Friday, Aug. 27, 2021
Proposal irks private schools
Plan would create separate playoffs for 9 largest
Georgia’s largest private schools will be competing for their own state championships independent of public schools beginning with the 2022-23 academic year if a proposal by the Georgia High School Association’s reclassification committee chairman gets approval in October.
 
The private schools most affected – Benedictine, Blessed Trinity, Greater Atlanta Christian, Lovett, Marist, Pace Academy, St. Pius, Westminster and Woodward Academy – are unanimously against the idea and hint they’ll consider leaving the GHSA if forced to compete only among themselves.
 
“We want to be part of the GHSA moving forward, but we will have a good plan for all possible outcomes,” said Greater Atlanta Christian athletic director and football coach Tim Hardy, who presented a collective counterproposal to the reclassification committee this week that would keep private and public schools together.
 
Those nine private schools won 35 of the 75 championships during the past academic year in 5A, 4A, 3A and 2A, the classifications in which they currently complete. They won seven other state titles in sports such as volleyball and swimming that combine classes. There are 222 public schools in 5A, 4A, 3A and 2A.
 
“With the amount of phone calls and complaints that were made this year, something has to happen because the public schools in 2A through 5A just feel they do not have a fair shot to advance or win state championships,” said Dr. Curt Miller, the reclassification chairman, a member of the GHSA’s board of trustees and the athletic director at Oconee County, a Class 3A public school.
 
Miller, expressing a widespread opinion among public schools, believes private schools have a competitive advantage because they can accept students from anywhere. Public schools have school district boundaries. Miller proposes keeping private schools in traditional regions with public schools but separating them for state playoffs and meets.
 
The GHSA separated public and private schools for Class A state playoffs in 2012 but left the larger private schools alone.

Any change requires approval from the GHSA’s 75-member executive committee. Its next meeting is Oct. 3-4. Most committee members represent regions with majority public schools, meaning they can impose their will on the private schools if they choose.
 
GHSA executive director Dr. Robin Hines isn’t taking sides. “I don’t have a vote regarding reclassification,” he said. “I just implement the plan provided by the reclassification committee that is approved by the full committee. I value all of our members.”
 
After the October meeting, the GHSA will begin its biannual process of placing its 450-plus member schools into classifications based primarily on enrollment numbers. Private school historically have received enrollment multipliers and other gadgets to move them into higher classifications, but many public schools don’t believe they go far enough.
 
The counterproposal, presented by Hardy on behalf of all nine private schools, starts by moving GAC and Westminster up into 4A and Lovett and Pace into 3A, freeing 2A of private schools except for Riverside Military. See the full proposal here.
 
More creatively, the plan calls for moving individual private-school sports teams into higher classes based on their track record. For example, a private school’s tennis team might play in 6A or 7A after winning state titles in lower classes while that school’s wrestling program could remain in 3A. Alabama uses a similar model, and California, Pennsylvania and Ohio also use formulas or power ratings to help classify teams, according to Hardy.
 
“Our proposal uses results, not all of the other debatable factors, to guide efforts to achieve competitive balance,” Hardy said.
 
Miller doesn’t like that idea because it means keeping nearly the status quo for two more years.
 
“No matter how high they go in classification, they’re still going to be competing against schools with designated school zones,” he said.
 
The nine private schools are equally disenchanted with Miller’s plan.
 
“We categorically reject this model as something that is in any way equitable to the opportunities provided to the other members of the GHSA,” Hardy said. “The proposed model is based on a separate but equal concept. Though it is separate, it is not even remotely equal and does not treat the large private schools as full-fledged members of the GHSA.”
Today’s interviewee is Tim Hardy, the athletic director and football coach at Greater Atlanta Christian. Hardy’s answers represent a collective response from nine private schools to a proposal to have the state’s largest private schools compete for separate state championships independent of public schools beginning in 2022-23. The nine schools are Benedictine, Blessed Trinity, GAC, Lovett, Marist, Pace Academy, St. Pius X, Westminster and Woodward Academy.
 
Tim Hardy,
AD and head football coach at GAC
1. The reclassification committee chairman is proposing to have the nine largest private schools compete for their own state championships independent of public schools. Why are you opposed to this? “First of all, we are thankful to be part of the GHSA, the guiding organization for the best high school athletics in the nation. Three of the schools in our group (Marist, Woodward, Benedictine) were founding members of the GHSA, and all of us truly value our membership. We also recognize that there has been some imbalance in the GHSA, and we want to be part of coming up with an appropriate solution that truly does improve high school athletics for all members.
 
“In terms of Dr. Miller’s plan [Dr. Curt Miller is the chairman of the GHSA’s reclassification committee], we categorically reject this model as something that is in any way equitable to the opportunities provided to the other members of the GHSA. In meetings with GHSA leadership in advance of the hearing on Monday, we made it clear that we do not see this as a workable model. The proposed model is based on a separate but equal concept. Though it is separate, it is not even remotely equal and does not treat the large private schools as full-fledged members of the GHSA. The proposal suggested a playoff of only four or five teams, as opposed to the 32 teams in every other division. Dr. Miller also suggested that regions could choose whether to count the games against private schools in the region standings, functionally turning the games between private and public schools into exhibition games that could be easily canceled or not made up if canceled due to weather. We do not see how a plan that makes regular-season games optional and a postseason playoff for four or five teams is equitable to the other classifications.
 
“There has been a lot of talk about the results of the 2020-21 school year, but it is important to note a few things about last year. First, many of the private schools were in new classifications as the result of the system the GHSA put in place during the last reclassification. Some of the imbalances can be attributed to the current system. Second, it is important to acknowledge the uniqueness of the 2020-21 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools that were able to be in session all year had a distinct advantage over schools that were virtual. This can be seen around the state as protocols and guidelines varied greatly. We believe it is overreactive to make sweeping structural changes to the organization after the first year of new reclassification guidelines and during a global pandemic.”
 
2. What is your counterproposal? “The GHSA has identified competitive balance between schools as the significant issue at hand. Every reclassification cycle there is a new ‘solution’ that has numerous unintended consequences sending everyone back to the drawing board. We want to develop a solution that will last over time.
 
“When you look around the state, what causes some programs to be more successful than others? Is it public vs. private? Is it urban vs. rural? Is it city vs. county schools? Is it North Georgia vs. South Georgia? Is it simply the number of students enrolled in the school? Is it service areas or out-of-district students? Is it socio-economic factors? Is it the stability of coaches or school tradition? If you asked 10 people, you would get 10 different opinions. It is hard to pinpoint the cause of competitive imbalances, but the results are proof that teams are successful. Our proposal uses results, not all of the other debatable factors, to guide efforts to achieve competitive balance.
 
“Many forward-thinking states have adopted a competitive-balance model and have seen great results. A competitive-balance model promotes teams that have been very successful based on their finish in the state, awarding corresponding points for placement. The model also has the potential to relegate teams that have not experienced any success. In our plan, the teams from the large private schools could be promoted to higher classifications based on their success. Teams could also be relegated to a lower classification, but never below their initial class (example: GAC in 4A). This is sort of thermostat approach that auto-regulates sports based off their actual success.
 
“Though many states apply a competitive-balance model to their entire membership with great success, the large private schools in Georgia are volunteering to submit themselves to this system, thus promoting the specific sports that achieve at the highest level in their classification. We believe this model will work well for many years to come and might eventually be something that can be applied across the membership in efforts for competitive balance across the board.
 
“Additionally, we have proposed to move a few schools up from the lower classifications. Specifically, we propose that Lovett and Pace move to 3A and Westminster and GAC move to 4A. These moves will help jump-start competitive balance in these classifications.”
 
3. Some will say that moving private schools to higher classifications simply passes on the 'problem' to another classification. What do you say to that? “First of all, referencing schools that are members of an organization as a ‘problem’ shows a lot of the current mindset. Second, we agree that simply bouncing schools around classifications does not adequately address imbalances. The competitive balance model directly and specifically addresses teams and schools that need to be reclassified based on actual success data rather than perception. Each of the large private schools would have programs promoted to higher classification in the competitive-balance model, but each school also has teams that have experienced limited success that do not need to compete up. Other states have seen that the beauty of the competitive-balance model is it directly addresses the teams that need to be promoted to a higher level without unnecessarily promoting teams that are not very successful.”
 
4. What is next? “The large private schools will submit a formal proposal to the GHSA by the Sept. 3 deadline. It will be based on the proposal we shared at the hearing on Monday but will have some modifications. We have listened to some of the feedback we received and want to continue to work toward a solution. With such an important issue at hand, we hope there are additional hearings to discuss this before it goes to a vote with the executive committee on Oct. 3. Additionally, the large private schools have formed an exploratory committee comprised of some of our athletic directors and heads of school that continue to work on a wide variety of potential options. We want to be part of the GHSA moving forward, but we will have a good plan for all possible outcomes.”

GHSF Daily's Four Questions on Wednesday featured GHSA reclassification chairman Dr. Curt Miller. That interview can be found here.
 
Dickey Broadcasting Company’s Sports Radio 680 The Fan & Southern Sports Today Network, along with the GHSA and the Georgia News Network, are partners for the Georgia High School Football Network Scoreboard Show. The program feeds live from the studios of 680 The Fan and Southern Sports Today in the Battery Atlanta on Friday nights from 10 to midnight during the GHSA football regular season. The show will be distributed in partnership with Georgia News Network and will be hosted online at https://www.southernsportstoday.com/. The show will be hosted by 680 The Fan’s Friday Night Football staff consisting of Steve West, Chris Mooneyham and Brandon Joseph with Executive Producer Derrick Thomas, and will include the latest scores and interviews with coaches and play-by-play announcers from metro Atlanta and across the state of Georgia and heard locally in Atlanta on 680 The Fan and Xtra 106.3FM.
Cairo-Brooks, Franklin-Banks canceled
Games canceled Thursday were Cairo vs. Brooks County and Franklin County vs. Banks County. Groves forfeited its game to Josey. Those bring to 29 the number of this week’s games that were canceled (18), postponed (eight) or forfeited (three). Ten teams that lost games this week were able to find other games, usually by tapping into each other.
 
Reality series on Valdosta to begin
The Netflix series “Titletown High,” which chronicles Valdosta’s 2020 season, premiers today. The show’s producer also did the MTV series “Two-A-Days” that propelled then-Hoover coach Rush Propst to national fame. Propst was Valdosta’s coach last season and forced out last spring after the GHSA alleged recruiting violations and banned Valdosta from the 2021 playoffs.
Jack Schondelmayer, Brookstone
Jack Schondelmayer, a senior running back and defensive back at Brookstone, is the scoutSMART Student-Athlete of the Week. Schondelmayer is a three-year at both positions and has a GPA of 4.81 (on a 4.0 scale) He was the Cougars’ third-leading rusher and leader in solo tackles last season. “Jack is a great person on and off the field,” said Brookstone head coach Blair Harrison, who nominated him. “He leads by example on the field and in the classroom. Jack is a pleasure to coach.” Schondelmayer also plays baseball.
 
GHSF Daily, in conjunction with scoutSMART, will be announcing a football student-athlete of the week each Friday this season. The ideal candidate will be outstanding on the field and in the classroom. Please click here to send nominations to Diane Bloodworth.
Here is where Georgia teams stand in several national polls. The numbers on the left are this week's rankings; the numbers in parentheses are last week's rankings.
 
(Top 100)
29. (18) Collins Hill
31. (NR) Buford
62. (46) Milton
96. (59) Colquitt County
99. (73) North Cobb
 
(Top 25)
9. (10) Collins Hill
21. (NR) Milton
 
(Top 100)
19. (22) Colquitt County
25. (40) Warner Robins
54. (NR) Mill Creek
63. (86) Collins Hill
65. (NR) Buford
73. (NR) Milton
80. (NR) Walton
86. (NR) McEachern
96. (NR) Ware County
 
(Top 100)
34. (49) Buford
38. (43) Colquitt County
43. (48) Milton
54. (66) Collins Hill
59. (68) Warner Robins
75. (NR) Walton
77. (13) Lowndes
88. (83) Lee County
89. (90) Blessed Trinity
 
(Top 25)
11. (12) Collins Hill
On TV
Today
*Milton at North Cobb, 7 p.m., ESPN2
*Augusta Christian at Richmond Academy, 7:30 p.m., WJBF MeTV 6.2 (Augusta)
*Brunswick at McIntosh County Academy, 7:30 p.m., WSAV-CW (Savannah)
*North Atlanta vs. Therrell, 8 p.m., WPCH Peachtree TV (Atlanta)

Saturday
*Lovejoy vs. Carver (Atlanta), 11 a.m., WPCH Peachtree TV (Atlanta)
*Riverdale vs. Mays, 1:45 p.m., WPCH Peachtree TV (Atlanta)
*Pace Academy at Rabun County, 6 p.m., EPSN2
 
On the Web
The NFHS Network will present live streaming of football games from around the state each week. To sign up for the network or watch the games, click here. The NFHS Network partners with more than 100 Georgia high schools to give their students the opportunity to train and learn to broadcast their school's sporting events. Contact the NFHS Network to find out how your school can serve its students and fans with sports broadcasting opportunities.
GHSF Daily will select 10 games each week for a Predict the Winner contest, presented by ALL-STAR QB. Predictions must be submitted by 5 p.m. each Friday. Limit one entry per email address. Contest winners will be announced on Mondays at the start of each new contest and will receive the ASQB-LITE model game, the company's most popular. Click here to play!
Big-yardage guys
Here are the 200-yard rushers, 300-yard passers and 150-yard receivers from the opening week of the season.
 
Rushing
255 - Dayton Davis, Atkinson Co.
251 - Johne’ss Davis, Athens Christian
248 - Kevin Rochester, North Hall
224 - Solomon Rayton, Arabia Mountain
208 - J.L. Lackey, Hart County
206 - Jason Jackson, Central Gwinnett
 
Passing
447 - Robbie Roper, Roswell
402 - Sam Horn, Collins Hill
333 - Logan Cross, Social Circle
323 - Jai’que Hart, Lithia Springs
314 - Jamal Sanders, Brooks Co.
304 - Armar Gordon, Perry
302 - Tyler Hughes, Marietta
 
Receiving
232 - Travis Hunter, Collins Hill
175 - Brendan Gates, South Paulding
160 - Cameron Overton, Marietta
156 - Joshua Nelson, South Forsyth
154 - Antwoine Fuller, Bacon Co.
154 - Collin Crowder, Towns Co.
152 - Sacovie White, Cass
Norcross coach Keith Maloof got his 200th victory last week. He has the most career victories of any coach who has spent the majority of his career in Gwinnett County. However, his does not have the most victories as a Gwinnett coach, as 22 of his wins came while at Tucker in DeKalb County. Which coach has the most while a Gwinnett coach (county, city or public school)? (Answer Monday)
 
Answer to Thursday’s question: Savannah Christian (.689) has the second-highest all-time winning percentage among south Georgia teams behind Valdosta (.778). Next are Camden County (.676), Thomasville (.667), Colquitt County (.658) and Lowndes (.653).
 
Jostens is the leading provider of yearbooks, caps and gowns, class rings and championship rings and is the Official Championship Ring of the GHSA. Click here to learn more.
Thursday's scores
Jonesboro 35, Eagle’s Landing 7
Monroe 36, Shaw 0
Ringgold 35, Gilmer 15
Windsor Forest 20, Islands 9
 
Today's games
Alpharetta at Hoover, Ala.
Apalachee at Habersham Central
Arabia Mountain at M.L. King (AV)
Athens Acad. at Charlotte C'try Day, N.C.
Augusta Christian at Richmond Academy
B.E.S.T. Academy at North Clayton (SC)
Bacon Co. at Long Co.
Bainbridge at Coffee
Banneker at Denmark
Beaufort, S.C. at Effingham Co.
Bethlehem Christ. at Loganville Christian
Blountstown, Fla. at Seminole Co.
Brantley Co. at Southeast Bulloch
Bremen at Bowdon
Brunswick at McIntosh Co. Academy
Bryan Co. at Lincoln Co.
Buford at Clarke Central
Calvary Day at Bulloch Academy
Camden Co. at Glynn Academy (GL)
Cartersville at West Forsyth
Carver, Columbus at Spencer (CM)
Cass at Adairsville
Cedar Shoals at Oconee Co.
Chamblee at Lumpkin Co.
Chapel Hill at Central, Carrollton
Chattahoochee Co. at McNair (HS)
Cherokee at Sequoyah
Chestatee at Cherokee Bluff
Christian Acad., Tenn. at Prince Avenue
Chr. Columbus, Fla. at Benedictine (SM)
Clarkston at Berkmar
Clinch Co. at Appling Co.
Collins Hill d. Sprayberry, forfeit
Columbus at Smiths Station, Ala.
Commerce at Pickens
Coosa at Trion
Creekside Academy at Mt. Zion, Carroll
Crisp Co. at Houston Co.
Cross Creek at Aquinas
Dacula at Brookwood
Dade Co. at N. Sand Mountain, Ala.
Dawson Co. at Flowery Branch
Discovery at Kennesaw Mountain
Dodge Co. at Dublin
Dutchtown at Tift Co.
Eagle's Land. Christ. at Ware Co.
Early Co. at Pelham
East Jackson at Jackson Co.
East Paulding at Campbell
Eastside at Winder-Barrow
Evans at Hephzibah
Fayette Co. at Whitewater
Fitzgerald at Irwin Co.
Gainesville at Chattahoochee
Georgia Military at Central, Talbotton
Gordon Central at Northwest Whitfield
Greater Atl. Christian at Lovett
Griffin at Lowndes
Grovetown at Thomson
Hapeville Charter at Woodward Academy
Haralson Co. at Manchester
Hardaway at Sumter Co.
Harlem at Greenbrier
Hart Co. at White Co.
Hawkinsville at Tattnall Square
Holy Innocents’ at Pendleton, S.C.
Howard at Southwest (ED)
Hughes at Allatoona
Jackson, Atlanta at Lee Co.
Jeff Davis d. Atkinson Co., forfeit
Jefferson at Central Gwinnett
Jefferson Co. at Swainsboro
Jenkins at Beach (GC)
Johns Creek at Carrollton
Johnson Co. at East Laurens
Jones Co. at North Gwinnett
Jordan at Randolph-Clay
Josey d. Groves, forfeit
Kell at Hillgrove
Kendrick at Dougherty (M)
King's Ridge at Greene Co.
LaFayette at Model
Lake Oconee Acad. at Pinecrest Acad.
Lakeview-Ft. Ogle. at Gordon Lee
Lamar Co. at Crawford Co.
Lambert at Lassiter
Landmark Christian at Christian Heritage
Laney at Jackson
Lanier Co. at Wheeler Co.
Lithonia at South Gwinnett
Madison Co., Fla. at Valdosta
Marion Co. at Terrell Co.
Marist at Blessed Trinity
McCallie, Tenn. at Calhoun
McDonough at Mary Persons
McEachern at Grayson
Meadowcreek at Heritage, Conyers
Miller Co. at Deerfield-Windsor
Miller Grove at Lakeside, Atlanta (A)
Milton at North Cobb
Mitchell Co. at Worth Co.
Model at LaFayette
Monroe at Shaw (Thu., K)
Morrow at Forest Park (T)
Mt. Pisgah Christ. at Mount Paran Christ.
Mt. Zion, Jonesboro at Starr's Mill
New Hampstead at Johnson, Sav. (IH)
New Manchester at East Coweta
Norcross at Mill Creek
North Atlanta vs. Therrell (HA)
North Cobb Christian at Hebron Christian
North Forsyth at Harrison
North Springs at Dunwoody (ND)
Northeast at Central, Macon (HM)
Northgate at Locust Grove
Ola at North Oconee
Parkview at Mountain View
Paulding Co. at Hiram
Peach Co. at Northside, W.R. (MT)
Pebblebrook at South Cobb
Pepperell at Heard Co.
Pierce Co. at Wayne Co.
Portal at Montgomery Co.
Providence Christian at Social Circle
Putnam Co. at Morgan Co.
Redan at Druid Hills (A)
Ridgeland at Dalton
River Ridge at Woodstock
Rockdale Co. at Salem
Rockmart at Villa Rica
Roswell at Centennial
Sav. Country Day at Emanuel Co. Inst.
South Effingham at Metter
South Paulding at North Paulding
Southeast Whitfield at Coahulla Creek
Southwest DeKalb at Stephenson (HS)
Spalding at Union Grove
St. Francis at Athens Christian
St. Pius at Westminster
Stephens Co. at North Hall
Stockbridge at Douglas Co.
Stone Mountain at Tri-Cities
Stratford Acad. at George Walton Acad.
Strong Rock Christ. at Greenville
Taylor Co. at Pike Co.
Thomasville at Thomas Co. Central
Towns Co. at Armuchee
Trinity Christian at Mount Vernon
Troup at Callaway (C)
Tucker at Cedar Grove (GO)
Twiggs Co. at Wilkinson Co.
Walker at Brookstone
Walnut Grove at Monroe Area
Walton at Pope
Warner Robins at Archer
Wesleyan at Decatur
West Hall at East Hall
Westlake at Colquitt Co.
Westside, Augusta at Warren Co.
Wheeler at Riverwood
Whitefield Academy at Darlington.
Wilcox Co. at Bleckley Co.
Woodland, Carters. at Osborne
Woodland, Stock. at Luella
 
Saturday's games
American Collegiate, Fla. at Westover (M)
Dooly Co. at Macon Co.
Lovejoy at Carver, Atlanta (HA)
Pace Academy at Rabun Co.
Riverdale at Mays (HA)
 
Stadium abbreviations: (A) Adams; (AV) Avondale; (C) Callaway; (CM) Columbus Memorial; (ED) Ed Defore; (GC) Garden City; (GL) Glynn County; (GO) Godfrey; (HA) Henderson, Atlanta; (HM) Henderson, Macon; (HS) Hallford; (IH) Islands High School; (K) Kinnett; (M) Mills; (MT) McConnell-Talbert; (ND) North DeKalb; (SC) Southern Crescent; (SM) Savannah Memorial; (T) Tara
Georgia schools play numerous games against out-of-state competition. GHSF Daily will track the scores of those games each week to see how Georgia fares against the rest of the nation.
 
Vs. Alabama*********1-2
Vs. Florida*********0-1
Vs. Mississippi*****0-0
Vs. North Carolina**0-0
Vs. Ohio************0-0
Vs. Pennsylvania****0-0
Vs. South Carolina**0-2
Vs. Tennessee*******0-1
Vs. Virginia********0-0
Total***************1-6
 
Last week's scores
Beaufort, S.C. 28, Richmond Hill 8
Callaway 30, Opelika, Ala. 21
Central-Phenix City, Ala. 42, Peach Co. 23
FSU High, Fla. 35, Thomas Co. Central 15
Hoover, Ala. 38, North Gwinnett 14
Lipscomb Academy, Tenn. 76, GAC 7
N. Augusta, S.C. 17, Lakeside, Evans 0

This week's games
Alpharetta at Hoover, Ala.
Athens Acad. at Charlotte C'try Day, N.C.
Beaufort, S.C. at Effingham Co.
Blountstown, Fla. at Seminole Co.
Christian Acad., Tenn. at Prince Avenue
Chris. Columbus, Fla. at Benedictine (SM)
Columbus at Smiths Station, Ala.
Dade Co. at North Sand Mountain, Ala.
Holy Innocents’ at Pendleton, S.C.
Madison Co., Fla. at Valdosta
McCallie, Tenn. at Calhoun
American Collegiate, Fla. at Westover (M)
Team of the Week: Creekside
The Creekside Seminoles, who upset defending Class 7A champion Grayson 19-14 last week, received their Georgia Team of the Week plaque from GHSF Daily on Wednesday at their school. Creekside, which won two region titles over the past three seasons but was not ranked in the top 10 a single week, is now the No. 6 team in Class 6A. Grayson held three top-20 national rankings entering the game. The state Team of the Week award is sponsored by Siemens and World Electric.
Player of the Week: Travis Hunter
Travis Hunter, a senior receiver/cornerback at Collins Hill who had a career-high 232 yards and four touchdowns receiving, threw a touchdown pass, intercepted a pass and made two solo tackles in a 36-10 victory over Brookwood, received his Georgia Player of the Week plaque from GHSF Daily at his school on Wednesday. Hunter (pictured with head coach Lenny Gregory) is the No. 1-ranked player nationally in his class. The state Player of the Week award is sponsored by Sports Turf and Astro Turf.
Note: All scores are courtesy of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other media outlets. If a score is not accurate, it was reported incorrectly.

All games are on Fridays unless noted. All game schedules are subject to change.
Stadium key: SC - Southern Crescent
NFL quality playbook at a high school price
FirstDown PlayBook was created by former NFL coaches, for coaches. With over 35,000 editable plays, coaches can choose from our professionally drawn plays or draw their own using the top drawing tool on the market. You are also able to organize your playbooks and transfer them year after year. We offer both single-user memberships as well as full program subscriptions. Email us with any questions by clicking here, or start your FREE trial by clicking here.
 
New sports fiction book geared toward teen athlete readers
Mike Tierney, a former longtime sports editor and writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, has drawn from his experiences as a basketball coach in the Decatur school system to write the sports teen fiction book "Perfect To A Fault" about a high school player who goes through an entire season without missing a shot. Mike now coaches at Notre Dame High in the Los Angeles area, where he briefly worked with Ziaire Williams, the No. 10 pick in the NBA draft. Order the book by clicking here.

GPSA helps students grow in athletics, education and life skills
Georgia Storm Prep Academy, named for owner and head coach Storm Johnson (a former UCF standout and NFL running back), is a pre- and post-graduate football program. The program includes a complete academic program with NCAA approved classes, athletic training and competitions against other Prep programs and JUCOs to gain additional exposure. We will provide the best opportunity for student-athletes to grow and mature within athletics, education, and life skills while in attendance. For information, call 678-346-8144 or contact us via email by clicking here.
 
Fundraise from anywhere with Double Good virtual app
The Double Good virtual app provides an excellent way to stay focused on your team while providing the funds you need to participate at the highest level. Our platform is 100% contactless, and our popcorn ships directly to your supporters. You could have results like these football programs which profited: Eastside - $26,000; East Coweta - $27,000; Milton - $25,000; Westlake - $39,000; and Woodstock - $24,000. For more information or to get started, contact Westlake head coach Robert May via email by clicking here.
 
Let’s build your financial game plan
At Thrivent, we believe everyone deserves a financial plan. But money can seem complicated and life gets busy, especially during football season. I know this first-hand, as a financial advisor who is also blessed to coach high school football in this state. Whether it’s investment guidance, budgeting, life insurance, debt management or retirement planning, I can help. Please reach out with any questions or needs. Have a great season! Contact Andrew Frerking by phone at 404-772-0909, via email by clicking here, or on the web at www.thrivent.com
 
Greater Georgia Basketball Officials enrolling new members
Greater Georgia Basketball Officials, one of the leading GHSA officials organizations, assigns officials to more than 25 high schools in the state. Our group is comprised of dedicated and professional men and women looking to give back to the game of basketball. If you are interested in joining Greater Georgia (GGBO), please contact Mike Oglesby via email by clicking here or by mail at Greater Georgia Basketball Officials, 3770 Cliff Crest Drive, S.E., Smyrna, GA 30080.
 
'Nobles Strong' out in paperback
Jon Nelson followed the story of the Irwin County Indians' 2019 season for GPB Sports and the chronicling of the eventual Single-A Champs is now in book form. Head Coach Buddy Nobles was given a cancer diagnosis before the season started. An entire community - on the field and off - united with the Nobles family and the Indians for a season no one touched by the story would ever forget. Order the book by clicking here.
 
Cedar Shoals seeks opponent for September game
Cedar Shoals in Athens is looking for a potential game on Sept. 3. If interested, email head coach Leroy Ryals by clicking here.
 
Heritage School in Newnan looking for September game
The Heritage School in Newnan is looking for a varsity game on Sept. 17. Prefer a home game but can travel if distance is right. If interested, send an email by clicking here.
 
South Carolina team needs a game
D.W. Daniel High School in Central, S.C., needs a game Sept. 3 and Oct. 22. The school is located near Clemson, about two hours up I-85 from Atlanta. Would like to play at home. We will help with expenses, share gate, etc. If interested, contact Charlie Conn at 678-386-2405.
GHSF Daily classified ads
Reach 23,000 readers per day in GHSF Daily’s classified ads. Rates are $50 per week. Ads must be a maximum of 75 words and include a headline and contact information. Click here to contact us.
About Us
Georgia High School Football Daily is a free e-mail newsletter produced and owned by Todd Holcomb and Chip Saye. Holcomb is a former lead high school football writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and co-founder of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Saye is a 35-year veteran of the newspaper industry who has covered high school sports for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Athens Banner-Herald, Anderson (S.C.) Independent-Mail and Gwinnett Daily News.