The Georgia High School Association approved changes to its classification and region alignments beginning this fall around the state. Many Savannah area football teams will be playing in new classifications (1A-7A) and/or new regions beginning in August with the start of the 2022 GHSA football season.
Throughout this three-part series, Prep Sports Report is taking a look at every area team’s schedule for this season, including highlights and key notes to know this year. Here’s the breakdown of the series:
PART 1 – Bryan County (3-A); Savannah High (3-A); Windsor Forest (3-2A); Jenkins (1-5A); Effingham (2-6A); South Effingham (2-6A); Richmond Hill (1-7A)
PART 2 – Calvary Day (3-3A); Savannah Christian (3-3A); Savannah Country Day (3-3A); Johnson (3-3A); Groves (3-3A); Beach (3-3A)
PART 3 – Benedictine (3-4A); New Hampstead (3-4A); Islands (3-4A); Memorial Day School (GISA); St. Andrew’s (GISA); Bethesda Academy (SCISA)
BRYAN COUNTY (Region 3-A)
The Redskins went 3-7 (2-5 in region 3-A Public) last season in what turned out to be a positive rebuilding season for the program in Pembroke.
Rising junior Austin Clemens should lead the Bryan County offense in 2022 after rushing for 398 yards and five touchdowns last season as a sophomore.
Aug. 19 at Lincoln County
Aug. 26 Treutlen
Sept. 2 at Wheeler County
Sept. 16 Portal
Sept. 23 Telfair County
Sept. 30 at Montgomery County
Oct. 7 Metter*
Oct. 14 at Screven County*
Oct. 28 Savannah*
Nov. 4 at Claxton*
SAVANNAH HIGH (Region 3-A)
Head coach Michael Moore and the Blue Jackets posted a record of 2-8 (1-5 in region 3-3A) last year playing in Class 3A. Now, Savannah High will drop down two classes to play in Region 3-A alongside Claxton, Metter, Screven County and Bryan County. Savannah High and the Savannah Chatham County Public School System will open its brand new $5.3 million stadium located on its Pennsylvania Avenue campus on August 19th for the season opener with Josey High School.
Aug. 19 Josey
Aug. 26 Richmond Academy
Sept. 2 Groves
Sept. 9 at Butler
Sept. 16 at Cross Creek
Sept. 23 at Bulloch Academy
Oct. 7 Claxton*
Oct. 14 at Metter*
Oct. 21 Screven County*
Oct. 28 at Bryan County*
WINDSOR FOREST (Region 3-2A)
The Knights were a dangerous team last season in Region 3-3A, going to the state playoffs with a veteran club and finishing with a record of 4-5 overall and 3-2 within the region. This season, Windsor Forest plays in region 3-2A with the likes of Appling County, Brantley County, Pierce County, Tattnall County, Toombs County and Vidalia.
Aug. 19 Savannah Country Day
Aug. 26 New Hampstead
Sept. 2 Johnson
Sept. 9 at Islands
Sept. 23 at Vidalia*
Sept. 30 at Tattnall County*
Oct. 7 Brantley County*
Oct. 14 Appling County*
Oct. 21 at Pierce County*
Oct. 28 Toombs County*
JENKINS (Region 1-5A)
The Warriors (6-5, 2-1 region 3-4A in 2021) exit region 3-4A in favor of moving up one class to region 1-5A this year. HVJ will battle with other 1-5A schools for state playoff seeding all season, but Jenkins is the lone Savannah area team in the region. Region 1-5A includes Jenkins, Bradwell Institute, Coffee County, Greenbrier, Statesboro and Ware County.
Aug. 19 at Benedictine
Aug. 26 Bluffton (SC) High School
Sept. 2 at Richmond Hill
Sept. 16 at Carrollton
Sept. 23 Wayne County
Oct. 7 at Ware County*
Oct. 14 Greenbrier*
Oct. 21 Coffee*
Oct. 28 at Bradwell Institute*
Nov. 4 Statesboro*
EFFINGHAM COUNTY (Region 2-6A)
Effingham remains in Class 6A and will play alongside its rival South Effingham in Region 2-6A. The Rebels went 6-4 (4-2) last season, reaching the Class 6A state playoffs as the region’s four-seed. Ashley Thompson returns as the receiver/safety should be one of the area’s top two-way players this fall.
Aug. 19 at Richmond Hill
Aug. 26 at Burke County
Sept. 2 at Statesboro
Sept. 9 Southeast Bulloch
Sept. 23 South Effingham*
Sept. 30 at Glynn Academy*
Oct. 7 Grovetown*
Oct. 14 Evans*
Oct. 28 at Lakeside, Evans*
Nov. 4 at Brunswick*
SOUTH EFFINGHAM (Region 2-6A)
The Mustangs (2-8, 1-5 in 2021) look to bounce back from a rough year last season and they’ll hope to make it back to the GHSA state playoffs again this year. Justin Martell returns as the rising senior caught two touchdown passes last year. He and quarterback Kaden De Genaro will look to pick up the slack after Cameron Edwards graduated following a senior season in which he rushed for 1,093 yards.
Aug. 19 at Vidalia
Sept. 2 at Islands
Sept. 9 Bradwell Institute
Sept. 23 at Effingham County
Sept. 30 at Screven County
Oct. 7 Glynn Academy*
Oct. 14 Lakeside, Evans*
Oct. 21 Brunswick*
Oct. 28 at Grovetown*
Nov. 4 at Evans*
RICHMOND HILL (Region 1-7A)
Moving up to the highest classification in the GHSA, head coach Matt LeZotte and the Wildcats will be playing against some of the state’s best football teams beginning in 2022. Richmond Hill finished 4-6 (4-2) in 2021, reaching the Class 6A state playoffs. Returning this season will be one of the area’s top sophomores in Caleb Easterling (five rushing TD’s as a freshman) and rising senior quarterback Ty Goldrick (10 passing TD’s, 10 interceptions as a junior).
The region 1-7A teams are: Richmond Hill, Valdosta, Lowndes County, Colquitt County and Camden County.
Aug. 19 Effingham County
Aug. 26 at Ware County
Sept. 2 Jenkins
Sept. 10 at Baker County
Sept. 16 New Hampstead
Sept. 23 at Coffee
Oct. 7 Camden County*
Oct. 14 at Valdosta*
Oct. 28 at Lowndes*
Nov. 4 Colquitt County*
FOLLOW Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
Optim Orthopedics supports Benedictine Military School, Calvary Day School, Richmond Hill High School, Savannah Country Day, South Effingham High School, and St. Vincent's athletics. Benedictine Military School's team doctor is Dr. David Sedory. The team doctor for Calvary Day School, South Effingham, and Richmond Hill is Dr. David Palmer. Savannah Country Day and St. Vincent's team doctor is Dr. Thomas Alexander. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game!