Our weekly Pick 6 is back for another season of game predictions, and we start off with six season openers in Week 1 that feature some of the top teams and talent to keep an eye on during the 2024 Georgia high school football season.
Lee County vs Warner Robins
The first of our live streamed games this year has us in Leesburg as Lee County and Warner Robins kick off the 2024 season. This marks the third consecutive year that the two teams have faced off against each other to start the season, with Lee County having won the first two matchups.
This game pits two of the state’s top offensive and defensive players against each other with senior running back Ousmane Kromah leading Lee County and defensive end Isaiah Gibson leading Warner Robins.
Phil’s Pick: Lee County 28, Warner Robins 26
Milton vs Buford
Defending Class 7A state champion Milton is now a member of Class 5A, but the Eagles remain one of the state’s most talented programs regardless of what classification they’re in.
Milton has ITG Next’s top-rated Georgia quarterback Luke Nickel, a Miami Hurricane commit, returning to lead their offense this season.
Buford is trying to get back to the top of Class 6A, and the Wolves can take a big step toward that goal with a win at Milton. Can Buford shake off a less-than-stellar performance against Hughes last week in their preseason scrimmage?
Phil’s Pick: Milton 35, Buford 28
Brunswick vs Camden County
This game features two of ITG Next’s Top 10 tight ends in the state with Camden County’s Elyiss Williams and Brunswick’s Heze Kent leading their respective teams in this matchup of coastal neighbors.
It’s also a battle of two Top 10 teams as both the Pirates and Wildcats are ranked in their respective classifications in ITG Next’s Georgia high school football preseason rankings. Camden County is ranked No. 6 in our Class 6A poll, and head coach Garrett Grady’s Brunswick team is ranked No. 10 in the super tough Class 5A heading into the season.
This game marks the debut of Camden County’s new head football coach, Travis Roland.
Phil’s Pick: Camden County 28, Brunswick 21
Langston Hughes vs Westlake
The Langston Hughes Panthers looked solid in their scrimmage win at Buford last week with new QB Christian “C5” Langford leading the offense.
Hughes head football coach Daniel “Boone” Williams said heading into that game that he was ready for this season and to see his playmakers in 2024.
“I’m eager to see Christian, Jabari Jones, and Jovanni McGee get going outside,” Williams said. “Those guys have had awesome offseasons.”
The Westlake Lions have a few playmakers of their own in this one with three-star running back Tomir Bransford, who recently committed to Georgia State, and four-star wideout Travis Smith Jr., a Tennessee commit.
This is the debut for new Westlake head football coach Morris Mitchell. Mitchell, the team’s former defensive coordinator, was promoted following the resignation of Rico Zackery, who left to take a college coaching position.
Phil’s Pick: Langston Hughes 35, Westlake 31
Cedar Grove vs Douglas County
2023 Class 3A state champion Cedar Grove kicks off the defense of their title against Douglas County in this Corky Kell + Dave Hunter Classic matchup at Mercedes Benz Stadium on Saturday.
They’ll do it with a new head coach and without All-State running back Bo Walker, who transferred in the offseason. Rod Moore has taken over the reins as head coach of the Saints, replacing John Adams, who is now at Georgia State as an assistant.
Douglas County is led by quarterback DJ Bordeaux and five-star wide receiver Aaron Gregory on offense and by phenom edge Jordan Carter on defense.
Can Cedar Grove prove they are still the team to beat?
Phil’s Pick: Douglas County 30, Cedar Grove 21
Marist vs Jefferson
These two teams got close to the ultimate goal of playing for a state championship last season, with both Jefferson and Marist advancing to the state semifinals in their respective classifications. Jefferson’s only loss in 2023 came against Creekside in the Class 5A semifinals, while Marist fell to Thomas County Central, the eventual Class 6A state champion.
These are two great programs led by two veteran football coaches: Jefferson’s Travis Noland and Marist’s Alan Chadwick, who is the state’s longest tenured head coach and will be kicking off his 40th season as Marist’s head coach this year.
This will be one to watch.
