It’s about this time in the high school football season where we start seeing the truth about who teams really are.
Most coaches will say that the biggest jump of improvement a team makes during the season is between games one and two. If that’s true, then it’s around games three and four when habits and consistency start to manifest — for good or for bad.
Although most squads are a couple of weeks away from starting region play — which, in Georgia high school football is really where the season begins as far as postseason berths go — there are some marquee matchups that grace the area this week that should go a long way in showing us who’s forming into true contenders.
Grovetown (1-1) at Thomson (1-1): The Warriors head to the Brickyard in a game that feels like a barometer matchup for both teams. Grovetown wants to see how good it matches up against a state championship caliber squad — albeit a Class AA team — while Thomson will take this opportunity to continue adjusting its play to its new personnel. The Bulldogs rushed for 301 yards in their 46-7 win over Jefferson County, with Anthony Jeffery racking up 98 yards on 10 carries and two scores. Meanwhile, Grovetown showed off a balanced attack in its win against Greenbrier with 260 rushing yards and 240 yards through the air. Quarterback Amare Clark has been sharp, completing 68 percent of his passes while also averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Thomson won in a route last year. Expect this one to be a bit closer. Prediction: Thomson 27, Grovetown 20
North Augusta (1-1) at Lakeside (1-0): It’s been about five years since Lakeside started a season 2-0. North Augusta will offer a stiff test as it is an athletic team that’s working to find itself with a new head coach and new faces on the field. The Panthers lost by a touchdown to the Yellow Jackets last year in one of its many closely contested matchups. A win for Lakeside tonight sets them up to possibly start a season 3-0 for the first time since 2019 when it faces Greenbrier next Friday. Prediction: Lakeside 21, North Augusta 17
Josey (1-0) at Richmond Academy (1-1): You’ll have to go back to 1999 to find the last time Josey defeated Richmond Academy. That was a 22-7 win from a team that was ranked in the top 10 in every state high school football poll. Yet, Eagles coach Lawrence Pinkney told his team last week that this was a winnable game. After losing in blowout fashion at Veterans to open the season, ARC got better in a hurry, defeating Savannah last Friday 41-0. It’s the same Savannah team Josey traveled to be 28-26 for its season opener two weeks ago. A win here gives Josey its first 2-0 start in forever. A win by ARC has the Musketeers feeling much better about their season’s trajectory despite the challenges that come with another coaching change. Prediction: Richmond Academy 37, Josey 14
Midland Valley (2-0) at Silver Bluff (2-0): For the second straight week, one of the most intriguing games on the area slate involves Midland Valley. Last week it was Midland Valley taking care of Thurmond in a close contest. This week, the Mustangs take on a stout looking Silver Bluff squad. No doubt, the key to defeating Midland will be finding a way to corral senior running back Traevon Dunbar who has a ridiculous 546 rushing yards and four touchdowns in just two games. Prediction: Midland Valley 33, Silver Bluff 30.
Aquinas (2-0) at Savannah Country Day (2-0): These two teams first faced each other in 1989. And from that first meeting through 1999, the games were always blowouts. That changed in 2020 when Aquinas played Savannah Country Day to a nail biter 29-28 loss. Each of the next two games have been decided by just one score with Aquinas winning the last two. No reason to think this one won’t be as competitive. Prediction: Aquinas 24, Savannah Country Day 21.
