The 2022 season is here, and ITG Next is ready to bring you our weekly Pick 6 showcase. These are the games we think are the best ones to watch each week, with a bit of insight into the teams and who we think has the edge in each matchup. The Week 1 games include Colquitt County and new head coach Sean Calhoun taking on Broward County (Florida) power Deerfield Beach. Here’s our look at that marquee contest, along with the rest of our Week 1 Pick 6 games.
1. Colquitt County vs. Deerfield Beach (FL)
Our first Week 1 Pick 6 matchup is one-half of the inaugural Georgia-Florida Classic, featuring two games between top teams from the Peach State and the Sunshine State, played at Martin Stadium, home to the Lowndes High Vikings. (Lowndes will host American Heritage in the other game).
This marks the debut of new head coaches for both teams: Colquitt welcomes home former assistant Sean Calhoun, while the Bucks have former Deerfield Beach standout and N.C. State product Tramian Hall back to lead his alma mater. This contest will showcase two consistently winning teams over the last several seasons, with both the Bucks and Pack averaging nine wins over the last four years.
This 2022 Packer team may be Colquitt’s most talented squad in some time, with their offense featuring UGA commits Landon Thomas (tight end) and Ny Carr (wide receiver), along with running back Charlie Pace and three-year starter Neko Fann at quarterback. The Colquitt defense boasts two of the finest safeties in the state in seniors Kamal Bonner and Tennessee commit Jack “White Lightning” Luttrell.
Deerfield Beach is led by junior QB Ryan Spallina, who transferred in the offseason from Stoneman Douglas, where as a sophomore and in just 10 quarters last season he threw for 629 yards and 7 TDs while completing 70% of his passes (39 for 56). This is two quality programs with talent all over the field, but I think Colquitt will show everyone why they are one of the favorites to challenge for the Georgia Class 7A state title in 2022.
Phil’s Pick: Colquitt County 41, Deerfield Beach 20
2. Walton vs. Mill Creek
This will be one of several great matchups that are part of this year’s Corky Kell Classic, with the Raiders of head coach Daniel Bruner taking on Josh Lovelady’s Mill Creek Hawks. Bruner opted to play a two-QB system last season, and he’s hoping it pays off as junior Jeremy Hecklinski takes over the job full-time this year. The junior signal caller told ITG Next Georgia that he’s spent the offseason getting ready for this game.
“Everything we have been doing this offseason has been preparing us to beat Mill Creek in the Corky Kell [Classic] on August 20th,” Hecklinski said.
The Raiders defense is by three-star LB Ashton Woods. The Hawks will look to the state’s top safety, five-star recruit Caleb Downs, to help stop Hecklinski and the Walton passing game. Offensively for Mill Creek, returning QB Hayden Clark will look to get the ball in the hands of his top receiving targets, Brendan Jenkins and Makhail Wood. All eyes will surely be on Downs, who may be the top safety in the country.
Phil’s Pick: Mill Creek 24, Walton 21
3. Lee County at Warner Robins
ITG Next Georgia Game of the Week
This will be the third straight season these two championship programs meet, but the first time they have opened the season against one another. This also marks the third consecutive season that ITG Next Georgia will stream the game. Lee County and Warner Robins have split the last two contests. Both teams are state title contenders again this season, so this will be a very good measuring stick for each squad to start the season.
Lee County is led by returning starting QB Chris Martin, who will look for his favorite receiving target, Jevell Fugerson, when throwing the ball, but he’ll also have the luxury three-year starting RB Ousmane Kromah in the backfield again this season.
Defensively, Lee County features a group of talented junior DBs in Devin Collier, Tameriz Williams, and Tion Garmon. Linebacker Jase Angry is another standout junior, and linemen Jaydon and Jackson Cory also are impact juniors on defense. Overall, Lee County is very young, with just one senior starting on defense, and three seniors starting on offense.
Meanwhile, the two-time defending 5A state champion Demons will have a powerful defense with maybe the best player on the field in DL Vic Burley. He will have Chayce Smith lining up beside him on the D-line, while returning LB Elijah Antonio rounds out the defensive leaders. Malcolm Brown returns from a leg injury to lead the offense, while Isaiah Cannon becomes the latest in a line of successful QBs for the Demons, replacing Christion Lane.
Warner Robins may have the edge in the kicking game with returning placekicker Daniel Barber; Lee County head coach Dean Fabrizio tells ITG Next that the Trojans’ kicking situation is still up for grabs. This Week 1 Pick 6 contest will be a good one.
Phil’s Pick: Lee County 28, Warner Robins 26
4. North Oconee at Oconee County
The Hog Mountain Bowl will not only pit cross county rivals Oconee County and North Oconee County against each other, but it will also be a matchup of two of the top programs in Northeast Georgia. North Oconee is the defending 4A-8 region champion and a state semifinalist last year, while Oconee County finished 10-2, losing in the second round of the 3A state playoffs last season.
Make no mistake: It’s still Oconee County who’s considered the top dog in Watkinsville, but the Titans and coach Tyler Aurandt are trying to change that. North Oconee will feature several key returners from last year’s team, including standout defensive backs Jack Fabris, who recently committed to Kansas State, and Khalil Barnes, the region Player of the Year who is committed to Wake Forest. Top Titans RB Dominic Elder is also back.
Oconee County has a new head coach after Travis Noland left to take over the Jefferson job. Ben Hall is his replacement, coming over from Flowery Branch. Hall takes over a Warriors team that will have eight returning starters on defense. The unit is led by Whit Weeks, an LSU commit and the team’s leading tackler last season; Dylan Manders, who also plays WR; and safety Billy Lewis, who snagged 8 interceptions last season and made 53 tackles. Lewis will also return kicks.
After an offseason battle between three different players for the starting quarterback position, Hall tells ITG Next that it will be junior Mac Ricks under center to start the season. This is a big-time rivalry and just good football between two really talented squads.
“It should be a good one,” Hall said.
Yes, Coach, it really should be.
Phil’s Pick: Oconee County 28, North Oconee 21
5. Cedar Grove at Bainbridge
This game came together after each team’s opening season opponent, both from Miami, canceled. (Two other Miami-area teams also pulled out of games with Marist and Stephenson.) Bainbridge was scheduled to play Dade Christian, while the Saints were supposed to play Edison. Now, instead of having to cancel their season openers, we get to see quite the matchup between the defending 3A state champs and Bainbridge, a team many believe could challenge for the 4A title in 2022.
Cedar Grove is loaded with talent, especially on defense, including three-star ATH Ricky Lee, four-star CB Kayin Lee, three-star edge rusher Adonijah Green, and three-star LB Everett Roussaw. The Bearcats will look to cut through that defense with returning starter Bo Smith at quarterback. The senior has over 2,200 career passing yards, along with 23 passing TDs. He’ll look to WR/ATH Antavious Murphy when throwing the football, but Murphy will be active elsewhere too, returning kicks and playing defensive back. This Week 1 Pick 6 game is a huge test for Jeff Littleton’s Bearcats in front of the home crowd at Centennial Field.
Phil’s Pick: Cedar Grove 26, Bainbridge 16
6. Irwin County at Fitzgerald
The Indians and Fitzgerald are coming off appearances in their respective classes’ state championship games, with the Hurricanes winning their first state title in 73 years and Irwin coming up a little short in their matchup with Brooks. While both teams lost some playmakers responsible for their great seasons, they will each have their QBs back in 2022.
The Purple Hurricanes have QB Sultan Cooper returning, while Irwin has three-year starter Cody Soliday back at QB. Soliday has thrown 49 TDs against just 11 interceptions over the last two seasons with over 3,700 yards passing, and he looked very solid in the Indians’ scrimmage win last week over Appling County, throwing two TD passes in their 19-0 shutout win over the Pirates.
Irwin will have returning RBs Damarkus Lundy and Shane Marshall back this year, while Fitzgerald will have Drew Moore and Robert Brown at wingback, with Sylon Davis and Diandre Paschal at fullback. ’Canes coach Tucker Pruitt tells ITG Next that the HB spot will be a “committee type deal with Ty Solomon, Tylar Williams, and four other backs seeing playing time.”
Fitzgerald played Coffee in one scrimmage game, but their second scheduled scrimmage game vs ECI was shortened due to bad weather, with Fitzgerald leading 7-0 after one quarter before the game was halted. This Week 1 Pick 6 game should be another great matchup between these two border rivals.
Phil’s Pick: Irwin 21, Fitzgerald 16
