Cedar Grove has established itself as Class 3A’s best program in the past half-decade. The once-struggling Saints have found a foothold among Georgia’s most dominant teams, claiming four state championships since 2016. Cedar Grove has been playing football since 1972, but its 2022 schedule this season might bring the Saints’ biggest challenges yet.
It took only one season for head coach John Adams to win a state title with the Saints. Their 12-3 campaign in 2021 featured a 30-point rout of Carver-Atlanta in the state championship game, but also a tough non-region schedule that included south Georgia powers Colquitt County and Lowndes. That level of competition has been a point of emphasis for Adams, and he made sure to line up a difficult schedule again in 2022.
The Saints’ first three matchups were against Bainbridge, Edison (FL), and Westlake. Edison cancelled their contest, but Cedar Grove slugged out landmark wins over the other two perennial title contenders. The Saints overcame a lightning delay on the road at Bainbridge to win 30-14 and rolled through a top-10 Westlake squad on the road again, 30-20. For several Georgia schools, these two opponents alone comprise a difficult non-region schedule. Not for Cedar Grove.
The next four weeks feature the hardest stretch for any team in Georgia and one of the toughest months for any team nationwide. The gauntlet begins with the Saints visiting Collins Hill, the defending 7A state champion, then returning to Gwinnett County to face 2nd-ranked Mill Creek a week later. Another road trip to South Georgia awaits as Cedar Grove attempts to avenge last season’s loss to Colquitt County in Moultrie. Lastly, the Saints make their longest trip yet: a journey to Washington, D.C. to face off against perennial national power St. John’s College.
A short region schedule provides little relief for Cedar Grove before the start of playoffs. Following a bye week, the Saints take on Douglass in what likely will be the easiest matchup of the season. Cedar Grove then travels to rival Sandy Creek for a rematch of last season’s stunning upset. The Saints’ regular season closes with another rematch, this time against defending state runner-up Carver-Atlanta.
Throughout the regular season, Cedar Grove will have played eight ranked teams, the most of any Georgia school in recent history. Other than Westlake, seven opponents would be ranked within the top seven in their respective classifications, if current rankings hold.
While this rigorous schedule will certainly draw attention to both Cedar Grove and its athletes, it may have some unintended side effects. Losses could begin to tally for the Saints relatively quickly. It will be nearly impossible to escape this upcoming four-game stretch without a defeat.
The Saints fell to Colquitt County, Lowndes, and Sandy Creek last season and have lost several talented players with key experience. That lack of tenure will show against stellar competition this season. Additionally, playing nearly every contest away from home adds to the difficulty, as road environments often favor the home team.
On a deeper level, players’ health and mental stability may be challenged. With no easy games, mere high schoolers will be thrust into the spotlight and forced to perform at the highest level each week with no break. It takes immense strength and maturity to overcome frustration and allow the body to heal each week. Exhaustion late in games may be more evident due to the physical nature of the opponent and younger players may be placed under pressure unlike any they’ve experienced before.
Finally, winning the state championship is no guarantee despite all the preparation possible. Upsets still happen, and with Cedar Grove having played such tough competition all season long, they may tend to overlook a seemingly weak 3A playoff opponent. Such was the case in 2017 against fourth-ranked Calhoun and in 2015 against unranked Westminster.
Cedar Grove has placed itself on the national stage with a schedule rivaling the nation’s best programs. With that prestige comes several challenges, many of which the Saints have already experienced. The remainder of their regular season is daunting and it will truly test the integrity of the team and the program as a whole. Will Cedar Grove rise up to the challenge or will the 2022 schedule get the best of them?
