re: Georgia HS football starts Friday night!

quote:

---

By Todd Holcomb, GHSF Daily

Only three defending state football champions will start the year ranked No. 1 as reclassification will make things a bit harder on the 2019's best teams.

Cedar Grove in Class 3A, Eagle’s Landing Christian in 1A Private and Irwin County in 1A Public are the reigning champs that return as No. 1 in the preseason Atlanta Journal-Constitution rankings. Each returns a good core of its 2019 starters.

Cedar Grove has won three of the past four state titles in 3A. ELCA has won a state-record five straight, Irwin has four preseason all-state players back from the ’19 team that won its first state title since 1975.

“This team has all the tools to be special,” Irwin County coach Casey Soliday said. “It could be as good as last year.”

In 7A, Grayson is No. 1 while defending champion Marietta is No. 8. Grayson, which defeated Marietta in the 2019 regular season before reaching the state quarterfinals, has five preseason all-state players.

Marietta graduated eight players who signed with Power Five conference teams, including, including Gatorade national player of the year Arik Gilbert. Lowndes, the 2019 runner-up, is ranked No. 2. That doesn’t mean Marietta and other rebuilding 2019 champions won’t still be factors. ...

---