2021 Corky Kell Classic Preview
Is it too early to look towards the 2021 Georgia high school football season? Definitely not! The 30th annual Corky Kell Classic kicks off on Aug. 18 with several star-studded matchups. Let’s take a look at four games that will kick off the season in this 2021 Corky Kell Classic preview.
Buford at North Cobb (Friday, 8:30 p.m.): Revenge is certainly on the Wolves’ mind, as North Cobb spoiled Buford’s undefeated 2020 campaign with a season-opening upset. Buford will return several key playmakers like RB Victor Venn, S Jake Pope, and WR/CB Isaiah Bond, all current juniors. They will have to take on rising star QB Malachi Singleton for the Warriors in a notoriously tough Kennesaw environment. It is fitting that this game holds the primetime television slot on a night loaded with other week one matchups across the state.
Mill Creek vs. Parkview (Saturday, 11:45 a.m.): It seemed relatively logical to pit these teams against each other after their 2020 Corky Kell matchup was canceled due to the coronavirus. Parkview will make its first ever trip to Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a team that loses its top 4 leading rushers and 8 of their 9 leading receivers as part of the 2021 class, leaving gaping holes at important skill positions. Mill Creek, on the other hand, will feature star 4-star S Caleb Downs and QB Hayden Clark, whose 2020 campaign was interrupted by injury. Both teams are losing several receiving threats this year, which may influence them to run more in the first game of 2021.
Lowndes vs. Walton (Saturday, 2:45 p.m.): While it may seem easy to write Walton off against a Jacurri Brown-led Lowndes team, the Raiders can shut down the passing game with CBs Angelo Brown, Jr. and Marcus Allen, the latter of whom has 4 stars. Lowndes figures to be heavily reliant on the aforementioned Jacurri Brown, who passed and rushed for over 1,000 yards this past year. He will have help from cousins Tylar and Chase Belcher, who have proved critical on both sides of the football. Expect Lowndes to be safely favored but Walton to make a strong push for the upset bid behind an all-rounded performance.
North Gwinnett vs. Hoover (Saturday, 5:45 p.m.): This is the first Corky Kell matchup ever to feature an out-of-state team. The Hoover Buccaneers have won 13 state championships in Alabama, with the last being in 2017. For North Gwinnett, defense was key in 2020, as quarterback issues and lack of a passing game disabled them greatly. Hoover leaned on senior QB Josh Lundy last year, who passed for 2,209 yards and 22 TDs. However, without both him and 3 of their top 4 leading receivers, they may have some trouble early on against a stout North Gwinnett defense. This should result in a low-scoring matchup, and Hoover would seem to be slightly favored. However, if the passing dimension can be re-established in the Bulldog offense, the odds could change rapidly.
Written by: Dhruv Mohan
