News

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.

 

Savannah’s three non-GHSA schools also have high expectations this year. Bethesda Academy plays in the South Carolina Independent Association (SCISA) while Memorial Day and St. Andrew’s each play in the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA).

 

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. This is part three. 

 

Here’s the team-by-team breakdown of the series in its entirety:

 

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)

 

BENEDICTINE (13-2 in 2021)

The reigning Class 4A state champions are back in the same classification and looking to defend the title this season. Head coach Danny Britt and the Cadets finished at 13-2 after losing the season’s first two games in 2021, and the non-region schedule is challenging for BC once again.

 

BC averaged 47.5 points per game last year thanks in large part to quarterback Holden Geriner leading an explosive offense alongside athlete Justin Thomas. Both guys have graduated, but BC is as loaded as they’ve ever been with talent across the roster.

 

Rising senior Zaquan Bryan has a legitimate case to be the state’s top returning wide receiver regardless of classification. As a junior, Bryan caught 95 balls for 1,376 yards and 15 touchdowns. In his career as a Cadet, Bryan has already racked up 140 catches, 2,086 yards and 20 touchdowns.

 

Luke Kromenhoek will be the starting quarterback heading into his junior season. The big pocket-passer already has several Division I (Power 5) scholarship offers and is expected to be one of the best quarterbacks in the area in his first season starting behind center.

 

On defense, look for rising junior linebacker Bryce Baker to lead the team in tackles again this season after recording a team-high 129 tackles as a sophomore. He has 174 career tackles with two full seasons left to play.

 

Aug. 19 Jenkins

Aug. 26 at Christopher Columbus (FL)

Sept. 2 Westminster

Sept. 9 Ware County

Sept. 23 at The Bolles School (FL)

Sept. 30 at New Hampstead*

Pct. 7 Burke County*

Oct. 14 Southeast Bulloch*

Oct. 21 Wayne County*

Oct. 28 at Islands*

 

ISLANDS (4-6 in 2021)

The Sharks will begin their season with four straight home games before playing four straight road games beginning in Brunswick on September 16. Islands and head coach DeShawn Printup finished at 4-6 overall last season, losing the last four to close things out.

 

This year, IHS should be battle-tested come region play as Printup has scheduled a challenging non-region slate for his 2022 team. Islands was unable to settle things at the quarterback position last year, but all signs point to rising junior Amaree Bedgood as the frontrunner for the starting QB job this fall. He threw for 567 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for two TD’s in eight games as a sophomore.

 

Jamari Sanders returns for his senior season after rushing for 411 yards and three scores as a junior. Seven of the top eight tacklers from the 2021 team are gone, so the defense could take time to finsits footing early on. Sharon Mcgert is the leading returning tackler as the rising senior collected 28 tackles last season on the defensive line.

 

Aug. 19 Calvary Day School

Aug. 26 Savannah Christian

Sept. 2 South Effingham

Sept. 9 Windsor Forest

Sept. 16 at Brunswick

Sept. 30 at Southeast Bulloch*

Oct. 7 at Wayne County*

Oct. 14 at Burke County*

Oct. 21 New Hampstead*

Oct. 28 Benedictine*

 

NEW HAMPSTEAD (6-4 in 2021)

The Phoenix had a solid season in 2021 and should be good again this season. After finishing at 6-4 overall last year, the Phoenix are back to play in Region 3-4A alongside Benedictine, Islands, Southeast Bulloch, Wayne County and Burke County.

 

Under head coach Kyle Hockman, the Phoenix cracked the AJC’s Class 4A Top-10 for the first time in program history after starting the season at 5-0.

 

As a junior quarterback last season, Pauly Seeley threw for 1,925 yards and 22 touchdowns and he’ll be expected to put up even better numbers this fall. NHHS closes its season with three straight region road games against Wayne County (Jesup), Islands and Burke County (Jonesboro).

 

Aug. 19 May River (SC)

Aug. 26 at Windsor Forest

Sept. 2 Bradwell Institute

Sept. 9 at South Lake (FL)

Sept. 16 at Richmond Hill

Sept. 30 Benedictine*

Oct. 7 Southeast Bulloch*

Oct. 14 at Wayne County*

Oct. 21 at Islands*

Oct. 28 at Burke County*

 

MEMORIAL DAY (GISA 2-1A)

Memorial Day finished 0-11 last season and will be looking to bounce back this year in GISA’s Class A division.

 

Aug. 19 at Palmetto

Aug. 26 at Fullington

Sept. 9 John Paul II

Sept. 16 Notre Dame

Sept. 23 at St. Andrews

Sept. 30 at Edmund Burke

Oct. 7 at Pinewood

Oct. 21 at Thomas Jefferson Academy

Oct. 28 at SGA

Nov. 4 Robert Toombs

 

ST. ANDREW’S (GISA 2-3A)

In head coach Blake Henry’s first season, St. Andrew’s finished at 4-5 overall playing in GISA Class 3A (the largest classification in GISA). SAA will be led by rising sophomore quarterback Zayden Edwards, who threw for 542 yards as a freshman last season. He also rushed for 175 yards and four touchdowns.

 

His brother, a rising senior named Zyere, is the leading receiver coming back after recording a team-high 25 receptions for 281 yards and a score last season.

 

Aug. 19 at Thomas Jefferson Academy

Aug. 26 at Valwood

Sept. 2 John Paul II

Sept. 9 at Hilton Head

Sept. 23 Memorial Day

Sept. 30 at Robert Toombs

Oct. 7 Trinity Christian

Oct. 21 at Pinewood Bulloch

Oct. 28 at Frederica Academy

 

BETHESDA ACADEMY (SCISA 1-1A)

The Blazers finished the 2021 season with a tough 1-8 record overall in SCISA’a Class A region 1 division. Bethesda should be led by Triston Randall and Romond Robinson this season.

 

Randall, a dual-threat rising junior quarterback, threw for 640 yards and rushed for 232 yards as a sophomore last season.

 

Aug. 19 Hilton Head Prep

Aug. 26 at John Paul II

Sept. 2 Thomas Sumter*

Sept. 9 at Carolina Academy*

Sept. 16 at Cross Schools

Sept. 23 Palmetto Christian*

Sept. 30 at Orangeburg Prep*

Oct. 7 at Colleton Prep*

Oct. 14 Northside Christian*

Oct. 28 Beaufort Academy*

 

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

 

MISS A PART - Click on the section to read on the prepsportsreport.com website.

Here’s the team-by-team breakdown of the series in its entirety:

 

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)

Helmets from FridayNightFootball.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!