The 2026 high school football season is here, and the Prep Sports Report continues its team-by-team look at Greater Savannah.
In Part I, we looked at the local independent-school programs. Now we move into the Georgia High School Association and start at the top with Class 7A and Class 6A.
PART I; Football Is Back: Bethesda, Country Day, St. Andrew’s Ready to Kick Off 2026
Richmond Hill makes the move into Class 7A, while Bradwell Institute, Effingham County and South Effingham will compete in Class 6A.
There are plenty of questions heading into the new season.
Can Richmond Hill take care of the football and make some noise in its new region? What does Bradwell look like under first-year head coach John Adams? Can Effingham County build off a nine-win season? And can South Effingham turn what coach Loren Purvis is seeing in practice into Friday-night results?
Here’s Part II of the Prep Sports Report’s 2026 Greater Savannah high school football preseason capsules.
Optim Orthopedics presents Prep Sports Report football coverage.
GHSA CLASS 7A
RICHMOND HILL
Mascot: Wildcats
Location: Richmond Hill
Head coach: Matt LeZotte
Record at school/years: 64-54/12th season
Overall coaching record/years: 92-70/15
2025 overall/region records: 6-5/2-3 Region 1-6A
Key returning players: WR/DB Elias Grant, sr.; QB Gunner Mobley, sr.; RB CJ Menzie, sr.; DL Tre’ Brown, sr.; LB Jaylon Deal, sr.; DB/RB DJ Porter, sr.
Key loss: RB Amire Miller
Coach’s quote: “Our ability to execute. In our league, preparation and execution are premiums in every facet of the game. We need to minimize explosive plays while on defense while creating more takeaways. Offensively, turnovers have been our Achilles’ heel the last two seasons. If we can minimize the turnovers and run the football, we can be successful.” – Matt LeZotte, Richmond Hill.
2026 Schedule
Aug. 21 — Effingham County
Aug. 28 — Liberty County
Sept. 4 — Jenkins
Sept.11 — at Ware County
Sept. 18 — Wando (S.C.)
Sept. 25 — at East Coweta
Oct. 9 — Colquitt County *
Oct. 16 — at Camden County *
Oct. 23 — Lowndes *
Nov. 6 — at Valdosta *
*Region 1-7A game
GHSA CLASS 6A
BRADWELL INSTITUTE
Mascot: Tigers
Location: Hinesville
Head coach: John Adams
Record at school/years: First season
Overall coaching record/years: 33-11/three
2025 overall/region records: 2-7/2-6 Region 1-5A
Key returning players: WR Jacobi Pasley, sr.; QB Jahbari Felix, sr.; WR/DB Carlito Savea, sr.; OL/DL Cameron Perry, sr.; LB Markel Fields, sr.; DE Keyon Awulonu, sr.; LB Kaiden Studstill, sr.
Key losses: WR Dewahyne Chatman, RB Wade Cobb, TE Marlon Torres
Key new players: RB Cameron Keeve, sr.; WR Tyson Spears, sr.; TE Jaden Brown, sr.
Coach’s quote: “We being able to strain. That’s been our word, strain. That’s physically and psychologically being able to strain. That’s being a Tiger. Have you ever looked at a tiger? A tiger is laser-focused on you. Its eyes are not moving. He’s fierce and relentless. If we do those things, we’ll be successful.” -- Bradwell Institute assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Alex Modicue
2026 Schedule
Aug. 21 — New Hampstead
Aug. 28 — Wayne County
Sept. 4 — at Valdosta
Sept. 18 — at Glynn Academy *
Sept. 25 — at Effingham County *
Oct. 2 — Brunswick *
Oct. 16 — Greenbrier *
Oct. 23 — at Lakeside-Evans *
Oct. 30 — at Grovetown *
Nov. 6 — South Effingham *
*Region 1-6A game
EFFINGHAM COUNTY
Mascot: Rebels
Location: Springfield
Head coach: John Ford
Record at school/years: 35-20/sixth season
Overall coaching record/years: 96-37/11
2025 overall/region records: 9-3/7-1 Region 1-5A
Key returning players: WR Isaiah Brown, WR Malik Letman, WR Trayvis Hunter, RB Jmere Doe-Davis, TE Parker Nelson, DL Deyvon Aaron, LB Jernard Albright, LB Jackson Eubanks, DB Kris Swinney, DB Chris Jenkins
Key losses: QB Tucker Perkins, entire OL, DL Landon Carter, TE/LB Duff Davis, LB John Baker, DB Daimir Hicks
Key new players: OL Jordan Dillon, DL RJ Brown
Coach’s quote: “Grit, ability to withstand discomfort of a hard opening schedule.” – ECHS coach John Ford
2026 Schedule
Aug. 21 — at Richmond Hill
Aug. 28 — Tift County
Sept. 4 — New Hampstead
Sept. 18 — at Lakeside-Evans *
Sept. 25 — Bradwell Institute *
Oct. 2 — at Glynn Academy *
Oct. 16 — South Effingham *
Oct. 23 — Grovetown *
Oct. 30 — at Brunswick *
Nov. 6 — Greenbrier *
*Region 1-6A game
SOUTH EFFINGHAM
Mascot: Mustangs
Location: Guyton
Head coach: Loren Purvis
Record at school/years: 10-20/fourth season
Overall coaching record/years: 10-20/three
2025 overall/region records: 4-6/4-4 Region 1-5A
Key returning players: Nickel Maddox Vasquez, S Landyn White, LB Danny Murtha, LB Cole McMurry, RB Khyran White, C Semaj Calhoun, QB Liam Coburn, DL Audrey Mack, OL Tanner Horton, OL Sam Blaine, WR/S Jackson McClure, DL Gage Roberson
Key loss: TE/LB Corey Woods
Key new players: WR/S Brian Ford, C Hakeem Simmons, RB Ashton Holder
Coach’s quote: “The biggest things are how they gel and how they compete. … One of the days in practice this week, we just scrimmaged each other. We weren’t worried about getting prepared for others; we just wanted to get better for us. Watching how they competed with each other – that’s something we haven’t necessarily had here my past three years. You’ve got to be able to get after it. Football is a physical game. You’ve got to play it that way. You’ve got to practice it that way. We haven’t always had that in practice every day. It’s really good. They’re complaining about why don’t we do it more. Guys, we do have to prepare for other teams. We can’t just line up and scrimmage each other. But they enjoy that and they want to compete. I think that’s going to matter a lot if we’re going to be able to translate that into Friday nights. Also, how they gel together. We’ve got a tighter team that rallies around each other more than I’ve had in years past.” – Loren Purvis, South Effingham.
2026 Schedule
Aug. 21 — Screven County
Aug. 28 — Johnson
Sept. 4 — at Windsor Forest (SHS)
Sept. 18 — Greenbrier *
Sept. 25 — at Grovetown *
Oct. 2 — Lakeside-Evans *
Oct. 16 — at Effingham County *
Oct. 23 — at Brunswick *
Oct. 30 — Glynn Academy *
Nov. 6 — at Bradwell Institute*
*Region 1-6A game
Optim Orthopedics presents Prep Sports Report’s 2026 high school football coverage.
Coming next: Part III of the Prep Sports Report preseason series continues our trip through the Greater Savannah classifications with the GHSA Class 5A and 4A teams.
Photos courtesy Lens By Shaunce on Instagram
Follow Prep Sports Report on X @PrepSav and Instagram @savannahsportsreport.
To share scores, story ideas, or corrections, email kdemasi@prepsportsreport.com or text 912.507.9158.
Optim Orthopedics presents Prep Sports Report’s 2026 high school football coverage.
Optim Orthopedics wants you in the game.
Keeping Savannah-area athletes healthy and ready for gameday all season long.
Team physicians include Dr. Don Aaron (Bryan County), Dr. David Sedory (Benedictine, Bradwell Institute, Liberty County), Dr. David Palmer (Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, South Effingham), and Dr. Thomas Alexander (Savannah Country Day, St. Vincent’s Academy).
