As we head down the final stretch of the Georgia high school football regular season, it’s a good time to take stock of where things are. This much we know: The 2022 season has already been one of the most entertaining we have had in a while. Teams that no one saw coming have emerged out of nowhere, and they give hope to any teams out there who may not be having the best season so far. It’s what makes high school football the best sport in the world. Here’s my look at a few surprise teams, as well as the favorites in each class of Georgia high school football.
Surprise, Surprise: Hiram Shocks Calhoun
The Hornets came into Friday’s game against Calhoun a serious underdog. After all, Calhoun was coming off a stunning three-overtime win over rival Cartersville, and they had defeated Hiram 63-17 last season. Hiram had won just one game in each of the last two seasons, although they had won three games entering this contest with the Yellow Jackets. It looked as if things would go as planned with Calhoun seizing a two-TD lead early in the game. But we should all know by now that this season has done anything but given us the status quo, and that was the case in this game as Hiram stormed back and shocked Calhoun 44-34.
Key 7-3A Battle: Lumpkin County vs. Gilmer
These two teams, who have struggled in recent seasons but played well this season, each entered Friday night’s key region matchup at 5-1 overall. Gilmer came into the game with a 2-0 region mark, while Lumpkin County was 1-1. That’s a significant jump from the last two seasons, when the teams were a combined 2-22 in region play and 7-33 overall over the past two seasons. But in this 2022 season that’s already seen several great turnaround stories, Lumpkin County and Gilmer are enjoying winning seasons. This night would belong to Lumpkin County, but not by much. The Indians won it 31-28 to improve to 6-1 on the year and 2-1 in region play, while Gilmer and coach Paul Standard fell to 5-2 overall, 2-1 in the region.
Where’s Loganville?
Well, geographically speaking, Loganville is actually split between two counties, Gwinnett and Walton, and sits on U.S. Hwy. 78 about 45 minutes east of Atlanta. A well-known car dealer used the “Where’s Loganville?” as its trademark catch phrase for years, and it made this small Georgia town sort of famous. But if you’re talking about where the Red Devils are in the standings, they sit undefeated and 8-0 overall, with a 4-0 region record in 8-5A. They are on pace to gain more wins this season than they have had in the three previous seasons combined, with an 11-21 record from 2019 to 2021. They are coming off an exciting 28-26 win over Clarke Central, whom they lost to last season in another close game, 27-24. They have Jefferson and Flowery Branch to get by in their final two games to finish with a perfect regular season.
The Favorites
With just a few games remaining, it looks like Buford, Colquitt County and Mill Creek are the favorites in Georgia high school football Class 7A at this moment. But teams such as Valdosta, Lowndes, Carrollton, North Cobb, and a few others could get hot come playoff time, so it’ll be loads of fun watching things unfold.
Class 6A has Hughes, Lee County, Brunswick, Gainesville, and Thomas County Central as the leading favorites, but teams like Rome and Houston County could step up in the 2022 Georgia high school football postseason.
In 5A, don’t count out defending champion Warner Robins. The Demons are starting to show signs of rebounding from a slow start, and with head coach Marquise Westbrook having already guided this program into five consecutive title games, it would not be wise to count out the Demons. Ware County, Calhoun, and Cartersville are the favorites in 5A, but also keep an eye on Coffee and Creekside.
4A is wide open, with Benedictine, North Oconee, and Perry my favorites to win it all, but Tanner Glisson has Troup undefeated and looking pretty good through their first seven games of this 2022 Georgia high school football season.
In Class 3A, defending champion Cedar Grove is in the driver’s seat, but Dougherty and Carver- Atlanta are not far behind. And look out for Sandy Creek – the Patriots were my team to watch in the preseason, and sure enough, they are poised to strike.
Class 2A is loaded with great teams, with Fitzgerald leading the pack right now. My team to watch? Northeast.
With apologies to Swainsboro and Prince Avenue Christian, my Georgia high school football Class A Division 1 favorites are Brooks County and Irwin County, winners of the last three state titles between them.
Finally, in Class A Division 2, I really like what Joel Harvin is doing in Early County. Clinch County is very quietly sticking around, and I probably don’t have to remind you of the number of state championship trophies sitting in head coach Don Tison’s office.
High school football, 2022 style: It’s pure Friday night fun.
