CALHOUN YELLOW JACKETS vs. RIDGELAND PANTHERS at Barron Stadium in Rome, Georgia, 5:30 p.m.
Storyline: This game will serve as the opener for the state of Georgia as part of the Corky Kell Classic lineup, and it features two of northwest Georgia's most successful teams of the past few seasons. Calhoun, the 2017 state champion and the top-ranked team in Class AAA, should have a powerful offense, led by three-year starting QB Gavin Gray, TE Davis Allen, RB Zach Fuller and WR Brannon Spector. Allen and Spector, both Clemson recruits, also head up a defense that should carry on the Calhoun legacy of elite units. Ridgeland ushers in the Cortney Braswell coaching era and with it a switch to the spread offense. Senior QB Tanner Hill will team with playmakers Stephon Walker, Azavier and Jordan Blackwell and Terrance and Torrance Roberts. Both teams had heavy graduation losses on the defensive line, and with the possibility of the offenses running plays at high speed, depth and conditioning on defense may be the difference.
CENTRAL PURPLE POUNDERS vs. WALKER VALLEY MUSTANGS at Finley Stadium, 6 p.m.
Storyline: Central opened last season by outlasting the Mustangs in a shootout as the teams combined for 84 points. The Purple Pounders have a new, defensive-minded head coach - Curt Jones, who helped Notre Dame reach the Division II-AA title game last year as the Fighting Irish's defensive coordinator - which should make them tougher on that side of the ball. They also bring back 15 total starters, including dual-threat QB Jaheim Jones and powerful RB Michael McGhee (5-foot-10, 195 pounds) from an offense that scored 30-plus points seven times last year. Walker Valley will be one of the most inexperienced teams in the area, with three offensive starters back and only seven seniors on the roster. The Mustangs must replace not only a record-setting QB but also nearly every other skill position starter.
SWEETWATER WILDCATS at MEIGS COUNTY TIGERS, 7:30 p.m.
Storyline: The Tigers are the area's most veteran-laden team with nine defensive starters back and all 11 returning from an offense that averaged 39 points per game in 2017 and helped the program to its first unbeaten regular season in more than 20 years. Topping the list of returning starters is QB/DB Aaron Swafford, a 2017 state Mr. Football finalist who threw for more than 1,500 yards and ran for another 1,200. Also back is 1,000-yard rusher Martin Smith. Meigs County struggled to put Sweetwater away in last year's season opener, holding on for a five-point win, but is a much more confident team as the new season begins.
BAYLOR RED RAIDERS vs. NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH at Finley Stadium, 8:30 p.m.
Storyline: When the teams met to open last season, the Irish were still searching for an offensive identity - and Baylor jumped on them quickly. After establishing the single-wing, Notre Dame rebounded to average 43 points per game to reach the DII-AA title matchup. The Irish bring back nine offensive starters, including 2017 state Mr. Football finalist Cam Wynn, a versatile athlete who accounted for some 2,000 yards in 2017. That experience and the confidence from last year's run of 11 straight wins should make for a more competitive outcome, although Baylor's defensive front, which includes Christian Harris (6-3, 260), could again limit the running lanes. The Red Raiders' offense is inexperienced but does have Lorenzo White, a three-year starter at QB.