The latest group of our Week-3 GHSA Football Previews features four matchups for teams with plenty to prove and some very different challenges ahead. Calvary Day brings one of the most balanced offenses in the group into its matchup with St. Pius, but the Cavaliers will have to contend with a Golden Lions offense designed to control the clock and keep the ball out of their hands. Benedictine looks to build on its strong start against Hebron Christian behind the legs of Stanley Smart Jr. and the hot arm of first-year starter Omari Burse, who has already shown he can make big plays through the air. Toombs County enters its matchup with Swainsboro after an explosive 539-yard offensive performance, with Joseph Owens, Brandon Stevens, and Don Mincey giving the Bulldogs plenty of ways to attack. Meanwhile, McEachern takes on Marietta with a high-powered passing attack led by Brenton James and a talented group of receivers. Each of these games presents a unique challenge, but all four should provide another good indication of which teams are ready to take the next step as the season progresses.
Benedictine vs Camden County: Two of the Coastal Georgia area’s hottest teams meet Friday night when the Benedictine Cadets host an undefeated Camden County squad. Both teams feature quarterbacks who have been highly efficient through the opening weeks of the season, and with plenty of offensive firepower on both sides, this one could come down to which team makes the fewest mistakes.
McEachern vs Marietta: The McEachern Indians will look to keep their momentum going when they take on a Marietta Blue Devils team that picked up its first win of the season last week. McEachern has found some consistency through the air behind senior quarterback Brenton James, while Marietta will need to establish its rushing attack and keep the Indians’ explosive offense on the sideline.
Calvary Day vs St. Pius: Calvary Day is off to another hot start and is already looking like an early-season contender for the private-school title. The Cavaliers have been dominant on both sides of the football, but they will face a St. Pius team that will look to slow the game down and keep Calvary’s explosive offense on the sideline.
Swainsboro vs Toombs County: The Swainsboro Tigers bounced back from a Week 1 loss to Cook with an impressive win over county rival Emanuel County Institute. Now they face perhaps their toughest challenge of the season when they travel to take on a Toombs County offense that has been putting up video-game numbers through the first two weeks.
As always, thank you to the Georgia Helmet Project for the artwork. You can find them here: https://www.gahelmetproject.com/ As well as the High School Football Historians Association for all of their historical data. You can find them here: https://hsfha.org/
The Skinny
The Benedictine Cadets were firing on all cylinders last week as they defeated Hebron Christian, and they will have their third straight home game this week as they look to improve to 2-1 on the season. Running back Stanley Smart Jr. rushed for 192 yards in last week’s victory to pace the Cadets. Through two games, Smart has rushed for 255 yards and two touchdowns and has quickly established himself as the centerpiece of the Benedictine ground game.
Meanwhile, first-year starter Omari Burse has gotten off to an impressive start at quarterback. Burse has thrown for 323 yards and six touchdowns on the season, including a tremendous performance last week when he threw for 210 yards and five touchdowns.
Eron Mallard was the biggest beneficiary of Burse’s big night, catching four passes for 137 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. On the season, Mallard has eight receptions for 250 yards and four touchdowns, giving the Cadets a big-play threat on the outside. Defensively, Rasheen Jackson leads the Cadets with 16 total tackles, while Isaac Scott has been a force along the defensive line and will be counted on to help set the tone against a physical Camden County offense.
The Camden County Wildcats enter Friday night’s matchup undefeated after conquering Brunswick, defeating both the Pirates and Terrors in back-to-back weeks. Quarterback Xavier Collins has been outstanding to start the season, throwing for 429 yards and five touchdowns while completing 74 percent of his passes. Collins has also been a threat with his legs, rushing for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Joining him in the backfield is Malakhi Poole, who has rushed for 189 yards and a touchdown to pace the Wildcats’ ground attack. The combination of Collins and Poole gives Camden County a strong rushing threat to complement its passing game. Meanwhile, Sean Green is off to a fantastic start to his senior season. Green has caught nine passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns and has quickly emerged as Collins’ top target. Defensively, Will Smith has been a tackling machine for the Wildcats. He leads the team with 22 solo tackles and 24 total tackles while also recording a sack.
Keys to the Game
Benedictine Cadets
- Protect the football. Burse has been excellent so far, but Camden County will look to pressure the first-year starter into making mistakes.
- Establish Smart early. A productive running game will take pressure off Burse and keep the Wildcats from simply sitting back against the passing attack.
- Get Mallard involved. Mallard has been one of the most productive receivers in the state early in the season and gives Benedictine a major big-play threat.
- Win the battle up front. Isaac Scott and the Cadets’ defensive front will have to slow down Poole and keep Collins from finding easy running lanes.
Camden County Wildcats
- Keep Collins rolling. The senior quarterback has been extremely efficient and will need another strong performance against a talented Benedictine defense.
- Establish Poole. Camden County needs to maintain balance and avoid becoming overly dependent on Collins.
- Find Green. Sean Green has been nearly unstoppable early, and getting him opportunities downfield will be a major priority.
- Force Burse into mistakes. The Cadets’ quarterback has been impressive, but this will be one of his biggest tests of the season.
These teams have not played often, and the last time they met, Camden County won going away. We don’t believe history will have much bearing on the result Friday night. Instead, this game could come down to the two quarterbacks. Camden County will need Xavier Collins to continue his hot start, and the same can be said for Benedictine and Omari Burse. Both quarterbacks have been efficient, both have weapons around them and both have shown the ability to make plays.
The quarterback who makes the fewest mistakes will likely lead his team to victory. We expect this one to be a close, physical battle from start to finish, but playing at home and getting a big performance from Burse and the Cadets’ offense gives Benedictine the slight edge.
Prediction: Benedictine by 4
The Skinny
The McEachern Indians have turned the offense over to senior quarterback Brenton James, and the senior has responded with 351 yards through the air while completing 61.5 percent of his passes. James has several receivers making an impact. Jarvaris Reed Jr. leads the Indians with 11 receptions for 171 yards, while Jahlil Page has caught six passes for 94 yards and leads the team with two receiving touchdowns.
Jacorey Shockley saw his first action of the season last week, giving the Indians another potential weapon as the offense continues to develop. Sophomore Ty Nolan leads the ground game with 76 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown. McEachern hasn’t needed to rely heavily on the running game early, but Nolan could become increasingly important if opposing defenses begin focusing heavily on James and the passing attack.
Defensively, it’s hard to talk about the Indians without mentioning Casey Barner, who is tied for the team lead with two interceptions. Joakim Gouda also looked good in his first action for McEachern, finishing with five total tackles and half a sack. Machai Rowe leads the Indians with 17 total tackles.
The Marietta Blue Devils picked up their first win of the season last week and will look to carry that momentum into this matchup as they try to pull the upset. Quarterback Jayden Whiteside has thrown for 431 yards and four touchdowns this season. Whiteside has also been productive on the ground, rushing for 102 yards, making him a legitimate dual-threat quarterback.
He is second on the team in rushing behind Titus Grant, who has carried the ball 36 times for 179 yards and three touchdowns. Grant will be an important piece of Marietta’s game plan as the Blue Devils look to establish the ground game. Marietta has several receiving options for Whiteside. Isaac Copeland has 10 receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns, while Brody Archie has eight catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson Nesmith has added seven receptions for 110 yards.
Defensively, Jude Morris leads the Blue Devils with 16 total tackles. Marietta has also recorded four turnovers this season and will need another opportunistic performance against a McEachern offense capable of putting points on the board quickly.
Keys to the Game
McEachern Indians
- Protect James. If Brenton James has time to stand in the pocket and work through his progressions, McEachern should have opportunities to make big plays.
- Keep the passing game balanced. Reed and Page have been productive, and getting multiple receivers involved will make the Indians difficult to defend.
- Win the turnover battle. Barner and the McEachern secondary have already shown a knack for creating turnovers.
- Establish Nolan. A productive running game would keep Marietta from being able to sell out against James and the passing attack.
Marietta Blue Devils
- Pressure James. This may be the biggest key for the Blue Devils. Marietta cannot allow the McEachern quarterback to sit comfortably in the pocket.
- Establish Grant. Titus Grant needs to get the ground game going and help control the clock.
- Let Whiteside make plays. His ability to run and throw gives Marietta a chance to keep McEachern’s defense off balance.
- Avoid the McEachern secondary. The Blue Devils can’t afford to give the Indians’ ball-hawking secondary easy opportunities.
The Marietta defense will have its hands full trying to contain an explosive McEachern offense. The Blue Devils will need to find a way to generate pressure on quarterback Brenton James and keep him from comfortably standing in the pocket and going through his progressions. If James is able to do that, it could be a long night for the Blue Devils.
On the other side, Marietta will need to establish the ground game behind Titus Grant and take some pressure off Jayden Whiteside. Whiteside will also need to be careful with the football against a McEachern secondary that has already shown it can create turnovers.
We expect Marietta to hang around, but McEachern’s ability to stretch the field through the air should ultimately be the difference.
Prediction: McEachern by 8
The Skinny
Calvary Day is off to another impressive start, and the Cavaliers’ offense has been firing on all cylinders. Calvary is averaging 245 yards per game through the air and another 232 yards per game on the ground, giving the Cavaliers one of the most balanced offenses around.
Quarterback James Mobley has completed 72 percent of his passes for 481 yards and six touchdowns. His primary targets have been M.J. Knight, who has 11 receptions for 184 yards and three touchdowns, and Jalen Hicks, who has added nine catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. The Cavaliers have been equally impressive on the ground. Zay Middleton leads the way with 216 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns, while Ca’Den Jones provides plenty of depth in the backfield with 115 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown.
Defensively, Calvary has already recorded eight sacks. Jeffrey McCormick, Gabe Ausfeld and Elisha Williams are tied for the team lead with two sacks apiece. The Cavaliers also feature a formidable secondary led by Emerson Lewis, Braxton Bell and De’Shawn Wylie. That group could play a major role against a St. Pius offense that would much rather keep the ball on the ground.
St. Pius picked up its first win of the season last week and will look to make a statement when it travels to Savannah to take on Calvary Day. It should come as no surprise that the Golden Lions have done most of their damage on the ground. St. Pius rushed for 205 yards in last week’s victory, with five different players carrying the football.
Quarterback Cohen George attempted just three passes but was perfect on all three attempts. George was much more active on the ground, leading the Golden Lions with 86 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Sawyer Brandon also had a big day, rushing for 78 yards on just seven carries. St. Pius will likely look to use the same formula against Calvary: establish the run, control the clock and limit the number of possessions the Cavaliers receive.
Keys to the Game
Calvary Day Cavaliers
- Stop the run early. Calvary needs to make St. Pius uncomfortable by taking away the Wing-T rushing attack on first down.
- Create third-and-long situations. The Cavaliers’ defensive line and secondary can be at their best when Pius is forced to throw.
- Stay balanced offensively. Calvary’s ability to run and throw makes it difficult for defenses to key on one area.
- Avoid giving Pius extra possessions. The Golden Lions want to shorten the game, so Calvary needs to make the most of every opportunity.
St. Pius Golden Lions
- Control the clock. The longer the Golden Lions can keep Calvary’s offense on the sideline, the better their chances of pulling the upset.
- Run the football. George, Brandon and the rest of the St. Pius rushing attack will need to consistently move the chains.
- Avoid negative plays. The Wing-T relies on staying ahead of the chains, especially against a Calvary defense capable of generating pressure.
- Win the turnover battle. Extra possessions could be critical if the Golden Lions are going to keep pace.
The formula for St. Pius to pull what most would consider an upset is pretty simple: use the Wing-T to control the ball and the clock while keeping an explosive Calvary Day offense on the sideline. Meanwhile, Calvary will look to stymie the St. Pius rushing attack on first down and force the Golden Lions into passing situations on third down. That is where the Cavaliers’ defensive front and talented secondary could make a major difference.
The long trip to Savannah certainly doesn’t help the Golden Lions, and eventually we believe Calvary’s offensive balance will be too much for St. Pius to handle.
Prediction: Calvary Day by 13
The Skinny
The Swainsboro Tigers picked up a big win over their county rival, Emanuel County Institute, last week as they bounced back from their Week 1 loss to Cook. The Tigers have been balanced offensively through the first two games, averaging 146.5 yards per game through the air and 150 yards per game on the ground.
Quarterback Joshua Gray has thrown for 244 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. Shannon Benjaminhas been Gray’s primary target, catching seven passes for 90 yards and a touchdown. The Tigers have also shown plenty of production on the ground. Kyle Johnson leads the way with 194 yards on 17 carries, while Ja’Bois Smith has added 109 yards on 22 carries.
Smith, who is projected to play linebacker at the next level, has also been a force defensively. He is tied with Derek Hughes for the team lead with 22 total tackles. The Tigers have also forced four turnovers through the first two games.
The Toombs County Bulldogs made quick work of their rival Vidalia last Friday, continuing what has been an explosive start to the season. The Bulldogs piled up 539 yards of total offense in the victory, showcasing an offense that has proven capable of producing big plays from virtually anywhere on the field.
Quarterback Joseph Owens has thrown for 482 yards and a touchdown through the first two games. His primary targets have been Brandon Stevens and Nick Carroll. Stevens has been particularly productive, hauling in 12 passes for 315 yards and a touchdown, while Carroll has eight receptions for 95 yards.
On the ground, Don Mincey has been outstanding. He has rushed for 373 yards and eight touchdowns, giving the Bulldogs another explosive weapon for opposing defenses to contend with. Toombs County has also been productive defensively, recording five sacks through two games. Safety Alex Scott leads the Bulldogs with 14 total tackles, while Kyrell Williams leads the team with four tackles for loss.
Keys to the Game
Swainsboro Tigers
- Protect the football. Swainsboro can’t afford to give an explosive Toombs County offense extra possessions.
- Control the clock. The Tigers need to establish the run and keep the Bulldogs’ offense on the sideline.
- Limit the big play. Toombs has several players capable of changing the game with one touch, so Swainsboro must keep everything in front of them.
- Win on third down. Getting Toombs off the field will be critical if the Tigers are going to keep this game close.
Toombs County Bulldogs
- Keep the offense rolling. The Bulldogs have been nearly unstoppable early and will look to continue attacking Swainsboro from the opening kickoff.
- Get Mincey going. With 373 rushing yards and eight touchdowns already, Mincey is a major focal point of the offense.
- Take advantage of Stevens’ big-play ability. Swainsboro will have to account for Stevens every time he lines up.
- Force Swainsboro into passing situations. Toombs can unleash its pass rush if the Tigers are unable to consistently run the football.
The Swainsboro Tigers might have one of the toughest schedules in the state, with six ranked teams on the schedule. Toombs County is likely the toughest opponent they will face all season. The Tigers will have to avoid turnovers and find a way to keep the explosive Toombs County offense on the sideline. That is much easier said than done.
Toombs may not reach the 500-yard mark again this week, but the Bulldogs have too many weapons on offense and should eventually pull away. Swainsboro will compete, but we expect Toombs County to cruise to another impressive victory.
Prediction: Toombs County by 16