August 18
Turner County at Dougherty
Series Record: First Meeting
After a strong 8-3 season in 2015, the Turner County Rebels look to get off to a strong start tonight against the Trojans at Dougherty High. Coach Ben Simmons' Rebels will be led by preseason All-State selection Tamorrion Terry. In last week's scrimmage against Tift County, Terry caught a long touchdown pass for the Rebels' only score against the AAAAAAA Blue Devils. Turner won its' first six games in a row in 2015. Simmons and his team would love to get off to a similar start in 2016 against the Trojans, which were 3-5 last season.
August 19
Tift County vs. South Effingham
(Erk Russell Classic at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro)
Series Record: First Meeting
The Tift County Blue Devils will be facing South Effingham at the annual Erk Russell Classic held at Paulsen Stadium in Statesboro. The contest will be the first of two neutral site games for coach Ashley Anders' squad this season as the Devils will travel to Orlando September 1 to face ThunderRidge High (Colorado) in a game at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World. South Effingham will be a good early season test for the Devils as the Mustangs went 7-4 in AAAAA last season. Tift went 5-0 to begin 2015, but finished at 5-5 and winless in league play. However, the Devils did build some momentum late in the regular season giving eventual state champion Colquitt County one of their closest games of the year before falling 41-33.
Tiftarea Academy at Georgia Christian
Series Record: 2-0 Tiftarea leads
While all of the public schools in the area begin their regular season play this week (the exception being Fitzgerald which is open), the Tiftarea Academy Panthers opened up last week with a 40-13 loss to Robert Toombs. Their opponent this week, Georgia Christian also opened with a loss, 47-7 to Rredrica Academy. A win will hopefully get the Panthers of head coach Tully Payne on the right track in 2016, after winning only twice last season.
Irwin County at Berrien High
Series Record: 28-15-1 Irwin leads
In what could be one of the longest rivalries in south Georgia, the Berrien High Rebels will be taking on the Irwin County Indians for the 45th time. Bill Cribb will be taking over the helm of the Rebels after Ed Pilcher announced his retirement. Pilcher led the Rebels to the state playoffs in 2014, going 4-7. It was Berrien's best season since 1995, the last time the Rebels finished with an above .500 winning record. After two straight trips to the state Class A Public School Finals, and three straight trips to the state semifinals, the Indians hope to knock the door down in 2016. Irwin lost All-State performer DJ Pollard, but has a number of weapons returning, including Ziaire Andrews.
Cook High at Brooks County
Series Record: 25-24 Brooks leads
The Cook High Hornets of coach Bobby Jones make the short trip to Quitman to face the Brooks County Trojans for the 50th time in series history. Brooks has won three straight meetings in the series to take a 25-24 overall lead. Cook was tested in preseason scrimmages against Turner and AAAAAA Lee County. Brooks will have a number of key players back from the team that gave eventual state finalist Fitzgerald its' only regular season loss in 2015.
Worth County at Thomas County Central
Series Record: 21-11-1 TCC leads
The Worth County Rams went 8-4 in 2015 and made a run in the state Class AAA playoffs. With that record last season, the Rams are a popular preseason pick to win Region 1-AAA this season. Their first game should get them ready for league play when the team travels to Thomasville to face the Class AAAAA Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets. TCC moved up two classifications after being in 1-AAA last season. Worth defeated the Jackets 42-28 in that league game in 2015.
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