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Week 6 has arrived for Savannah area high school football teams and the slate begins Thursday, September 23 when Johnson hosts Liberty County in a Region 3-3A showcase at Islands Stadium. While most games will be played Friday, September 24, Jenkins and Savannah High will do battle on Saturday evening to close out the week’s action.

Here is a look at several key games this week.

WARE COUNTY (4-0) at BENEDICTINE (2-2)

Benedictine has won two straight games and the Cadets get some extra rest this week after knocking off Wayne County 51-7 last Thursday. In Ware County, Benedictine will face perhaps its toughest test to date as the Gators come into the contest undefeated, ranked No. 2 in Class 5A by the AJC.

It’s the 18th consecutive week inside the AJC Top-10 for Ware County and its head coach Jason Strickland. Head coach Danny Britt and the Cadets are ranked in the AJC Top-10 for the 13th consecutive week.

The Cadets are ranked No. 4 in Class 4A by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. BC and Ware matched up last season, almost a year ago exactly, on September 25, 2020. The Gators and Cadets were each ranked No. 3 in their classification, but Ware handled BC to the tune of 43-21 in Waycross.

Ware County’s offense, behind star quarterback Thomas Castellanos, is averaging 46.7 points per game. With a standout quarterback of its own, Benedictine and Holden Geriner are averaging 37.2 points per game. Geriner averages 227 passing yards per contest while the dual-threat Castellanos throws for 265 yards on average.

MaxPreps computer rankings have the Gators at No. 4 in Class 5A and the Cadets at No. 6 in Class 4A. BC is 3-10 all-time against teams ranked in the AJC Top-2.

Castellanos is 65-of-99 for 1,062 yards and 10 touchdowns passing and he has another 278 rushing yards to go along with his five rushing scores. Last season, he accounted for 78.2% of Ware County’s scoring (either rushing or passing).

Senior Justin Thomas rushed for 171 yards and three scores on just 12 carries last week versus Wayne. He also picked off a pass as a defensive back. According to Dennis Knight of the Savannah Morning News, Thomas has 468 yards rushing in four games, and 385 of those have come in his last two games.

SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN (2-2) at MOUNT DE SALES ACADEMY (2-1)

Coming off a dominating 42-0 performance against Deerfield-Windsor in its home opener last week, Savannah Christian (2-2) is back on the road this week against fellow Class A Private school, Mount De Sales Academy.

Senior George Futch had a receiving and rushing touchdown last week in the shutout win, and the Raiders held the Knights to minus-12 yards rushing as a team.

Running back/receiver Ely Brown missed last week’s game for the Raiders, and head coach Baker Woodward confirmed his status to Prep Sports Report this week, designating the junior as “questionable/doubtful” for this week’s road game.

SAVANNAH COUNTRY DAY (2-2) at STRATFORD ACADEMY (3-0)

The Hornets (2-2) head to Macon for a tough road test against Class A Private blueblood Stratford Academy (3-0).

It’s the eighth consecutive year in which the two have met, SCD has won two of the last three, but Stratford won 28-21 last season. Country Day won over SA in 2018 and 2019.

SCD senior quarterback Barry Kleinpeter threw for a touchdown (to Alex Wynn) and returned a kick for another score last week in a home loss to visiting Tattnall Square Academy. He also rushed for a two-point conversion.

Country Day has lost back-to-back games since beginning the year at 2-0. It’s the program’s first two games without senior star wide receiver Kenny Odom after Odom underwent season-ending shoulder surgery two weeks ago.

BEST OF THE REST

ST. ANDREW’S (1-1) at MEMORIAL DAY (0-3)

A Savannah private school rivalry with plenty of history, St. Andrew’s and Memorial Day will play at Garden City Stadium in this latest installment.

Freshman quarterback Zayden Edwards leads the way for head coach Blake Henry and the Lions (1-1).

BEACH (0-2) at ISLANDS (2-2)

The Bulldogs and Sharks get together at Islands Stadium for a non-region contest between the two Savannah public schools. Each team lost last week, so both sides will be hungry to get back in the win column come Friday night.

SAVANNAH HIGH (2-2) at JENKINS (2-2)

Jenkins head coach Tony Welch faces his old team in Savannah High and its head coach Michael Moore. 

The game is slated for 7 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, September 25 at Memorial Stadium.

FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 

THURSDAY 9.23.21 _  SATURDAY 9.25.21

STADIUM KEY 

MS — Memorial Stadium; P — Pooler Stadium; I — Islands; GC — Garden City Stadium.

Times: Thursday and Saturday games are 7 p.m.; all other kickoffs are 7:30 p.m. unless noted.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 23

GHSA Class 3A

Liberty County @ Johnson (ISL)

FRIDAY SEPT. 24

GHSA 6A

Bradwell Institute @ Richmond Hill

Effingham County @ South Effingham 

GHSA Class 4A/3A

Ware County @ Benedictine (MS)

Beach @ Islands (I)

Groves @ New Hampstead (P)

GHSA Class A

Bryan County @ Screven County

Strong Rock Christian @ Calvary Day

Savannah Christian @ Mount de Sales Academy

Savannah Country Day @ Stratford Academy

GISA/SCISA

St. Andrew's @ Memorial Day (GC)

Hilton Head Prep @ Bethesda (Daffin Park)

SATURDAY, Sept. 25

GHSA 3 A

Savannah High @ Jenkins (MS)

Follow Travis on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.

Photo Credit - Karl DeMasi Sports Report

Optim Orthopedics supports Benedictine Military School, Richmond Hill High School, Savannah Country Day and South Effingham High School athletics. Benedictine Military School's team doctor is Dr. David Sedory. The team doctor for South Effingham, and  Richmond Hill  is Dr. David Palmer. Savannah Country Day's team doctor is Dr. Thomas Alexander. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game!