We’ve made our way through the classifications, and now we’re down to Class 3A and 2A for the final part of our 2026 Greater Savannah football preview.
And there are some good storylines here.
Beach finally got back into the playoffs last season. Now the question is whether Mike Thompson and the Bulldogs can build on it.
At Johnson, Stephen Smith believes this could be the year the Atomsmashers get over the hump. And over at Islands, Rusty Perry has 75 kids out for football and a lot of experience coming back.
Then we get to Class 2A.
This is the one that a lot of people are interested in
Calvary Day won 12 games last season. Jason Cameron is excited about his squads togetherness. Savannah Christian's Baker Woodward is always in the conversation. He feels his players have embraced the discipline that will win games. Bryan County has a young football team that Cherard Freeman likes. And Moses Green keeps telling us Savannah High is a different program.
Best part?
Those four are in the same region.
Calvary. Savannah Christian. Bryan County. Savannah High.
They’re going to settle a lot of this on the field.
So here we go — Part IV and the final stop in the 2026 Prep Sports Report football capsules: Class 3A and Class 2A.
GHSA CLASS 3A
A.E. BEACH
Mascot: Bulldogs
Location: Savannah
Coach: Michael “Mike” Thompson
Record at school: 13-38
Career record: 116-69-1
2025 Team Record: 5-6
Key returning players:
QB Jayvion Williams; RB/MLB Jordan Newton; DE Kywan Phillips. Thompson also mentioned Dionte Riley and several junior linemen, but their names are not transcribed clearly enough to list confidently.
In your opinion, what will be the biggest key to your squad's success this season, both on and off the field?
Doing the little things and “respect the grind.” Thompson tied those details to the locker room, program expectations and life beyond football.
Any other information you may want the public to know about your team:
Thompson said Beach wants to sustain the program's progress and build on last season rather than look back.
2026 Schedule
Aug. 21 — Windsor Forest (IS)
Sept. 3, Thursday — Groves (IS)
Sept. 11 — Long County (GS)
Sept. 18 — at Toombs County *
Sept. 25 — Islands * (MS)
Oct. 2 — at Pierce County *
Oct. 9 — Appling County * (GS)
Oct. 23 — at Tattnall County *
Oct. 30 — Johnson * (SHS)
Nov. 6 — Brantley County * (SHS)
ISLANDS
Mascot: Sharks
Location: Savannah
Coach: Russell “Rusty” Perry
Record at school: 1-9
Career record: 1-9
2025 Team Record: 1-6
Key returning players:
QB Mason McLaughlin; TE Michael Cooler; LB Jackson Tripp; DB Andrew Davis.
Who are key players new to the 2026 team (positions, first name, last name)?
CB Wyatt Balsamo.
In your opinion, what will be the biggest key for your team's success this season, both on and off the field?
Consistency.
Any other information you may want the public to know about your team:
“We have a lot of returning starters on both sides of the ball.”
Perry said at Media Day that the Sharks return all of their offensive linemen and considerable experience on both sides of the football. Junior running backs Parker Woods and Nathan Tulloch are being counted on to replace production in the backfield, and Perry described both as more explosive.
Islands also had 75 players out for football, which Perry pointed to as evidence of the culture and standards being built in the program.
2026 Schedule
Aug. 21 — at Groves (GS)
Aug. 28 — Savannah High (IS)
Sept. 4 — Bryan County (IS)
Sept. 18 — at Brantley County *
Sept. 25 — at Beach * (MS)
Oct. 2 — Tattnall County * (IS)
Oct. 16 — Toombs County * (IS)
Oct. 23 — at Appling County *
Oct. 30 — at Pierce County *
Nov. 6 — Johnson * (IS)
Sol C. JOHNSON
Mascot: Atomsmashers
Location: Savannah
Coach: Stephen Smith
Record at school: 2-8
Career record: 8-22
2025 Team Record: 2-7
Key returning players:
QB Shamari King; RB Jamal Chaplin; LB Immanuel Smith; OL Elijah Brown; OL Dontae Boston; DE Marquis Cooks; DB Kaeden Moore; CB Zaevon Gray.
Who are key players new to the 2026 team (positions, first name, last name)?
WR/DB Maurice Knight Jr.; ATH Jayden Young; WR Rahjon Reddick; TE/DE Thomas Williams.
In your opinion, what will be the biggest key for your team's success this season, both on and off the field?
“Our biggest key to success will be discipline. Over the last 3 years, our players have taken accountability for the lack of discipline they display in big moments. As a staff, we've focused on early conditioning so the latter part of practice is our players overcoming the mental anguish of fatigue. We have tried to tackle the problem head on but we will only know if it was successful on Friday nights. The program has made strides in preparing our players to be more disciplined on and off the field.”
Any other information you may want the public to know about your team:
“We believe that this is the season to get over the hump and into the playoffs. We have a competitive region with some blue chip programs that will see where this team can go. The players this season look forward to being able to play programs that have a history they aspire to make at Johnson.”
Johnson Schedule
Aug. 21 — at Savannah High (SHS)
Aug. 28 — at South Effingham
Sept. 4 — Liberty County (GS)
Sept. 18 — at Pierce County *
Sept. 25 — at Tattnall County *
Oct. 2 — Appling County (SHS) *
Oct. 9 — Brantley County * (SHS)
Oct. 23 — at Toombs County *
Oct. 30 — Beach * (SHS)
Nov. 6 — at Islands * (IS)
GHSA CLASS 2A
BRYAN COUNTY
Mascot: Redskins
Location: Pembroke
Head coach: Cherard Freeman
Record at school/years: 30-33/seventh season
Overall coaching record/years: 56-90/15
2025 overall/region records: 5-5/4-4 Region 3-A D2
Key returning players: LB/G Corey Collier, sr.; QB Jamariyan Cosey, so.; OLB Gunner Ennis, jr.; OT Alex Wells, sr.; TE/LB Jonah Broce, sr.
Key losses: G Nathan Long, RB/DB Gerbravion Collins, RB/LB Anddreas McKinney
Key new players: RB Kameron Joyner, fr.; DB Anthony King, so.; OLB Knari Dixon, jr.; OT Reese Smith, sr.
Coach’s quote: “Wins and losses will come from this summer. We have a good turnout at summer workouts. We are young, but I am eager about this football team.” – Bryan County coach Cherard Freeman.
2026 Schedule
Aug. 21 — Treutlen
Aug. 28 — at Portal
Sept. 4 — at Islands
Sept. 18 — Windsor Forest
Sept. 25 — at Warren County
Oct. 2 — Screven County *
Oct. 9 — at Calvary Day *
Oct. 23 — Metter *
Oct. 30 — at Savannah Christian (PS) *
Nov. 6 — Savannah High *
*Region 3-2A game
CALVARY DAY
Mascot: Cavaliers
Location: Savannah
Head coach: Jason Cameron
Record at school/years: 12-2/second season
Overall coaching record/years: 61-24/seven
2025 overall/region records: 12-2/8-1 Region 3-3A
Key returning players: QB James Mobley IV, WR Marlon Knight, WR Jalen Hicks, WR Ty Pinkney, WR Lavon Owens, OL Elijah Keefer, OL Lawson Bentley, RB Ca’Den Jones, RB Zay Middleton, TE Jon Perry, DL Jeffrey McCormick, DL Buddy Curry, DL Elisha Williams, LB Kenneth Baker, LB Gabe Ausfeld, DB Emerson Lewis, DB Brexton Bell, DB Deshawn Wylie, DB Justin Washington
Key losses: DL Jay Varner, OL John Swindell, OL Carson Dean, OL Bryson Terry, DB Scotty Walker
Coach’s quote: “We will continue to build upon our culture off the field. We feel a team that is bonded and loves each other is hard to beat! Our motto is: Sacrifice ME for YOU!” – CDS coach Jason Cameron.
2026 Schedule
Aug. 20, Thursday — at Glynn Academy
Aug. 28 — Jenkins
Sept. 4 — St. Pius X
Sept. 11 — at Ambassador Christian (N.C.)
Sept. 25 — Rockdale County
Oct. 2 — at Metter *
Oct. 9 — Bryan County *
Oct. 23 — at Savannah High *
Oct. 30 — Screven County *
Nov. 6 — Savannah Christian *
*Region 3-2A
SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN
Mascot: Raiders
Location: Savannah
Head coach: Baker Woodward
Record at school/years: 74-25/ninth season
Overall coaching record/years: 74-25/eight
2025 overall/region records: 7-5/3-1 Region 3-A D1
Key returning players: RB Wesley Dinkins, RB Landon Tyson, WR William Bucey, WR Cain Tomlin, WR/DB CamRon Yeldell, Jet Ayala, King Long, and Gavin Guevara; DL Christian Robinson, DL Jalen Wright, DL RJ Daniels; LB Ivyn Richardson, DR Jameer Jackson, DB Colt Harper; K/P Karson Leake; QB Caden Godbee
Key losses: QB Blaise Thomas, WR Weston Hughes, LB Christian Beard, LB John Gross, DB Athen Hudspeth, OL/JT Howell, OL Davian Melton
Key new player: LB Aiden Frazier
Coach’s quote: “Our success will come down to discipline. We believe talented teams win games, but disciplined teams win championships. Our players have embraced a culture of accountability, hard work and putting the team first. If we continue to play physical football, protect the football, excel on special teams and trust each other to do their jobs, we'll put ourselves in position to have another successful season.” – SCPS coach Baker Woodward.
2026 Schedule
Aug. 21 — at Athens Academy
Aug. 28 — Bethesda (PS)
Sept. 4 — at Glynn Academy
Sept. 11— Fellowship Christian (PS)
Sept. 18 — at Savannah Country Day
Oct. 1, Thursday — at Savannah High*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 — Metter (PS) *
Oct. 23 — at Screven County *
Oct. 30 — Bryan County (PS) *
Nov. 6 — at Calvary Day (PS) *
*Region 3-2A game
SAVANNAH
Mascot: Blue Jackets
Location: Savannah
Coach: Moses Green
Record at school: 1-8
Career record: 1-8
2025 Team Record: 1-8
Key returning players:
RB/S Kingston Thomas; WR/S Tereen Johnson; DE/TE Quashawn Harley; QB Romelo Milton; OL Deral Mitchell; OL Javion Murphy; LB Kevon Smith; LB Micah Frieson.
Thomas, Johnson and Harley were the three seniors Green brought to Media Day. Milton gained starting experience at quarterback late last season, while Green identified Mitchell and Murphy as key pieces of a young offensive line.
In your opinion, what will be the biggest key for your team's success this season, both on and off the field?
“Big thing discipline.”
Green said doing the little things when they are supposed to be done and how they are supposed to be done will have a major effect on whether Savannah High wins or loses.
Any other information you may want the public to know about your team:
Green wants people to recognize that Savannah High is “a whole different program.” He said he is not simply stressing wins and losses; he wants people to see that something is different about the Blue Jackets.
2026 Schedule
Aug. 21 — Johnson (SHS)
Aug. 28 — at Islands (IS)
Sept. 4 — at Appling County
Sept. 11 — at Tattnall County
Sept. 25 — Claxton (SHS)
Oct. 1, Thursday— Savannah Christian * (SHS), 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 — at Screven County *
Oct. 23 — Calvary Day * (SHS)
Oct. 30 — at Metter *
Nov. 6 — at Bryan County *
STADIUM KEY
GS ― Groves Stadium
IS ― Islands Stadium
MS ― Memorial Stadium
PS ― Pooler Stadium
SHS ― Savannah High Stadium
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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).
