Football is back for real this time. Turn the lights on!
No more Media Days. No more preseason talk or previews. No more scrimmages.
It's Week 1: the lights are on around the Coastal Empire, and now we're starting to find out who has what.
Calvary Day got us started Thursday night with a 49-22 win over Glynn Academy, scoring 42 unanswered points.
Now it's everybody else's turn.
We've got Savannah rivalry games, some tough road trips and a few matchups that may tell us a whole lot before we even get to Week 2.
Here's what the Prep Sports Report (PSR) is watching tonight.
THE PREP SPORTS REPORT’S WEEK 1 OUTLOOK
All Friday games kick off at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
THURSDAY, AUG. 20
Calvary Day 49, Glynn Academy 22 — FINAL
Well, the Cavaliers didn't waste any time, rallying from a 22-7 deficit by scoring 42 unanswered points. That's certainly one way to get everybody's attention in Week 1.
FRIDAY, AUG. 21
Effingham County at Richmond Hill
Here we go right out of the gate. Effingham is coming off a nine-win season, and Richmond Hill has made the jump to Class 7A, so which team makes the first statement in 2026? Does Rebels head coach John Ford have his team ready to take on Matt LeZotte's Wildcats in the Hill?
New Hampstead at Bradwell Institute
Two teams with something to prove, and we're interested to see what Bradwell looks like in John Adams' first game as the Tigers' head coach. But veteran coach Kyle Hockman will have New Hampstead ready.
Screven County at South Effingham
Coach Loren Purvis has liked what he's seen from his Mustangs during the preseason; now comes the part that counts: a real game in the Corral.
Toombs County at Benedictine — Memorial Stadium
Talk about jumping right into the fire with two teams that finished as state runners-up last season. Benedictine gets a tough Toombs County team in Week 1, so we're going to find out pretty quickly what these Cadets have. Coach Danny Britt doesn't shy away from playing the best, and he's doing it again right out of the gate.
Islands at Groves — Garden City Stadium
Somebody gets to start 1-0, and for two Savannah programs looking to take a step forward, that's a good reason to pay attention. Coach Perry has a year under his belt with the Sharks, while Howard Jordan leads Groves onto the field for his first game as a head coach.
Jenkins at Lowndes
Want to know what you've got? Play Lowndes in Valdosta; Tony Welch and the Warriors aren't exactly easing their way into 2026 as they have done since Welch took over the Warriors.
Liberty County at Wayne County
Tony Glazer has experience back at Liberty County, but taking the Panthers into Jesup on opening night will tell us a whole lot about this group. Wayne County wants to get back to its celebrated winning ways.
Beach at Windsor Forest — Islands Stadium
You know Savannah likes the city rivalry games. Beach against Windsor Forest, Willie Martin making his head-coaching debut with the Knights, and veteran Michael Thompson on the other sideline with the Bulldogs. Oh yeah, Savannah bragging rights are already on the line.
NOTE: This is the PSR game of the Week
Treutlen at Bryan County
Bryan County gets to open at home, and this is Coach Freeman's first chance to show what kind of football team the Redskins are going to be in 2026.
Savannah Christian at Athens Academy
Baker Woodward's Raiders aren't taking the easy road to start the season, with a long road trip to Athens Academy that should give us a good early read on Savannah Christian.
Johnson at Savannah High — Savannah High Stadium
Nothing complicated about this one: two Savannah teams, one stadium and one of them is walking out Friday night 1-0. Both coaches say their teams are improved. Friday night, we get to see for ourselves
Northwood Academy at Bethesda Academy
Bethesda put 55 points on the board against Frederica Academy last week, so the question is pretty simple: Can Coach Turner's Blazers keep it rolling?
Savannah Country Day at Bluffton
Coach Blackmore’s Hornets took one on the chin against Strong Rock last week, 27-0, and now we find out how this young group responds across the river in Bluffton.
Hilton Head Prep at St. Andrew's — 7 p.m.
Another Coastal Empire-Lowcountry matchup, and the Lions, led by Coach Worthington, get an early opportunity to make a statement on their new home field in the Lion's Den.
WEEK 1 TAKE
This is why we love Week 1.
We can talk about returning starters. We can talk about rankings. We can talk about who looked good in practice and who won the offseason. Now the games count for real; every one of them matters when it comes to the postseason rankings.
But we don't know yet.
Friday night starts giving us some answers.
Who surprises us?
Who gets that big road win?
And who's the player we're all talking about Saturday morning?
Turn on those Friday night lights.
High school football is back in the Coastal Empire.
You gotta love it!
Week 1 Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 20
Calvary Day 49, Glynn Academy 22
Friday, Aug. 21
Effingham County at Richmond Hill
New Hampstead at Bradwell
Screven County at South Effingham
Toombs County at Benedictine (MS)
Islands at Groves (GS)
Jenkins at Lowndes
Liberty County at Wayne County
Beach at Windsor Forest (IS)
Treutlen at Bryan County
Savannah Christian at Athens Academy
Johnson at Savannah High (SHS)
Northwood Academy at Bethesda
Savannah Country Day at Bluffton
Hilton Head Prep at St. Andrew's, 7 p.m.
STADIUM KEY
GS ― Groves Stadium
IS ― Islands Stadium
MS ― Memorial Stadium
PS ― Pooler Stadium
SHS ― Savannah High Stadium
Photos courtesy of Calvary Day School Athletic Department 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).
