The countdown to kickoff is over. Six Savannah-area programs — Richmond Hill, Bradwell Institute, Effingham County, South Effingham, Benedictine, and New Hampstead — open the 2025 season with high expectations, fresh rosters, and a gauntlet of challenging schedules.
At Richmond Hill, 11th-year head coach Matt LeZotte returns a veteran core led by quarterback Gunner Mobley and two-way playmaker Amire Miller. The Wildcats, coming off a 7-3 season, open Aug. 22 at home against Glynn Academy before a non-region trip to Florida power Buchholz in September. “The selflessness our guys show… that’s going to be the difference,” LeZotte said.
In Hinesville, Bradwell Institute eyes improvement after a 2-8 campaign. Transfer quarterback Jah’Barri Felix joins a backfield featuring Wade Cobb and athlete Jacobi Pasley. Coach Deshon Brock stressed discipline as the Tigers’ top priority.
Effingham County is fresh off a playoff berth, returning QB Tucker Perkins and a deep backfield. Coach John Ford praised his team’s “togetherness, perseverance, and toughness.” Rival South Effingham hopes culture change fuels a turnaround from last year’s winless season, with tight end/linebacker Corey Woods leading the way.
In Region 1-4A, Benedictine reloads behind Texas Tech QB commit Stephen Cannon and defensive anchor Kameron Cody. Coach Danny Britt noted health and development in inexperienced groups as key. New Hampstead, under veteran coach Kyle Hockman, welcomes a new-look defense and explosive athletes like Khamari Smart.
Opening night is set for Aug. 15, when South Effingham hosts New Hampstead and Benedictine travels to Colquitt County. The march to the postseason begins now. For full team-by-team breakdowns, schedules, and coach perspectives, read the complete capsules below.
GHSA Region 1 – 6A
Richmond Hill
Mascot: Wildcats
Location: Richmond Hill
Head coach: Matt LeZotte
Record at school/years: 58-49/11th season
Overall coaching record/years: 86-65/14
2024 overall/region records: 7-3/2-3
Key returning players: QB Gunner Mobley, RB/OLB Amire Miller, WR/CB Eli Grant, WR/DB Marquis Muhammad, WR/QB Nick Swain, WR/RB/DB DJ Porter, WR Nick Cameron, S/P Walter Pugh, OLB Cannon Kuryla, DL Trey Brown, OL/DL Jack Sampsell, FB/DT Jaleal Barnard, LB Jaylon Deal, LB Layton Steigelman, OL Connor Peltier
Key losses: LB Gabe Bauman, LB Lee Johnson, QB Kirk Scott, RB Joshua Ulrich-Troupe, RB/WR Caleb Easterling, OL Hookipaaloha Naki, OL Thomas Zimbalatti, OL Brody Miller, OL Billy Meadows
Coach’s quote: “The selflessness our guys show with the discipline. They show up and they prepare – that’s going to be the difference between us having a shot to win some games. We play a really schedule and a tough non-region schedule. Buchholz was a semifinalist in Florida last year. They’re always good. We’re going down to Gainesville this year. Glynn Academy plays for their region championship every single year. We’ve got our hands full. Everybody likes to talk about how difficult their schedules and regions are. It is what it is, right? You’ve got to take what you’ve got and go play those games.” – Richmond Hill coach Matt LeZotte
2025 schedule
Aug. 22 — Glynn Academy
Aug. 29 — Everglades, FL
Sept. 5 — New Hampstead
Sept. 12 — at Wayne County
Sept. 19 — at Buchholtz (Gainesville, Fla.)
Sept. 26 — at Tift County*
Oct. 3 — Camden County*
Oct. 10 — at Valdosta*
Oct. 24 — Lowndes*
Oct. 31 — Colquitt County*
*Region game
GHSA Region 1-5A
Bradwell Institute
Mascot: Tigers
Location: Hinesville
Head coach: Deshon Brock
Record at school/years: 6-33/fifth season
Overall coaching record/years: 39-44/8
2024 overall/region records: 2-8/1-7
Key returning players: RB Wade Cobb, ATH Jacobi Pasley, ATH Carlito Savea, DL Jerome Delaney, CB Danyzion Cobb, DB Khamari Griffin. (Plus QB Jah’Barri Felix, a transfer from Liberty County.)
Key losses: WR Tyon Jones, TE Braelon Brock, DE TJ Tigner, DE Dominic Manzanares
Coach’s quote: “A renewed focus to the minor things, (be) a more disciplined team in all three phases of the game.” – Bradwell Institute coach Deshon Brock
2025 schedule
Aug. 15 — at Liberty County
Aug. 22 — Westover
Sept. 5 — Glynn Academy*
Sept. 12 — at Effingham County*
Sept. 19 — Statesboro*
Sept. 26 — at Greenbrier*
Oct. 3 — at Brunswick*
Oct. 17 — at South Effingham*
Oct. 24 — Lakeside-Evans*
Oct. 31 — Evans*
*Region game
Effingham County
Mascot: Rebels
Location: Springfield
Head coach: John Ford
Record at school/years: 26-17/fifth season
Overall coaching record/years: 87-34/10
2024 overall/region records: 6-5/6-2
Key returning players: QB Tucker Perkins, RB/S J’Mere Doe-Davis, RB/SB Jr McKenzie, OT Tau Quarterman, OG/OT/DE Darnell Washington, WR Trayvis Hunter, C Landyn Ringnalda, DE Landon Carter, TE/OLB Duff Davis, QB/CB Kris Swinney, RB/FS Daimir Hicks. (Plus safety Jernard Albright, who sat out the 2024 season after a transfer from Savannah Country Day.)
Key losses: WR/FS Ryan Wells, TE/MLB Bryson Horton, DT Joe Polite, C/OT Josh Ford
Coach’s quote: “Togetherness, perseverance, physical and mental toughness.” – ECHS coach John Ford
2025 schedule
Aug. 22 — Houston County
Aug. 29 — at New Hampstead
Sept. 5 — at Brunswick*
Sept. 12 — Bradwell Institute*
Sept. 19 — at South Effingham*
Sept. 26 — Lakeside-Evans*
Oct. 10 — Evans*
Oct. 17 — Greenbrier*
Oct. 24 — at Glynn Academy*
Oct. 31 — at Statesboro*
*Region game
South Effingham
Mascot: Mustangs
Location: Guyton
Head coach: Loren Purvis
Record at school/years: 6-14/third season
Overall coaching record/years: 6-14/2
2024 overall/region records: 0-10/0-8
Key returning players: TE/LB Corey Woods, RB/DE/OLB Khyran White, WR/S Hayden Still, RB/DB Maddox Vasquez, FB/DL/LB Kadin Ward
Key losses: QB/LB Corbin McGuire, OLB Moose Bringer, WR/QB/FS Lawton Bowen
Coach’s quote: “There’s a much better closeness than there was last year. Nothing against that team, but they just did not care about each other as much as this team does. We’ve done a lot more team-building stuff. These guys hold a bible study every Tuesday and Thursday morning before practice. It’s incredible to watch how many kids are there for that. They’re coming together. There’s stuff that’s not necessarily related to football at all, but they’re doing it together and hanging out together. That’ll be the biggest difference in terms of wins and losses for our team from last year to this year. – South Effingham coach Loren Purvis
2025 schedule
Aug. 15 — New Hampstead
Aug. 29 — at Toombs County
Sept. 12 — Lakeside-Evans*
Sept. 19 — Effingham County*
Sept. 26 — at Evans*
Oct. 3 — Greenbrier*
Oct. 10 — at Glynn Academy*
Oct. 17 — Bradwell Institute*
Oct. 24 — at Statesboro*
Oct. 31 — at Brunswick*
*Region game
GHSA Region 1 - 4A
Benedictine
Mascot: Cadets
Location: Savannah
Head coach: Danny Britt
Record at school/years: 153-34/15th
Overall coaching record/years: 185-56/19
2024 overall/region records: 7-5/3-2 Region 1-4A
Key returning players: QB Stephen Cannon, DL Kameron Cody, DB Wyatt Estabrook, RB/WR Bubba Frazier, LB Larson Little, RB/WR Eron Mallard, RB Stanley Smart Jr., DB JoJo Sutton, WR Josh Washington, DB Micah Williams. (Plus DE LaDamion Guyton, a transfer from Savannah Christian.)
Key losses: LB Colby Brennan, K Connor Ferguson, RB/WR Jack Ganem, TE/DL John Lilly, DB Zach Maxwell, OL Lawrence Rivers, LB Third Scroggins, OL Ralph Scroggins, DL Paul Thompson, OL Jacobe Ward
Coach’s quote: “The obvious answer is staying healthy as injuries were an issue at times last season. We have a few position groups that are very talented with a lot of experience. A couple of position groups have talent but little to no experience at the varsity level. How those groups adapt and develop early in the season will go a long way in determining success in region play as well as the postseason.” – Benedictine coach Danny Britt
2025 schedule
Aug. 15 — at Colquitt County (Mack Tharpe Stadium)
Aug. 22 — Buford (MS)
Aug. 29 — at Burke County
Sept. 19 — at Westminster
Sept. 26 — at Ware County*
Oct. 3 — Warner Robins* (MS)
Oct. 17 — Wayne County* (MS)
Oct. 24 — at Perry*
Oct. 30, Thursday — at New Hampstead* (PS)
*Region game
New Hampstead
Mascot: Phoenix
Location: Bloomingdale
Head coach: Kyle Hockman
Record at school/years: 32-29/seventh season
Overall coaching record/years: 171-91/24
2024 overall/region records: 4-6/2-3
Key returning players: ATH Khamari Smart, QB Eric Hockman, WR Ben
Hockman, DL Keoni Garcia, OL Corey Smith, ATH Christian Kinlaw, DB Jaden
Caldwell.
Key losses: QB Rashawn Truell, LB Kameron Blake-Mazes, DL Shawn
Hamilton, OL Jeremiah Hart, WR Khamari Maxwell.
Coach’s quote: “Fired up and ready to go for the new season! Lots of new faces around the program that is bringing a new energy to the Phoenix Footballprogram. A new identity on defense has brought a lot of change to be excited about the coming season. Offensively, we have been experimenting with a lot of new concepts that should bring a new look to our offense, which has been putting up big numbers the past few seasons.” - New Hampstead coach Kyle Hockman
2025 schedule
Aug. 15 — at South Effingham
Aug. 22 — at Savannah Christian (PS)
Aug. 29 — Effingham County (PS)
Sept. 5 — at Richmond Hill
Sept. 11, Thursday — Pierce County (PS)
Sept. 26 — Perry (TBA) *
Oct. 3 — Ware County (TBA) *
Oct. 17 — at Warner Robins*
Oct. 24 — at Wayne County*
Oct. 30, Thursday — Benedictine* (PS), 7 p.m.
*Region game
STADIUM KEY:
DP – Daffin Park (Morris Field)
IS – Islands Stadium
GS – Groves Stadium
MS – Memorial Stadium
PS – Pooler Stadium
SH – Savannah High Stadium
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