The high school football season in Georgia gets started in mid-August with a new look in many regions as the GHSA has reclassified for the next two seasons based on enrollment numbers. There is also a new format when the playoffs roll around, as public and private schools will be separated in the postseason from Classes 1A to 3A.
In the Greater Savannah area the changes have hurt some longstanding local regional rivalries such as Calvary Day against cross-town foes Savannah Christian and Savannah Country Day. Calvary stayed up in Class 3A, while SCPS and SCD went down to Class A Division I. The teams could still meet in the playoffs as private schools will be vying for just one state crown from Class A to Class 3A.
Other rivalries have been rekindled as teams like Jenkins and Windsor Forest are back in the Savannah-centric Region 3-3A. Look for Jenkins, which made a memorable run to the Class 5A quarterfinals last season as a No. 4 seed out of Region 1-5A, to become a contender for the region crown, along with Calvary Day, which won the title last year en route to the Class 3A state semis.
Public and private schools can still compete against each other and fight for region crowns in the regular season, but will be separated when the postseason comes in Class A to Class 3A. A power ranking system will be employed to seed the postseason in both public and private brackets from 1A-3A. There will be 26 teams in the bracket for the Private School 1A-3A state playoffs.
Benedictine, which has won four state championships since its first in 2014, remains in Class 4A. In Classes 4A-6A, public and private teams can still compete against each other in the playoffs. BC and New Hampstead will still be competing against each other in Region 1-4A, one of the toughest in the state with Ware County, Wayne County, Warner Robins and defending Class 4A state champ Perry also in the mix.
Richmond Hill, which was isolated from Savannah area schools in the highest classification of 7A, comes down to 6A now that 7A has been eliminated. But the Wildcats are still by themselves for region play, although they have a non-region matchup with New Hampstead.
Effingham County and South Effingham both come down from Class 6A to 5A, where they join up with Bradwell Institute as members of Region 1-5A.
Here’s a look at the composite, week-by-week schedule for Savannah area teams, followed by the individual team-by-team schedules. Keep this story bookmarked, as it will be updated weekly with results from all the action, with links to stories, during the season.
South Effingham at New Hampstead (P)
Liberty County at Bradwell
Beach at Calvary Day *
MCA at Islands (I)
Jenkins at Lowndes
Johnson at Bryan County
Whitefield Academy at Savannah Christian (P)
Savannah Country Day at Charlotte Country Day
Savannah High at Frederica Academy
St. Andrew’s at Edmund Burke
Memorial Day at Citizen’s Christian
Rabun Gap- Nacoochee vs. Benedictine (at Georgia Southern)
Richmond Hill at Glynn Academy
Bradwell at Westover
Effingham County at Houston County
Benedictine at Buford
New Hampstead at Savannah Christian (P)
Beach at Savannah (SH)
Groves at West Laurens
Windsor Forest at Brantley County
Savannah Country Day at Athens Academy
Bryan County at Aquinas
St. Andrew’s at Hilton Head Prep
Georgia Christian at Memorial Day (PW)
Bethesda at Thomas Heyward Academy
Everglades, FL at Richmond Hill
New Hampstead at Effingham County
Toombs County at South Effingham
Burke County at Benedictine (MS)
Calvary Day at Oceanside Collegiate, SC
Groves at Jenkins (SH) *
Islands at SE Bulloch *
Johnson at Long County *
Liberty County at Windsor Forest (I)*
Providence Chrisitian at Savannah Christian (P)
Savannah Country Day at Porter Gaud, S.C.
St. Andrew’s at Central Fellowship Christian
Memorial Day at Grace Christian
Bethesda at Hilton Head Christian
Long County at Groves (SH)*
Oceanside Collegiate at Savannah Christian (P)
Richmond Hill at New Hampstead (P)
Bradwell at Glynn Academy *
Brunswick at Effingham County *
Beach vs. Windsor Forest (I) *
SE Bulloch at Calvary Day *
Islands at Johnson (MS)*
Jenkins at Liberty County *
Bluffton at Savannah Country Day
Bryan County at Savannah High (SH)*
Briarwood at St. Andrew’s
Westwood at Memorial Day (PW)
John Paul II at Bethesda (Daffin Park)
Wayne County at Richmond Hill
Effingham County at Bradwell *
South Effingham at Lakeside Evans *
New Hampstead at Pierce County
Beach at Jenkins (SH) *
Calvary Day at Windsor Forest (P)*
Groves at Islands (I)*
Johnson at SE Bulloch *
Liberty County at Long County *
Savannah Christian at Fellowship Christian
Portal at Bryan County
Savannah High at Metter
Memorial Day at Sherwood Christian
Hilton Head Prep at Bethesda (Daffin Park)*
Benedictine at Archbishop Moeller
Augusta Prep at St. Andrew’s
Buchholz (FL) at Richmond Hill
Bradwell at Statesboro *
South Effingham at Effingham County *
Westminster at Benedictine (MS)
Long County at Beach (SH) *
Jenkins at Calvary Day *
Johnson at Groves (I)*
Islands at Liberty County *
SE Bulloch at Windsor Forest (P)*
Savannah Country Day at Tattnall County
Bryan County at ECI
Fullington Academy at Memorial Day (PW)
Bethesda at Patrick Henry
Tift County at Richmond Hill *
Greenbrier at Bradwell *
Effingham County at Lakeside Evans *
Evans at South Effingham *
Benedictine at Ware County *
New Hampstead at Perry *
Liberty County at SE Bulloch *
Savannah Christian at Blessed Trinity
Claxton at Bryan County
Savannah High at Portal
St. Andrew’s at Robert Toombs Christian
Bethesda at Christian Academy*
Richmond Hill at Camden County *
Brunswick at Bradwell *
South Effingham at Greenbrier *
Benedictine at Warner Robins *
Ware County at New Hampstead (P) *
Beach at Islands (I) *
Calvary Day at Long County *
Groves at SE Bulloch *
Windsor Forest at Jenkins (MS) *
Liberty County at Johnson (SH) *
Savannah Christian at Savannah Country Day *
Bryan County at Screven County
Savannah High at ECI
Harvest Community at St. Andrew’s
Memorial Day at Crisp Academy
Beaufort Academy at Bethesda (Daffin Park)*
Effingham County at Evans *
Glynn Academy at South Effingham *
SE Bulloch at Jenkins (I) *
Long County at Windsor Forest (SH)*
Valdosta at Richmond Hill *
New Hampstead at Benedictine (MS) *
Beach vs. Johnson (I) *
Islands at Calvary Day *
Groves at Liberty County *
Vidalia at Savannah Christian (P) *
Savannah Country Day at Swainsboro *
MCA at Bryan County
Claxton at Savannah High (SH)*
St. Andrew’s at Pinewood Christian
Dillon Christian at Bethesda (Daffin Park)*
South Effingham at Bradwell*
Effingham County at Greenbrier *
Benedictine at Wayne County *
Warner Robins at New Hampstead (P) *
Beach vs. Groves (SH) *
Calvary Day at Johnson (MS)*
Windsor Forest at Islands (I) *
Jenkins at Long County *
Toombs County at Savannah Country Day *
Bryan County at Jenkins County
Savannah High at Screven County *
Bulloch Academy at St. Andrew’s
Vidalia Heritage at Memorial Day (PW)
Liberty County at Beach (SH) *
Richmond Hill at Lowndes *
Bradwell at Lakeside Evans *
Glynn Academy at Effingham County *
Statesboro at South Effingham *
Perry at Benedictine (MS) *
Wayne County at New Hampstead (P) *
Groves at Calvary Day *
Johnson vs. Windsor Forest (I)*
Savannah Christian at Swainsboro *
Episcopal School (FL) at Savannah Country Day
MCA at Savannah High (SH)*
St. Andrew’s at Frederica Academy
Memorial Day at David Emanuel Academy
Bethesda at Pee Dee Academy*
Islands at Jenkins (MS)
Richmond Hill at Colquitt County *
Bradwell at Evans *
Statesboro at Effingham County *
Brunswick at South Effingham *
Beach at SE Bulloch *
Calvary Day at Liberty County *
Windsor Forest vs. Groves (SH) *
Long County at Islands (I) *
Jenkins vs. Johnson (MS) *
Toombs County at Savannah Christian (P) *
Savannah Country Day at Vidalia *
Metter at Bryan County
Savannah High at Jenkins County
St. John’s at Bethesda (Daffin Park)*
Stadium Key
P ― Pooler Stadium; MS ― Memorial Stadium; I ― Islands Stadium; SH ― Savannah High Stadium; PW ― Mobley Park in Port Wentworth
Aug. 23 at Glynn Academy
Aug. 30 vs. Everglades, FL
Sept. 6 at New Hampstead (P)
Sept. 13 vs. Wayne County
Sept. 20 vs. Buchholz, FL
Sept. 27 vs. Tift County*
Oct. 4 at Camden County*
Oct. 11 vs. Valdosta*
Oct. 25 at Lowndes*
Nov. 1 at Colquitt County*
Aug. 16 vs. Liberty County
Aug. 23 at Westover
Sept. 6 at Glynn Academy*
Sept. 13 vs. Effingham County*
Sept. 20 at Statesboro*
Sept. 27 vs. Greenbrier*
Oct. 4 vs. Brunswick*
Oct. 18 vs. South Effingham*
Oct. 25 at Lakeside, Evans*
Nov. 1 at Evans*
Aug. 23 at Houston County
Aug. 30 vs. New Hampstead
Sept. 6 vs. Brunswick*
Sept. 13 at Bradwell Institute*
Sept. 20 vs. South Effingham*
Sept. 27 at Lakeside, Evans*
Oct. 10 at Evans*
Oct. 18 at Greenbrier*
Oct. 25 vs. Glynn Academy*
Nov. 1 vs. Statesboro*
Aug. 15, Thursday at New Hampstead (P)
Aug. 30 vs. Toombs County
Sept. 13 at Lakeside, Evans*
Sept. 20 at Effingham County*
Sept. 27 vs. Evans*
Oct. 4 at Greenbrier
Oct. 10 vs. Glynn Academy*
Oct. 18 at Bradwell Institute*
Oct. 25 vs. Statesboro*
Nov. 1 vs. Brunswick*
Aug. 17 vs. Rabun Gap- Nacoochee (at Georgia Southern)
Aug. 23 at Buford
Aug. 30 vs. Burke County (MS)
Sept. 14 at Archbishop Moeller
Sept. 20 vs. Westminster (MS)
Sept. 27 at Ware County*
Oct. 4 at Warner Robins*
Oct. 11 vs. New Hampstead (MS)*
Oct. 18 at Wayne County*
Oct. 25 vs. Perry (MS)*
Aug. 15, Thursday vs. South Effingham (P)
Aug. 23 at Savannah Christian (P)
Aug. 30 at Effingham County
Sept. 6 vs. Richmond Hill (P)
Sept. 13 at Pierce County
Sept. 27 at Perry*
Oct. 4 vs. Ware County (P)*
Oct. 11 at Benedictine (MS)*
Oct. 18 vs. Warner Robins (P)*
Oct. 25 vs. Wayne County (P)*
Aug. 16 at Calvary Day*
Aug. 23 at Savannah (SH)
Sept. 6 vs. Windsor Forest (I)*
Sept. 13 at Jenkins (SH)*
Sept. 20 vs. Long County (SH)*
Oct. 4 at Islands (I)*
Oct. 11 vs. Johnson (I)*
Oct. 18 at Groves (SH)*
Oct. 24 vs. Liberty County (SH)*
Nov. 1 at Southeast Bulloch*
Aug. 16 vs. Beach*
Aug. 30 at Oceanside Collegiate, SC
Sept. 6 vs. Southeast Bulloch*
Sept. 13 at Windsor Forest (P)*
Sept. 20 vs. Jenkins*
Oct. 4 at Long County*
Oct. 11 vs. Islands*
Oct. 18 at Johnson (MS)*
Oct. 25 vs. Groves*
Nov. 1 at Liberty County*
Aug. 23 at West Laurens
Aug. 30 at Jenkins (SH)*
Sept. 5, Thursday vs. Long County (SH)*
Sept. 13 at Islands (I)*
Sept. 20 vs. Johnson (I)*
Oct. 4 at Southeast Bulloch*
Oct. 11 at Liberty County*
Oct. 18 vs. Beach (SH)*
Oct. 25 at Calvary Day*
Nov. 1 vs. Windsor Forest (SH)*
Aug. 16 vs. McIntosh County Academy (I)
Aug. 30 at Southeast Bulloch*
Sept. 6 at Johnson (MS) *
Sept. 13 vs. Groves (I)*
Sept. 20 at Liberty County*
Oct. 4 vs. Beach (I)*
Oct. 11 at Calvary Day*
Oct. 18 vs. Windsor Forest (I)*
Oct. 26, Saturday at Jenkins (MS)*
Nov. 1 vs. Long County (I)*
Aug. 16 at Lowndes
Aug. 30 vs. Groves (SH)*
Sept. 6 at Liberty County*
Sept. 13 vs. Beach (SH)*
Sept. 20 at Calvary Day*
Oct. 4 vs. Windsor Forest (MS)*
Oct. 10, Thursday vs. Southeast Bulloch (I)*
Oct. 18 at Long County*
Oct. 26, Saturday vs. Islands (MS)*
Nov. 1 at Johnson (MS)*
Aug. 16 at Bryan County ?????
Aug. 30 at Long County*
Sept. 6 vs. Islands (MS) *
Sept. 13 at Southeast Bulloch*
Sept. 20 at Groves (I)*
Oct. 4 vs. Liberty County (SH)*
Oct. 11 at Beach (I)*
Oct. 18 vs. Calvary Day (MS)*
Oct. 25 at Windsor Forest (I)*
Nov. 1 vs. Jenkins (MS)*
Aug. 16 at Bradwell Institute
Aug. 30 at Windsor Forest (I)*
Sept. 6 vs. Jenkins*
Sept. 13 at Long County*
Sept. 20 vs. Islands*
Sept. 27 at Southeast Bulloch*
Oct. 4 at Johnson, Savannah (SH)*
Oct. 11 vs. Groves*
Oct. 24, Thursday at Beach (SH)*
Nov. 1 vs. Calvary Day*
Aug. 23 at Brantley County
Aug. 30 vs. Liberty County (I)*
Sept. 6 at Beach (I)*
Sept. 13 vs. Calvary Day (P)*
Sept. 20 vs. Southeast Bulloch (P)*
Oct. 4 at Jenkins (MS)*
Oct. 10, Thursday vs. Long County (SH)*
Oct. 18 at Islands (I)*
Oct. 25 vs. Johnson (I)*
Nov. 1 at Groves (SH)*
Aug. 16 vs. Whitefield Academy (P)
Aug. 23 vs. New Hampstead (P)
Aug. 30 vs. Providence Christian (P)
Sept. 6 vs. Oceanside Collegiate, SC (P)
Sept. 13 at Fellowship Christian
Sept. 27 at Blessed Trinity
Oct. 4 at Savannah Country Day*
Oct. 11 vs. Vidalia (P)*
Oct. 25 at Swainsboro*
Nov. 1 vs. Toombs County (P)*
Aug. 16 at Charlotte Country Day, NC
Aug. 23 at Athens Academy
Aug. 30 at Porter Gaud, SC
Sept. 6 vs. Bluffton, SC
Sept. 20 at Tattnall County
Oct. 4 vs. Savannah Christian*
Oct. 11 at Swainsboro*
Oct. 18 vs. Toombs County*
Oct. 25 vs. Episcopal School, FL
Nov. 1 at Vidalia*
Aug. 16 vs. Johnson, Savannah
Aug. 23 at Aquinas
Sept. 6 at Savannah (SH)*
Sept. 13 vs. Portal
Sept. 20 at Emanuel County Institute
Sept. 27 vs. Claxton*
Oct. 4 at Screven County*
Oct. 11 vs. McIntosh County Academy*
Oct. 18 at Jenkins County
Nov. 1 vs. Metter
Aug. 16 at Frederica Academy
Aug. 23 vs. Beach (SH)
Sept. 6 vs. Bryan County (SH)*
Sept. 13 at Metter
Sept. 27 at Portal
Oct. 4 at Emanuel County Institute
Oct. 11 vs. Claxton (SH)*
Oct. 18 at Screven County*
Oct. 25 vs. McIntosh County Academy*
Nov. 1 at Jenkins County
Aug. 16 at Edmund Burke Academy
Aug. 23 at Hilton Head Prep
Aug. 30 at Central Fellowship Christian
Sept. 6 vs. Briarwood
Sept.14 vs. Augusta Prep
Sept. 27 at Robert Toombs Christian Academy
Oct. 4 vs. Harvest Community
Oct. 11 at Pinewood Christian*
Oct. 18 vs. Bullock Academy*
Oct. 25 at Frederica Academy*
GIAA Region 3-8-Man
Aug. 16 at Citizens Christian
Aug. 23 vs. Georgia Christian (PW)
Aug. 30 at Grace Christian Academy
Sept. 6 vs. Westwood* (PW)
Sept.13 at Sherwood Christian Academy*
Sept. 20 vs Fullington Academy (PW)
Oct. 4 at Crisp
Oct. 18 vs. Vidalia Heritage (PW)
Oct. 25 at David Emanual Academy* (PW)
Aug. 23 at Thomas Hayward Academy
Aug. 30 at Hilton Head Christian
Sept. 6 vs. John Paul II
Sept.14 vs. Hilton Head Prep*
Sept. 20 at Patrick Henry
Sept. 27 at Christian Academy*
Oct. 4 vs. Beaufort Academy*
Oct. 11 vs. Dillon Christian*
Oct. 25 at Pee Dee Academy*
Nov. 1 vs. St. John’s Academy*
P ― Pooler Stadium; MS ― Memorial Stadium; I ― Islands Stadium; SH ― Savannah High Stadium; PW ― Mobley Park in Port Wentworth
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
