The 2021 high school football season is just around the corner, and this marks my 27th consecutive season of calling high school games. I will once again be part of WJBF’s Game Night Live broadcast. WJBF’s John Hart will handle play-by-play, and I will serve as his color analyst. Matt Lane will handle the sideline duties, and Nathan Edwards is back again this season as our spotter and statistician.
MORE: Ashley Brown’s Preseason Football Top 20 Teams
Here is WJBF’s 2021 Game Night Live schedule:
Week 1 (8/20) North Augusta @ Lakeside
North Augusta has a QB coming off a knee surgery, but they will once again have lots of talent. Lakeside changed up their offense to focus on the ground game more. This could be a breakout game for a few lesser-known players.
Week 2 (8/27) Augusta Christian @ Fox Creek
Augusta Christian should be solid with QB Jeb Bradford, RB/LB Zack Blackwell and Adam Bussey (transfer from Augusta Prep). It will also be my first chance to see one of the most heavily recruited players in South Carolina with Fox Creek OT Nick Williams. The 6’5, 300 lb. Williams has offers from FSU, Georgia Tech, Florida, Tennessee, Penn St., Arkansas and several other big time programs.
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Week 3 (9/3) Greenbrier @ Lakeside
We will see polar opposites on offense in this one. Lakeside will run the football in hopes of getting junior Temarcus Elam involved in the offense. Greenbrier was one of the most prolific passing teams in Georgia last season, and those numbers could even go up this fall.
Week 4 (9/10) South Aiken at Strom Thurmond
South Aiken lost most of their key offensive contributors to graduation, so they will likely still be finding their identity a bit when they face off with the Rebels. Strom Thurmond will have their always impressive home crowd on their side and they also feature one of the state’s top young receivers in Gregory Bryant.
Week 5 (9/17) Bamberg-Ehrhardt @ Barnwell
There is truly something special about small town high school football and this game is the epitome of that. Both programs get excellent community support and churn out wins year in and year out. The atmosphere will be the star here.
Week 6 (9/24) Harlem at ARC
ARC was last season’s break-out team in the area. Coach Lyle Burns will have to replace some key players on defense, but the Musketeers should be solid again in 2021 especially if speedy RB Johntavius Curry stays healthy. Harlem has a game breaker of their own in QB/RB Jeremiah Ellis. Unfortunately, he tore an ACL this summer and the Bulldogs will have to fill his rather large shoes.
Week 7 (10/1) Grovetown at Evans
This has become a nice rivalry game in Columbia County. Both teams have plenty of athletes, but Evans is coming off a 10-win season and region crown, while Grovetown finished 2-9 last season. Grovetown Junior Marcus Washington is the area’s most coveted recruit, while Evans features a balanced offensive attack led by QB Kaleb Jackson and RB Joe Hampton, both of whom have multiple scholarship offers.
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Week 8 (10/8) Hephzibah @ ARC
This has been a great matchup in recent years. However, 2021 is likely going to be a major rebuilding year for the Rebels, while ARC expects to be among the area’s top teams. Also, last season Hephzibah had no answer for ARC RB Johntavius Curry.
Week 9 (10/15) Burke Co. @ Thomson
It simply does not get any better than Friday nights “Between The Bricks” in Thomson. Take what I said about Bamberg-Ehrhardt vs. Barnwell and amplify it by 100. Then add a great, tradition-rich opponent like Burke County and this game is a must-see every year. Thomson will rely on all-state QB Tay Martin and his legs. Burke County should be much more balanced but can run the ball well with junior RB Charlie Dorsey.
MORE: Top 21 CSRA Football Players to Watch in 2021
Week 10 (10/22) Lincoln County @ Wash-Wilkes
Burke Co./Thomson may have better facilities and be bigger programs, but in terms of pure match up, the Highway 378 war is the best show in town. These two programs simply do not like one another. The Tigers are led by all-everything QB Dalon Cobb. He can throw the ball and is also the state of Georgia’s reigning 100-meter dash champion. The Red Devils have the winningest, most tradition-rich program in the CSRA.
The final two weeks will be used as “flex weeks.” This is a great addition to the schedule. Rather than be locked into a game that may feature teams with no playoff implications, these two weeks are left open to ensure we have a compelling game featuring teams with plenty to play for.
The games will air each Friday night at 7:30 p.m. on WJBF 6.2 MeTV (Comcast Channel 246 / WOW Channel 380). The games will re-air on Sundays at noon on WJBF News Channel 6.
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