August is here, and it is the first week of school for most in the CSRA. The beginning of the school year is can be a stressful time for most, but for me, it just means that high school football is about to kick off. We had several great games last season, and I hope to see the same excitement in 2024. Here are 10 of my favorite games for the upcoming 2024 regular season.
Thomson at Evans Aug. 16
A non-region matchup we rarely see during the high school football regular season, but one to look forward to starting the year. These two teams have faced off in the preseason the last few years where Thomson has won.
Evans is coming off a 4-7 season (3-3 Region) and a 31-14 loss against Woodward in the first round of the 6A Georgia High School Football State Playoffs. Kicker Tyler Wallace and Georgia offensive lineman commit Mason Short are a couple of the notable returning seniors for the Knights. Evans also added star senior wide receiver/defensive back Buddyrow Garrer from Aquinas for the 2024 season. Garrer is committed to Kent State University to play football season.
Thomson finished 10-2 and 6-0 in the 2A region last season. The Bulldogs fell in the second round of 2A region playoffs against Toombs County 41-30. Another Kent State commit, senior running back Anthony Jeffery, returns for Thomson looking to help the Bulldogs win another state title like they did in 2022.
Augusta Christian at Lincoln County Aug. 16
I am not sure what to expect from this game as Lincoln County is very tough matchup for Augusta Christian, but I am excited to see how both teams start the season.
Augusta Christian hired new head coach Mark Ethridge after the 1-2 start last season. Ethridge spent 27 years on Jefferson’s County coaching staff. The Lions finished 4-7 (3-3 region) and lost in the first round of the South Carolina Independent Schools Association 4A state playoffs last season. Defensive back/wide receiver Dallas Carter and linebacker Carson Smith are two notable seniors to keep an eye on for the 2024 season. Carter was named first team All-State Defensive Back in 2023, where he ranked No. 1 in Georgia with nine interceptions and also recorded 55 tackles. He also caught 41 passes for 661 yards and eight touchdowns.
Lincoln County finished the 2023 season 7-6 (2-2 region) and lost in the second round of the playoffs last season. Senior CJ Crite is one the Red Devils captains again this year. Crite finished with 549 receiving yards and eight touchdowns at receiver as a junior last season. At Linebacker, Crite totaled 139 tackles and 17 tackles for a lost. The 2025 graduate is committed to the University of Cincinnati.
Grovetown at Greenbrier Aug. 23
Both teams have struggled in recent years, only winning a combined three games last season. Grovetown has won each matchup against Greenbrier since 2020, but the Wolfpack will try and change that with new leadership in 2024.
Former Offensive Coordinator of the Thomson Bulldogs and assistant coach of Burke County Sean Tiernan will be the new head coach of the Wolfpack this season after the retirement of former head coach Tony Kramer. Greenbrier has only won one game total in the last two seasons, winning their final game last year. Senior defensive back Ryan Clayborn is one of the leaders and top players for the Wolfpackgoing into the 2024 season.
Grovetown finished 2-8 (0-6) region last season. The Warriors are the only team in CSRA that have stayed in the 6A Region. Grovetown’s Marques Fobbs and Jaden Howard are two of the Warriors top seniors.
Laney at Hephzibah Aug. 23
Two of the top Richmond County schools will match up once again. Laney has won the previous two matchups against Hephzibah, including a 16-13 win over the Rebels last season.
The Wildcats finished 8-3-1 (4-1 region) in 2023 and ended with a loss in the second round Region 4–AA playoffs. Just like a lot of other programs, Laney did lose some star senior power. Senior Defensive end and fullback James Pride will be one of the upper classmen looking to lead Laney to another winning season.
Hephzibah finished last year with a 7-4 (3-2 region) record and ended their season after losing in the first round Region 4 3A playoffs. One of the Rebels top seniors last year, running back Telly Johnson, graduated and now playing at Northern Illinois University. Senior Quarterback JJ Gant will be the main face of the Rebels offense in 2024. Gant finished with 1041 passing yards, 318 rushing and 15 total touchdowns in 2023.
Evans at Lakeside Sept. 6
A rivalry game every high school football fan looks forward to each year. The last two seasons, this game has been very close as Evans won 16-15 in 2023 and Lakeside won 21-20 in 2022.
The Panthers finished last season with a 3-7 (1-5 region) record. Lakeside is led by many seniors including offensive tackle Evan Scott, running back/linebacker Brandon Grissom, tight end/defensive end Jack Thexton, Ayaan Sharfudeen, wide receiver/ cornerback Ty Jones and quarterback Mikeal Grissom. Scott committed to play football at the Duke University back in June.
Thomson at Burke County Oct. 4
Another rivalry game that may be the most looked forward to game in the CSRA each year. Thomson has opened the season with loss against Burke the last two seasons, losing both games by three points or less.
Burke County finished last season 8-3 (3-2 region). The Bears now moved down from 4A to 2A, along with Thomson who made the move from 3A back in 2022. Senior running back A’Meere Williams returns for his final season with the Bears as one of the top rushers in the local area.
Aquinas at Harlem Oct. 11
What a game this was in 2023 as Harlem defeated Aquinas in a 47-42 shootout. The Bulldogs have gotten the upper hand against the Fightin’ Irish the last three seasons, winning each game by only one score.
Aquinas finished 9-3 (3-1 region) last season. The Irish will may be motivated this season more than ever with their new stadium built and ready for action. Despite losing a couple of upperclassmen last year, Aquinas is led by one of the top quarterbacks in the CSRA in Jim Franklin. Franklin, who committed to Davidson back in June, finished with 3,279 total yards and 40 total touchdowns in 2023.
Harlem finished with a 7-4 (4-1 region) record last season, losing the region title to Morgan County. Harlem is led by seniors’ defensive back/wide receiver Ronald Oliver, offensive lineman Taylor Hart, and linebacker Baylor Davis.
Midland Valley at North Augusta Nov. 1
This matchup was the game of the year last season with Midland Valley defeating North Augusta 49-48 in their 4A Region title game. It was the first time the Mustangs defeated the Yellow Jackets in 25 years.
Midland Valley was a top team last season with 12-1 (4-0 region) record. The Mustangs lost in the semifinals of the playoffs to the eventual South Carolina 4A champions Westside (Anderson, S.C.) It will be interesting to see what the Mustangs will do after losing superstar running back Traevon Dunbar, who is now at West Virginia. Linebacker Andon Hawkins and running back Preston McNair will be a couple of seniors for the Mustangs to watch in 2024.
North Augusta finished in 2023 with a 7-4 (3-1 region) record. Wide receiver Connor Brown, Quarterback Corey Tillman and linebacker Deondre Baskett are three of top Yellowjacket seniors in 2024.
ARC at Aquinas Nov. 1
One of the oldest rivalries in the area, dating back to the 1940s when Richmond Academy and Boys Catholic High School football teams would play football games on Thanksgiving Day with a capacity crowd. The Fightin’ Irish defeated the Musketeers 34-10 last year in an opening scrimmage game. ARC will travel to Aquinas’s new stadium for the last regular season game of the year.
ARC finished last season with a 4-7 (2-3 region) record. Senior Linebackers Miles Butler and Will Dunagan are two seniors to watch on the defensive side of the ball for the Musketeers.
Burke County at Laney Nov. 2
Another interesting region matchup to end the regular season. Some might say Burke County could dominate this game, which could be the case, but you just never know. These two teams I do not think have faced off in the regular season in a while and it is a interesting region game to see now that Burke County has moved down to 2A. The Bears did defeat the Wildcats 28-16 last season in an opening scrimmage game.
Sportswriter Christopher Rickerson, an Augusta University graduate, has covered area sports for Augusta University, The Augusta Press and Augusta Good News. Subscribe to the Augusta Good News newsletter here.
