We are back, and thanks to the Corky Kell starting a week early this year, our preview is not exactly in the preseason. The four teams playing in Week 0 have the national spotlight, while the rest of the state waits until the 19-22nd of this month for regular good ole’ fashioned football.
Which brings me to the preview. The research has been done; the rankings are below, and we have included our championship favorite, a darkhorse candidate to win it all, an underdog team that will surprise, the player of the year vote, and our championship game score prediction.
These rankings will be updated each week of the season, so be sure to follow along. We will include a ‘bubble’ and ‘out’ section after Week 1. After Week 4, we will release the GHSA 25 we have done for 3 straight years.
For more preseason content checkout our preseason All-State picks HERE.
Class 7A
1. Carrollton
2. Buford
3. Colquitt Co.
4. Grayson
5. Valdosta
6. North Gwinnett
7. Lowndes
8. Walton
9. Douglas Co.
10. Brookwood
The Favorite – Carrollton
The Darkhorse – Colquitt Co.
The Underdog – South Forsyth
Player of the Year – Brayden Tyson, Brookwood
State Title Prediction
Carrollton 42 – 21 Colquitt Co.
Class 6A
1. Thomas Co. Central
2. Creekside
3. Gainesville
4. Woodward Acd.
5. Houston Co.
6. Milton
7. Lee Co.
8. Jackson Co.
9. Hughes
10. Roswell
The Favorite – Thomas Co. Central
The Darkhorse – Milton
The Underdog – Pope
Player of the Year – Derrick Baker, Milton
State Title Prediction
Thomas Co. Central 21 – 20 Creekside
Class 5A
1. Cartersville
2. Blessed Trinity
3. Central
4. Benedictine
5. Jefferson
6. Marist
7. Lithonia
8. North Oconee
9. Warner Robins
10. Stockbridge
The Favorite – Cartersville
The Darkhorse – Central
The Underdog – Griffin
Player of the Year – DJ Jacobs, Blessed Trinity
State Title Prediction
Central 49 – 45 Cartersville
Class 4A
1. Sandy Creek
2. Calhoun
3. Stephenson
4. Cairo
5. Peach Co.
6. Troup Co.
7. North Hall
8. Douglass
9. Oconee Co.
10. Mary Persons
The Favorite – Sandy Creek
The Darkhorse – Cairo
The Underdog – SE Bulloch
Player of the Year – Caleb Hill, Sandy Creek
State Title Prediction
Cairo 28 – 21 Sandy Creek
Class 3A
1. Carver-Columbus
2. Worth Co.
3. Toombs Co.
4. Appling Co.
5. Rockmart
6. Thomson
7. Burke Co.
8. Columbia
9. Sumter Co.
10. Hapeville Charter
The Favorite – Carver-Columbus
The Darkhorse – Rockmart
The Underdog – KIPP Atlanta
Player of the Year – Lyndon Worthy, Worth Co.
State Title Prediction
Toombs Co. 28 – 24 Rockmart
Class 2A
1. Heard Co.
2. Swainsboro
3. Brooks Co.
4. Pepperell
5. Fitzgerald
6. Dublin
7. Dodge Co.
8. Jasper Co.
9. Thomasville
10. Screven Co.
The Favorite – Heard Co.
The Darkhorse – Dodge Co.
The Underdog – Commerce
Player of the Year – Ethan Tisdale, Heard Co.
State Title Prediction
Heard Co. 35 – 14 Swainsboro
Private Class 2-4A
1. Calvary Day
2. Hebron Christian
3. GAC
4. Prince Avenue
5. Aquinas
6. Savannah Christian
7. Westminster
8. North Cobb Christian
9. Holy Innocents’
10. Trinity Christian
The Favorite – Calvary Day
The Darkhorse – GAC
The Underdog – Trinity Christian
Player of the Year – Michael Miller, GAC
State Title Prediction
Calvary Day 42 – 35 GAC
Class A
1. Lincoln Co.
2. Clinch Co.
3. Bowdon
4. Macon Co.
5. Johnson Co.
6. Early Co.
7. Manchester
8. McIntosh Co. Acd.
9. Miller Co.
10. Wilkinson Co.
The Favorite – Lincoln Co.
The Darkhorse – Bowdon
The Underdog – Wilkinson Co.
Player of the Year – Jakeyveon Parker, Macon Co.
State Title Prediction
Clinch Co. 28 – 24 Lincoln Co.
