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It’s week four of the high school football season! Region play starts for some of our teams this week, and there’s a lot at stake.

Let’s take a look at some of the area’s notable games scheduled for Friday, September 16.

SAVANNAH COUNTRY DAY (2-1) at SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN (3-0)

This region 3-3A rivalry at Pooler Stadium is the marquee game of the week as the Hornets and Raiders meet for the 36th time.

It’s the earliest in a season that SCPS and SCDS have met since playing on September 11, 2015. Country Day won the game last season, 31-24. Savannah Christian won back-to-back years in 2019 and 2020 and the two teams have split the last six games dating back to 2017. They met twice in 2019, with Country Day winning in the regular season while head coach Baker Woodward’s Raiders got even by winning the Sweet 16 playoff matchup.

The Raiders are ranked No. 10 in Class 3A this week by Georgia Public Broadcasting and No. 14 in the MaxPreps computer rankings. Head coach John Mohring’s Hornets were on a bye last week, and they’ll enter the game at No. 28 in the MaxPreps rankings. According to Georgia High School Football Daily, Savannah Christian is one of three unbeaten teams in Class 3A to not be ranked in the GHSFBD poll this week.

Neither team has beaten a ranked team yet this year, and Country Day’s lone loss came two weeks ago, 19-13, at Class A-DII No. 6 Aquinas (3-0).

Friday night could come down to who has the advantage in the matchup between Savannah Christian’s offense and Country Day’s defense. SCPS is averaging 57.3 points per game, giving the Raiders one of the best scoring offenses in the entire state. Country Day is allowing just 8.3 points per game as a defense. The Raider defense has also been dominant thus far.

Defensive Coordinator Robert Walsh has helped to guide the unit led by David Bucey, Elijah Griffin, Logan Brooking and others and SCPS has given up just 17 points all season.

CALVARY DAY (2-0) at LIBERTY COUNTY (2-1)

One of the key region 3-3A matchups this week takes place in Hinesville as Calvary and Liberty meet for the first time as region mates.

Calvary’s scheduled game at Frederica Academy was canceled last week due to the threat of bad weather, so the Cavs haven’t played four quarters since the season opener at Islands. Ranked No. 3 in Class 3A by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution this week, the Cavs beat No. 2 (2A) ELCA two weeks ago in a game that was called official midway through the third quarter.

Liberty County lost by a wide margin to Pierce County last week after opening its season with two straight victories.

NEW HAMPSTEAD (4-0) at RICHMOND HILL (2-2)

One of the better non-region matchups featuring two area teams this season, Class 4A New Hampstead will face its stiffest test yet in the form of Class 7A Richmond Hill. NHHS has arrived at 4-0 via four consecutive blowout victories over outmatched opponents. Richmond Hill, meanwhile, has managed its way to a 2-2 mark despite a difficult schedule which included a narrow loss last Saturday at Baker County (FL).

RHHS senior receiver Ravon Grant had eight catches for 219 yards and two touchdowns in the Wildcat loss last week. Fellow senior quarterback Ty Goldrick was 14-of-27 passing for three touchdowns and 354 yards. Zion Gillard carried the rock 32 times for 152 yards and a pair of scores.

NHHS is 42-42 in program history entering the game. The Phoenix are led by senior quarterback Pauly Seeley. The Wofford commit has 13 passing touchdowns on the season and 39 in his prep career.

JOHNSON (2-1) at BEACH (0-3)

This region 3-3A matchup will take place at Savannah High Stadium and the teams are going in opposite directions early this season.

Johnson is looking for its third straight win after losing in the opening week of the season. The Atomsmashers knocked off previously unbeaten Brantley County, 21-19 last week. Beach has started slowly with three straight losses but the Bulldogs were on a bye last week, allowing them to prepare for SCJ for an extended period of time.

The game features a matchup of two young quarterbacks. Sophomore Malachi Bacon is the likely starter for Johnson while Beach figures to go with freshman Demetrius Holloway.

BETHESDA ACADEMY (4-0) at CROSS EPISCOPAL (0-2)

The Blazers take their undefeated record to Bluffton, South Carolina this week for a game with the winless Stingrays of Cross Episcopal. Bethesda won its first game against Hilton Head Prep by a score of 8-7. Over its next three wins, the Blazers have outscored opponents 116-30.

Sophomore Coray Stafford has been excellent through four games for head coach Antoine Turner’s team. The Blazer running back has tallied 618 yards and seven touchdowns on 47 carries while eclipsing the 100-yard rushing mark in all four games. Senior receiver Jalil Calhoun has four catches on the year – three of those have been for touchdowns.

Junior Triston Randall has five touchdown passes on the year, and he also leads the team in total tackles with 36. Freshman Raleigh Wesley has two interceptions to lead the club defensively.

WEEK 4 SCHEDULE

FRIDAY September 16, 2022

New Hampstead at Richmond Hill

Jenkins at Carrollton 

Islands at Brunswick 

Johnson at Beach (Savannah High)

Calvary Day at Liberty County

Long County at Groves (Garden City Stadium)

Savannah Country Day at Savannah Christian (Pooler Stadium)

Portal at Bryan County

Savannah High at Cross Creek

Notre Dame Academy at Memorial Day (Memorial Stadium)

Bethesda at Cross Schools (Gray Stadium, Hardeeville)

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!