Thoughts About Georgia High School Football Season

The 2026 Georgia High School Football season is here once again. The season kicks off this week. Anyone who knows me is aware of how I follow Georgia High School Football. Now that I live a world away in New York City, I rely on the Internet and live streaming to keep track during the season. I have always followed Georgia High School football and I doubt that I will ever give it up. I attended my first game at Waycross Memorial Stadium in 1975 to watch a region playoff game between the Clinch County Panthers and Charlton County Indians. Charlton County won that game 6-0. At the time, I attended a middle school in Charlton County. Clinch County was my dad’s alma mater and took us to the game. He took me to some Clinch County games the following season and after a thrilling 7-6 win over Jeff Davis late in the season, I was hooked.

So here we are starting another high school football season in Georgia - yes in mid-August - crazy right? I remember when the season started around Labor Day weekend. It seems a lot has changed.


Playoffs have changed
One of the biggest changes this season is the playoffs. The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) decided to use a computer ranking system for the 32-team playoff field in each classification instead of the top four teams in each region qualifying for the playoffs. I think this is a ridiculous idea. I suspect that this new ranking system for the playoffs will favor North Georgia/Atlanta/Gwinnett County teams more than it will South Georgia. I don’t like it.

Notable coaching changes.

• Rich Fendley Jr. decided to leave Bowdon for Rockmart. Fendley had won four state titles at Bowdon. I was really hoping he would end up at his alma mater in Warner Robins.
• Rance Morgan will take over at Clinch County replacing Jim Dickerson who decided to retire for real this time after coming back to lead the Panthers the past two season.
• Santavious Bryant left Grayson where he was 37-5 and won a state title to take over at Gainesville.
• Bill Stewart is the new coach at Rome from North Gwinnett.
• Tucker Pruitt left Fitzgerald to take over at Camden County.

Future of State Championship Games in Mercedes-Benz Dome
The GHSA lost money for the first time playing the games in the dome. If they continue to lose money again this season, changes could be made to the site of the state final games. Personally, I have always been in favor of playing the title games at the teams' home stadium. There is just different atmosphere playing the state championship games at the schools instead of a college or NFL neutral venue. I hope they will bring it back but I doubt it will happen.

During the season, I usually follow three football teams: Warner Robins, Villa Rica and Clinch County. I will tell you why I follow these teams below. I actually graduated from Tompkins High School in Savannah, Georgia. The school closed in the 1990s so there is no team to follow there but I really never grew attached to the football team when they had a team.

Let’s take a look at the teams I follow during the season:

Warner Robins
Why I follow Warner Robins:
In 1984 I was stationed at Robins Air Force Base. The first game I attended was a state playoff game between Valdosta and Warner Robins. Warner Robins lost that game but I was hooked and have followed the team since then. No, I never attended Warner Robins High School but I adopted the football team as my team and watched them win four state championships.

What happened last season:
Warner Robins suffered some historic losses. It was an embarrassment. I still can’t believe Shane Sams is still the head coach after four seasons with a 23-13 record. I had hoped that Warner Robins could have brought in Rich Fendley Jr. when he left Bowdon. It’s a shame they missed that opportunity. Warner Robins was 7-5 in 2025 with embarrassing losses to Benedictine (61-0) in the regular season and Cartersville (64-0) to be bounced out of the playoffs in the second round.

2025 Results:
Lee County L45-7
Fayette County W53-0
Northside-Warner Robins W22-13
Houston County L48-14
Veterans W26-17
Wayne County L32-10
Benedictine L61-0
New Hampstead W34-26
Ware County W48-44
Perry W33-26
Eastside W28-14
Cartersville L64-0

What to look for this season:
Chandler Dyson should be the starting QB and he’s pretty good when he has protection. That’s been the key. If the offensive line can give him some time, Dyson will be a treat to watch.

In addition to Dyson, other key offensive players include:
Ezra Goings (Sr.): Experienced playmaker expected to shoulder significant offensive responsibility.
Jacoby Parsons (Sr.): Key skill-position contributor and offensive weapon.
Zayvon Burke (Sr.): Senior playmaker providing depth and versatility.
Lekayvious Bryant (Sr.): Dynamic option out in space.
Jamarcus Allen (Sr.): Experienced offensive contributor.
Jessie Roberson (Sr.): Reliable target and playmaker.
Tre Glover (Sr.): Standing 6′ 4″, anchoring the offensive line protection.
Chase Plank (Sr.): Another key protector tasked with keeping Dyson upright.

On defense:
Jaquavion Ross (Sr.): Impact outside lineman applying pressure in the backfield.
Derrick Smith (Sr.): Disruptive force along the defensive front.

I have a feeling that Warner Robins will take yet another step backward this season under Sams’ leadership. I am not sure he’s the guy but Warner Robins is in a better region this season so that might help. I still think it’s going to be a long season in the International City.

2026 Schedule:
8/21 at Veterans
8/28 vs. Northeast Macon
9/4 at Northside-Warner Robins
9/11 at Newton
9/18 at Union Grove
9/25 at Eagle's Landing
10/2 vs. Locust Grove
10/23 vs. Ola
10/30 at Jones County
11/6 vs. Perry

Projected record: 6-4, eliminated in first round of playoffs

Villa Rica
Why I follow Villa Rica:
I attended Villa High School for 8th through 10th grade. I attended many games and was on the football team during 10th grade but I never played in a varsity game. Following my 10th grade year, my dad moved us to Savannah, Georgia.

What happened last season:
After starting the season 0-3, the Wildcats won four of their last seven games to make it into the playoffs where they lost to eventual state champion Thomas County Central in the second round. It was their best season since 2021.

2025 Results:
Troup L42-31
Northgate L12-9
Central-Carrollton L45-7
Alexander W27-6
South Paulding W31-17
Lithia Springs W30-8
Rome L49-7
New Manchester L36-0
Kennesaw Mountain W56-35
East Paulding W17-14
Northgate W24-14
Thomas County Central L55-14

What to look for this season:
Promoted defensive coordinator Michael Hilbert to replace Austin Barron, who is now Bremen’s defensive coordinator. Hilbert has taught at Villa Rica since 2016 and joined the staff in 2021. He coached previously at Carrollton. Villa Rica was 15-18 in three seasons under Barron. This is Villa Rica’s 7th coach in 10 years.

Key players on offense:
Myles George (Sr., ATH): Dynamic playmaker expected to lead the offensive production.
Emmanuel Ajayi (Sr., RB): Powerful running back anchoring the ground game.
Will Wallace (Jr./Sr., QB): Slated to direct the passing and overall offensive attack.
Cam Bolton (RB): Expected to share backfield duties and provide explosive rushing plays.
Jaylyn Murphy (WR): Primary perimeter target in the passing game.

Key players on defense:
Donte Carlisle (LB): Top defensive cornerstone entering the season.
Tamaj Beasley (Jr., ATH): Versatile contributor on both sides of the ball.
Kaleb Aker (DB): Experienced presence in the secondary.
Jace Radford (LB): Key tackler in the middle of the defense

The Wildcats move to a tough Region 7 with Cartersville, Cedartown and Dalton.

2026 Schedule
8/21 vs. Alexander
8/28 at Hiram
9/4 vs. South Paulding
9/11 at Seckinger
9/18 vs. Cass
9/25 at Cartersville
10/2 vs. Woodland
10/9 at Allatoona
10/23 at Dalton
10/30 vs. Cedartown

Projected record: 1-9

Clinch County
Why I follow Clinch County:
My dad attended Clinch County High School and was on the football team. He took me to my first football game. The last game we attended was the state championship game in 2010.

What happened last season:
The Panthers finished 13-1 in 2025 and made it to the state semifinals losing to Bowdon at home to end Jim Dickerson’s second stint as the Panthers’ head coach.

2025 Results:
Bacon County W25-6
Wilcox County W21-13
Miller County W35-6
Berrien W48-43
Mitchell County W21-6
Irwin County W61-14
Charlton County W42-27
Brooks County W6-0
Turner County W40-8
Lanier County W48-0
Chattahoochee County W48-20
Emanual County Institute W28-18
Wheeler County W27-22
Bowdon L45-6

What to look for this season:
Morgan was previously an assistant coach at Clinch but has been the school’s assistant principal. He’s now stepping into the lead role over two decades after he played for the school.

Morgan will have big shoes to fill. Dickerson coached Clinch County from 2004-18 and again in 2024-25, compiling an overall record of 126-47-1. In a lengthy first stint with the program, Dickerson led the Panthers to five state championships and seven regional titles. In this brief two-year return, Dickerson was successful once again, going 11-2 and 13-1, coming just one game away from competing for the Class A, Division II state championship this past 2025 campaign.

Morgan was a three-sport athlete during his days at Clinch. He won a state title in both football (2002) and baseball (2003) and even earned a baseball scholarship to Georgia. He now steps into the head coaching role for one of the top Class A programs in the Peach State.

The Panthers are young and reloaded lineup featuring just three offensive and four defensive returning starters.

Quarterback Traviian Miller returns after a standout sophomore season. Miller is a dual-threat player who can throw and run and serves as the engine of the Panthers’ offense. Receivers Kamarion Johnson and Jakyri Posley — all three players are also coming off a state basketball championship — return as the primary pass catchers. Johnson, described as a vocal leader and high-level Division I prospect, is expected to stretch the field alongside Posley on the outside. The biggest question for Clinch County is its offensive line. The unit has size but lacks varsity experience, and Morgan acknowledged the group will have to develop quickly once the regular season begins.

2026 Schedule:
8/21 vs. Fitzgerald
8/28 vs. Jeff Davis
9/4 at Miller County
9/18 at Bacon County
9/25 at Seminole County
10/2 at Irwin County
10/9 vs. Mitchell County
10/23 vs. Lanier County
10/30 vs. Charlton County
11/6 at Atkinson County

Projected record: 10-3, state quarterfinals

The GHSA football season officially started on Wednesday and many of the private schools get things started tonight.  Everyone will get it going next Friday night as I begin another high school football season.

34 Likes In A Minute

I am convinced that the most overused, non-profanity word is “like”.  It is crazy how much this word is grossly overused in conversations.  I overheard a conversation recently and actually counted that the word “like” was used 34 times in one minute.  It gets to the point of being ridiculous.  Why is the word “like” being used so much to the point of oblivion?

Here’s how the conversation went:

”I told him like this was like how we needed to go down to like Times Square because we like will be like in the middle of a bunch of people who like go down there and like a lot of tourists….”

You see what I mean?  So why do people do this?

Some have fallen into the habit of using it to fill gaps in their conversation because their brain is running faster than their mouth.  It is also a substitute for “um” or “uh”.  Using the the word “like” is the in thing now with current social habits for people to connect to their friends.

It is very annoying.  

Ways that people can calm down using the word “like”.  First, just slow down and take a break.  Be okay with taking a pause in your conversation instead of feeling compelled to add extra words.  Also practice the way you talk.

For me, I think overuse of the word “like” is just as annoying as when people use the F-word.  I get like very annoyed like people using the word “like” so much.

Three Ways That God Heals

When we prayer earnestly for God to heal, most of the time we are hoping it will be instant miracle.

Most of the time it isn’t. I have seen various ways God heals during my lifetime. I remember when I was growing up that my dad never took medicine and never went to the doctor. He believed totally in divine healing. I have seen him laying on the floor rolling in extreme pain believing God would heal him.

When I have encountered moments in my life when I or someone I love needed at healing that I knew it was going to be a lot of praying. I really can’t remember when I prayed and suddenly there was a healing.

Nothing really stands out in my mind but I do believe that God heals.

Here are the ways that He heals:.

Divine Healing
This is when healing occurs which defies any scientific explanation. A divine healing can happen instantaneously or over a period of time.

Some of the ways that divine healing works are:

By touch through the physical contact or the laying on of hands.
By the spoken word when someone commands the sickness to leave.

By faith and action where the recipient actively seeks out God or through obeying a specific instruction.

Healing Through Medicine
Contrary to what many Christians believe, God can use doctors and medicine to heal. In spite of all of the medical technology, there is never a guarantee that a treatment is going to work. The way our human bodies work is so complex.

Rather than viewing science and faith as competing, they are often complementary. Medicine is views by many as a divine gift of wisdom and doctors, nurses and treatments as instruments through which God brings restoration and healing.

The Ultimate Healing
This is one that none of wants to happen. This healing happens when someone passes from this life into eternity.

When we pass from our physical body we will experience the final healing and a place where there is no more pain or death.

Although we pray for a physical healing, the ultimate and complete restoration of our body and soul is fulfilled beyond physical death.

God always heals, we just don’t always know how or when He will perform the healing. None of us wants to suffer or see our loved ones suffer. We pray and believe that God will have compassion and answer our prayers for the healing. The challenge is for us to be prepared for how He does it.