Labor Day weekend brings some attractive matchups in Week 3 of the 2026 Georgia high school football season, including four interstate games featuring Georgia powerhouse programs taking on some of the best teams from around the country. ITG Next broadcaster Phil Jones gives his score predictions for the top six games being played.
Buford at Mallard Creek (North Carolina)
Friday, Sept. 4
The Buford Wolves head north to Charlotte, North Carolina, to take on the Mallard Creek Mavericks in one of four high-profile interstate matchups involving Georgia high school football programs.
The two teams met previously in 2023, with Buford winning a close defensive affair 10-7, and last season, when Mallard Creek traveled to Georgia and played Grayson, losing 63-13.
Both teams are undefeated entering this early-season matchup. Buford has won its only game, a nationally televised matchup on ESPN against Gainesville in Week 1, by a 39-19 score. The Mavericks are 2-0. They defeated defending Virginia state champion Maury High School of Norfolk, Virginia, 31-30 and Rolesville High School of Rolesville, North Carolina, 35-25.
As good as Mallard Creek is, it hasn’t been able to solve its Georgia high school opponents. Does that change with this game?
Phil’s Pick: Buford 35, Mallard Creek 21
Carrollton at Catholic (Louisiana)
Friday, Sept. 4
Yet another big-time interstate matchup features a Georgia powerhouse program, as head coach Joey King’s Carrollton team travels to Baton Rouge to take on Louisiana power Catholic High School.
Catholic was 10-3 last season and a semifinalist in Louisiana’s Class 5A Division I Select playoffs. The Bears have won five state championships in Louisiana, with their most recent title coming in 2023.
Carrollton lost to Buford in the 2025 GHSA Class 7A state final and has appeared in two other state championship games under King in 2022 and 2024.
This will be the 2026 season opener for the Bears, while the Trojans have played two games so far, defeating Rome 55-7 and Columbia 61-6.
Of all the Georgia and out-of-state matchups this Labor Day weekend, this one could be the most entertaining.
Phil’s Pick: Carrollton 26, Catholic 21
Gainesville at East St. Louis (Illinois)
Friday, Sept. 4
One of the interstate matchups involving Georgia high school football programs this weekend sends the Gainesville Red Elephants to Illinois to take on the East St. Louis Flyers. Both programs played for state championships last year and lost. Gainesville fell to Thomas County Central 62-21, and East St. Louis fell to Fenwick 38-28 in an upset in the Illinois Class 6A state title game.
Despite the loss, the Flyers are a traditional state powerhouse with 11 state championships.
Gainesville is 0-1 after losing to Buford in the season opener for both teams. East St. Louis is 1-1 after losing at American Heritage in Plantation, Florida, 35-28 in overtime last week.
In its Week 1 loss at Buford, Gainesville had two costly turnovers that directly resulted in touchdowns for the Wolves. If the Red Elephants cut out the mistakes, I like Gainesville in this one.
Phil’s Pick: Gainesville 35, East St. Louis 30
Grayson at Hughes
Friday, Sept. 4
The Hughes Panthers are 1-0 on the season after defeating North Atlanta 56-7 in its season opener two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, the Grayson Rams are staring at a must-win situation just three weeks into the season. The 0-2 start is not what new head coach Greg Carswell was envisioning when he took over for former head coach Santavious Bryant. The Rams’ poor start to the season has the Georgia high school football community wondering what is going on in Loganville.
So far Hughes is looking like everyone expected, while Grayson is not, but a win could make things much better for Rams country.
It’s time for some good news for Rams fans.
Phil’s Pick: Grayson 32, Hughes 28
Warner Robins at Northside (Warner Robins)
Friday, Sept. 4
One of the state’s biggest high school rivalries takes center stage as Northside and head coach Daniel “Boone” Williams go toe-to-toe with Warner Robins and head coach Shane Sams at McConnell-Talbert Stadium.
Sams has his Demons off to a 2-0 start, but they had to scratch and claw to come away with victories against Northeast and Veterans. They’ll likely be looking at another game like those when they face the Eagles and Williams as Northside enters looking for its second win of the season.
It’ll be a battle at The Mac as Williams looks to turn the program around and exorcise some Demons.
Phil’s Pick: Warner Robins 28, Northside 21
Creekside at St. Joseph Regional (New Jersey)
Saturday, Sept. 5
Neither team expected to be 0-1 entering this matchup of nationally ranked powers and defending state champions from their respective states.
After all, Creekside didn’t lose a single game last year en route to winning the GHSA Class 4A state championship with a 15-0 record, and St. Joseph Regional only losses were back-to-back defeats to New Jersey rivals St. Peter’s Prep 29-28 and Don Bosco Prep 24-21.
Yet here they are, both winless after dropping their season openers. Creekside lost to Alabama state champion Clay-Chalkville, and St. Joseph Regional fell to Chicago Mount Carmel 48-44.
This game has almost turned into a must-win situation for both programs, as ridiculous as that sounds.
Whichever team wins evens its record at 1-1 and can move forward, while the loser will be forced to dig out of an 0-2 hole against a tough schedule.
