7A Georgia Football Teams to Watch in 2021
It’s been just over three months since Grayson ran out the clock on Collins Hill, clinching its third state title in 10 years. Despite the lack of gameplay, talk of football hasn’t ceased. From teams unveiling their 2021 football schedules to coaching changes statewide, the topic of high school football in Georgia has been not been suppressed. So, why not add to the excitement? Combing through every available 7A Georgia football team’s upcoming roster and schedule, here are some of the teams I believe may surprise the state in 2021.
Camden County – From 2000 to 2012, the Wildcats were led by head coach Jeff Herron. In that stretch, they rolled to three state championships and 12 consecutive region titles. After coaching for three different schools since then, Coach Herron is back in Kingsland. Just given his track record, it seems relatively easy to consider Camden a threat in Region 1. But add in playmakers like RB Jamie Felix and QB Joshua Brown and you have a team with the potential to make a decent run in the playoffs.
Harrison – Unlike in 2019, wins didn’t come easy for the Hoyas in 2020, as they went 4-7 in their first season in 7A. However, they ended the 2020 season winning four of their last six games, even giving Grayson one of the Rams’ toughest playoff games. Harrison, with its physicality on both sides of the ball, will be back in 2021, ready to shock the state. Not many teams in this classification are built to stop the bulldozing style of play that the Hoyas bring out every Friday night. Look for them to avoid a “sophomore slump” in 7A and advance into the second round of the playoffs.
Mill Creek – The Hawks’ second season under head coach Josh Lovelady didn’t go as planned. A 5-6 record definitely did not turn heads, but some benefit of doubt must be given, as they played six top-10 opponents in nine weeks. However, losing QB Hayden Clark for several weeks certainly did hurt the Hawks, especially during a tough stretch of games that included Norcross, North Gwinnett and Collins Hill. With its leader in the game, Mill Creek took the eventual state champion Grayson into double overtime. Without him, the Hawks lost 31-0 to a previously stagnant offense in North Gwinnett. In 2021, all starters will be healthy, and Clark and 4-star safety Caleb Downs will attempt to prove their doubters wrong.
Walton – Back-to-back 6-6 seasons don’t seem promising, but Walton has geared up for a strong 2021 showing. While it won’t have any Dominick Blaylock-type standouts, the Raiders are very well-rounded. They have two solid options at quarterback, 3-star offensive tackle Cason Henry, 3-star WR Rawson MacNeill, and 3-star CB Marcus Allen. Talent is equally distributed amongst the team and this balance may help it defeat tough competition in Brookwood, West Forsyth and Roswell. Don’t be too surprised if the Raiders end the regular season with a 7-3 or 8-2 record.
Written by: Dhruv Mohan
