The Georgia High School Football season is off and running after plenty of outstanding action in Week-1. This week we have several games across the state as most teams continue their non-region slate of games. Today we will take a look at eight intriguing matchups across the state this weekend.
Here is a quick look at what’s in this week’s preview:
Fellowship Christian, Hebron Christian Set for Quarterfinal Rematch
Defending Class 3A-Private champ Hebron Christian looks to build on its Week-1 win behind RB Devon Caldwell and a turnover-hungry defense. Fellowship Christian counters with QB Jonathan Granby’s dual-threat ability and RB CJ Givers after a dominant shutout to open the season.
Buford Defense Faces Tough Road Test at Benedictine
After a narrow loss at Colquitt County, Benedictine looks to lean on its balanced ground game and steady QB Stephen Cannon to upset visiting Buford. The Wolves, fresh off a defensive showcase against Milton with three interceptions, aim to spark their pass rush and pressure Cannon into mistakes.
Perry’s Air Attack Meets Peach County’s Ground Game in High-Scoring Showdown
Peach County leans on a deep rushing attack led by Ashton Barton and QB Caiden Ivory, while Perry counters with senior quarterback Reid Ginn’s 300-yard, four-touchdown performance from Week 1. Expect fireworks on both sidelines.
Rockmart’s Young QB Faces Cartersville’s Relentless Defense
Freshman Tucker Parson impressed in Rockmart’s opener with four touchdown passes, but he’ll face heavy pressure from a Cartersville defense that turned two turnovers into points last week. Expect a competitive start, but recent history favors the Canes. Will history repeat itself or will Rockmart prevail?
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)
The Skinny
The Hebron Christian Lions picked up right where they left off last season, opening the year with an impressive win over Class 6A North Atlanta. The defending Class 3A-Private champions were powered by Devon Caldwell, who rushed for 114 yards and three touchdowns. Jarvis Mathurin added eight receptions for 92 yards and made the game’s biggest play late, returning a kickoff 95 yards to seal the victory. Junior quarterback Michael Kyles was highly efficient, completing 79% of his passes for 103 yards.Defensively, the Lions gave up 365 yards but made plenty of impact plays, recovering two fumbles, intercepting three passes, and recording two sacks. Albert William led the defense with nine tackles, while Jailil Goley snagged two of those three interceptions.
The Fellowship Christian Paladins opened their season with an impressive shutout of the defending Class A-DII state champions. Running back CJ Givers rushed for 70 yards and two touchdowns while adding five receptions for 39 yards. Quarterback Jonathan Granby was dynamic, throwing for 187 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 108 yards. Senior receiver Simon Cofrancesco caught 3 passes for 104 yards and two scores, and he also contributed defensively with an interception in the shutout effort. It marked Fellowship’s first shutout since 2021.
This matchup is a rematch of last year’s Class 3A quarterfinal, when Hebron Christian edged Fellowship by seven points on their way to a state title. Both teams will look to establish the ground game early, showcasing two talented backs in Givers and Caldwell.For Hebron Christian to come out on top, they’ll need to force turnovers as they did in Week 1. While we expect the Lions to create a takeaway or two, Fellowship Christian looks too talented and balanced this season.
Prediction: Fellowship Christian by 6.
The Skinny
The Benedictine Cadets went on the road last week and dropped a heartbreaker to Colquitt County. True to form, the Cadets have once again loaded up their non-region schedule with top-tier competition. They found plenty of success on the ground, rushing for 226 yards with five different players sharing carries. Stanley Smart (16 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD) and Bubba Frazier (11 carries, 39 yards) led the way, while quarterback Stephen Cannon was efficient, completing 13 of 19 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Benedictine made its presence felt with three sacks.
Buford will travel to Savannah after opening its season with a Thursday night win over Milton. The Wolves posted 231 yards of total offense, as quarterback Dayton Raiola went 13-of-19 passing for 159 yards. Tyriq Green scored the team’s lone rushing touchdown, while Dylan McCoy carried the ball 11 times as Buford looked to establish its ground game. The Wolves’ defense stole the show, intercepting three passes and converting two of them directly into points.
This matchup has all the makings of another nail-biter. With two strong defenses, don’t expect an offensive shootout. For Benedictine to prevail, they’ll need to protect Cannon and stay balanced on offense, while Buford will look to pressure the quarterback and jump-start its running game. In the end, we expect Buford’s defense to make the difference in a close contest.
Prediction: Buford by 4.
The Skinny
The Peach County Trojans opened their season with a convincing win over Northeast Macon, powered by a dominant rushing attack that piled up 225 yards. Ashton Barton led the way with 57 yards and three touchdowns, while Zion Ellison added 63 yards and a score. Quarterback Caiden Ivory chipped in 65 rushing yards on nine carries and threw for 76 yards and a touchdown to Zion Hudson, spreading the ball to six different receivers. Defensively, Peach County recorded three sacks to cap off the balanced effort.
The Perry Panthers were equally impressive, rolling past Baldwin 46-18. Perry’s defense forced six turnovers — including five interceptions — with Charleston Southern commit Jaiden Coleman anchoring the unit with seven tackles. On offense, senior quarterback Reid Ginn carved up the Baldwin secondary, passing for more than 300 yards and four touchdowns.
This matchup pits two teams with contrasting styles: Peach County’s powerful ground game versus Perry’s explosive passing attack. Last year’s meeting produced 88 combined points, and this one could light up the scoreboard again. Peach County is unlikely to give the ball away six times, so expect a closer contest — but we like Perry’s air attack to make the difference.
Prediction: Perry by 8.
The Skinny
The Rockmart Yellow Jackets snapped a three-game skid against their county rival, Cedartown, in emphatic fashion last week, earning their biggest win in the series. The Jackets showcased a balanced attack, throwing for 212 yards and rushing for 182. Freshman quarterback Tucker Parson shined in his debut, completing 69.2% of his passes with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Four different receivers caught passes, led by sophomore Gavin Green with five receptions for 70 yards and a score. On the ground, Rockmart spread the carries among eight players, with Cortez Wright and Nate Davis combining for 99 yards and two touchdowns.
Cartersville also rolled to a dominant victory, shutting out Columbia for their 14th straight season-opening win. Quarterback Nate Russell was efficient, throwing for 155 yards and two touchdowns on 84.6% passing. Brady Marchese hauled in four catches for 28 yards, while sophomore Maddox Davis led the team with 52 receiving yards on two receptions as eight different Cane receivers got involved. Russell also led Cartersville’s ground game with 29 yards on four carries, but the defense was the real story — forcing two turnovers and turning both into immediate points.
Cartersville’s pass rush will test Parson, who faces his toughest challenge yet after an impressive debut. If Rockmart can protect their young quarterback, they have the talent to hang around. Still, history favors the Canes — winners of 14 of the last 15 meetings — and we expect them to pull away late after a competitive start.
Prediction: Cartersville by 11.