IWho's back, who's not? Savannah Football's New Regions and its Game Week! The yearly high school football capsules from The Prep Sports Report have been finalized. They contain school details, the coach's perspective, and the latest individual school schedules (including date, day, opponent, location, and start time) for the 21 high school football teams in the Savannah Area.
The Georgia High School Association approved new reclassifications and region alignments this Year. All teams are participating in the latest classifications of this two-year commitment, and some Savannah area football teams are familiar with their new regions and opponents. In contrast, teams will not know their opponents. The local Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA) regions and the South Carolina Independent Schools Association (SCISA) stayed the same. This Year, the capsules will again be presented as a three-part series.
PART 1 – A.E. Beach High School (3-3A), Calvary Day School (3-3A), Robert W. Groves High School (3-3A), Islands High School (3-3A), H.V. Jenkins High School (3-3A), Sol C. Johnson High School (3-3A), Liberty County High School (3-3A), Windsor Forest High School (3-3A)
Click on this link for Part 1 Capsules.
PART 2 – GHSA Class 4A - Benedictine Military School (3-4A), New Hampstead High School (3-4A), Bryan County High School (A-D2-Region-3), Savannah High School (A-D2-Region 3), Memorial Day School (GIAA 8-Man Region 2), St. Andrew's School (GIAA AAAA/AAA District 2), Bethesda Academy (SCISA Class A.A.)
Click on this link for Part 2 Capsules.
PART 3 - GHSA Class 5A - Richmond Hill High School (1-6A), Bradwell (1-5A), Effingham County High School (1-5A), South Effingham (1-5A, Savannah Christin Preparatory School (3-A DI), Savannah Country Day (3-A DI).
School: Richmond Hill High School
Mascot: Wildcats
Location: Richmond Hill
Head coach: Matt LeZotte
Record at school/years: 9 Years / 51-46
Overall coaching record/years: 79-62 / 15 years
2022 overall/region records: 5-6, 1st Round Loss to Grayson HS
Key returning players: QB Kirk Scott; Ath Caleb Easterling, Brandon McDonald; RB Josh Ulrich-Troupe; OL Thomas Zimbalatti, Ho'o Naki, Cam'ron Jackson, Brody Miller, Billy Meadows; DL – Tad Christman; LB Gabe Bauman, Lee Johnson, DB Aiden Grant
Key losses: Athlele Nick Bliss
2024 outlook: "After returning 20 returning starters off of a 2023 campaign that ended with a 1st round loss to Grayson HS, Richmond Hill is poised and experienced ready to make waves through the new 6A classification. Competing in the highest classification against the best teams in the state has allowed us to push our preparation to the max and truly develop some of the best high school players in the area." Richmond Hill coach Matt LeZotte
SCHEDULE
Aug. 23 at Glynn Academy
Aug. 30 vs. Everglades, FL
Sept. 6 at New Hampstead (P)
Sept. 13 vs. Wayne County
Sept. 20 vs. Buchholz, FL
Sept. 27 vs. Tift County*
Oct. 4 at Camden County*
Oct. 11 vs. Valdosta*
Oct. 25 at Lowndes*
Nov. 1 at Colquitt County*
*Region game
School: Bradwell Institue
Mascot: Tigers
Location: Hinesville
Head coach: Deshon Brock
Record at school/years: 4-25/4
Overall coaching record/years: 37-36/8
2023 overall/region records: 3-7/1-4 Region 1-5A
Key returning players: Ath-Tyon Jones, RB Wade Cobb, OL Joseph Morris, QB Carlito Savea, TE-Braelon Brock, LB Dayvion Tillman, DE Dominic Manzanares, NG Earl McCray, LB Kevin Ford, Jabarri Neal
Key losses: Elyjah Thurmon, Chris Garrett, Bryant Thomas, Jahzyah Thomas, AJ Wathour, Noah Quarles, Jordan Williams
Coaches Quote: "We return a good core group of upperclassmen coming off last season that did not meet our expectations as a program. We have a lot of sophomores who will be stepping into major roles this season, and I feel like they are ready for that challenge. This group of young men have worked extremely hard this off season and we look forward to playing our first game on August 16th vs Liberty County." - Bradwell Institue coach DeShon Brock
2024 Schedule
Aug. 16 vs. Liberty County
Aug. 23 at Westover (M)
Sept. 6 at Glynn Academy*
Sept. 13 vs. Effingham County*
Sept. 20 at Statesboro*
Sept. 27 vs. Greenbrier*
Oct. 4 vs. Brunswick*
Oct. 18 vs. South Effingham*
Oct. 25 at Lakeside, Evans*
Nov. 1 at Evans*
*Region game
School: Effingham County High School
Mascot: Rebels
Location: Springfield, Georgia
Head coach: John Ford
Overall coaching record/years: 81-29/10
2023 overall/region record 7-4/ 6-0 Region 2-6A, won the region title
Key returning players: All of them
Coaches Quote: "Effingham won the region last Year for the first time in 28 years but isn't dwelling on that with a challenging 2024 schedule. A non-region slate that includes Houston County and New Hampstead before diving into the challenging Region 1-5A, Effingham must work daily to avoid slipping up. There will be no easy outs this fall for the rebels." - Effingham coach John Ford.
SCHEDULE
Aug. 23 at Houston County
Aug. 30 vs. New Hampstead
Sept. 6 vs. Brunswick*
Sept. 13 at Bradwell Institute*
Sept. 20 vs. South Effingham*
Sept. 27 at Lakeside, Evans*
Oct. 10 at Evans*
Oct. 18 at Greenbrier*
Oct. 25 vs. Glynn Academy*
Nov. 1 vs. Statesboro*
*Region game
School: South Effingham
Mascot: Mustangs
Location: Guyton, Georgia
Head coach: Loren Purvis
Record at school/years: 6-4/2
Overall coaching record/years: 6-4/2
2023 overall/region records: 6-4 (2-4) Region 2 AAAAAA
Key returning players: FB/MLB Kadin Ward, Dylan Ward, MLB/RB Corbin McGuire
Key losses: QB Kaden DeGenaro, Aubrey Heath, TE/LB Jeremiah Washington, WR/DB Ashton Troutman
Coaches Quote: "Tougher region and tougher schedule than last season. Bringing back three starters on either side of the ball makes the early season tough and important for learning. Lacking in experience but not in talent. We hope to build on the first winning season in a few years around here." - South Effingham coach Loren Purvis.
Schedule
Aug. 16 at New Hampstead (P)
Aug. 30 vs. Toombs County
Sept. 13 at Lakeside, Evans*
Sept. 20 at Effingham County*
Sept. 27 vs. Evans*
Oct. 4 at Greenbrier
Oct. 10 vs. Glynn Academy*
Oct. 18 at Bradwell Institute*
Oct. 25 vs. Statesboro*
Nov. 1 vs. Brunswick*
*Region game
School: Savannah Christian Preparatory School
Mascot: Raiders
Location: Savannah
Head coach: Baker Woodward
Record at school/years: 57-19/6
Overall coaching record/years: 57-19 as a head coach/6
2023 overall/region records: 12-3 region runner-up and State runner up in 3AAA
Key returning players: Offense: Jordan Dillon OL, JT Howell OL, Luke Gunn
OL, Davion Melton OL, Zo Smalls RB, Kenry Wall WR, Logan Brooking TE,
Blaise Thomas QB
Defense: Elijah Griffin DT, LaDamion Guyton Edge, Isaiah Redmond DT, Jaden
Miles MLB, Reid Penrose LB, Athen Hudspeth S
Key losses: David Bucey, Jamari McIvory, Tyson Gross, Noah Lewis, and Noah
Stone.
2024 outlook: "We always have big expectations at Savannah Christian. If all 51 players on our team buy into our 2024 motto of ONE WAY (TOGETHER), then we will be highly successful not only in football but in life." - Savannah Christian coach Baker Woodward.
SCHEDULE
Aug. 16 vs. Whitefield Academy (P)
Aug. 23 vs. New Hampstead (P)
Aug. 30 vs. Providence Christian (P)
Sept. 5 vs. Oceanside Collegiate, SC (P) 7 p.m.
Sept. 13 at Fellowship Christian
Sept. 27 at Blessed Trinity
Oct. 4 at Savannah Country Day*
Oct. 11 vs. Vidalia (P)*
Oct. 25 at Swainsboro*
Nov. 1 vs. Toombs County (P)*
*Region game
School: Savannah Country Day School
Mascot: Hornets
Location: Savannah
Head coach: Roc Batten
Record at school/years: 0-0/1
Overall coaching record/years: 96-51
2022 overall/region records: 7-4/5-2 Region 3-3A
Key players: OL/DL Andrew Nicholson, LB/TE Tyler Scott, QB/DB Barton Mixon, RB/DB Jerimiah Brown, TE/DE Brooks Kleinpeter, WR/DB Gabe McDaniels, WR/DB Andrew Wynn, RB/OLB Hyers Holland, OL/DL Campbell Highsmith, WR/DB Jackson Day, LB/OLB Hayes Beaver, OL/DL Boone Wiesner, RBOLB Najee Young, OL/DL JT Hill, DB/WR Noah Buchannan, QB Isaiah Batten, RB/OLB Aiden Frazier, WR/DB Ben Kleinpeter, OL/DL Wells Headly, WR/DB Peyton Bean
Key losses: Keith James, Rooster Bing, Athon Herrin, Deanre Jackson, Carson Cook
Coaches Quote: "We have a great group of senior and junior leaders, and the team is invested in working each day to improve and have success this season. We are in a new region and looking forward to the challenge of a tough schedule and to represent our school and community the right way. Our team strength with be relying on our ten seniors to guide our team" – Savannah Country Day coach Roc Batten
SCHEDULE
Aug. 16 at Charlotte Country Day, NC
Aug. 23 at Athens Academy
Aug. 30 at Porter Gaud, SC
Sept. 6 vs. Bluffton, SC
Sept. 20 at Tattnall County
Oct. 4 vs. Savannah Christian*
Oct. 11 at Swainsboro*
Oct. 18 vs. Toombs County*
Oct. 25 vs. Episcopal School, FL
Nov. 1 at Vidalia*
*Region game
PHOTO CREDIT: Georgia High School Helmet Project, Kyunnie Shuman (RDP Productions) and school websites
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Optim Orthopedics generously sponsors Prep Sports Report football coverage!
Optim Orthopedics is a familiar face on Savannah's prep sports scene, extending their support from the gridiron to the court. Their dedication to local athletes goes beyond logos, offering crucial medical support to nine powerhouse high schools:
- Dr. Don Aaron: Bryan County Middle/High School
- Dr. David Sedory: Benedictine Military, Bradwell Institute, Liberty County
- Dr. David Palmer: Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, South Effingham
- Dr. Thomas Alexander: Savannah Country Day, St. Vincent's
As Southeast leaders in fellowship-trained orthopedic surgery, Optim Orthopedics proudly sponsors the Prep Sports Report. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game!
