The Bulldogs will have the luxury of returning All-Region quarterback Jayvyn Hickman, who threw for over 1,700 yards ain 2022. He will have two of his top targets from a year ago returning in Ty’Rikkis Jones (36 receptions, 436 yards, 4-TDs) and Eli Harris (21 receptions, 345 yards, 2-TDs). Jacarri Barnett looks to be the heir apparent at running back to replace Qua Moss.
Both of these teams return plenty of star power to light up the scoreboard all season long. Our biggest question for Hart County is will Moore be able to carry the offense until Gains can grow into the quarterback spot. We believe this game will be close again, but we like Elbert on the road in a mild upset. Blue Devils by 2.