Coweta high school football kicks off regular season this weekend
From Staff Reports
Five of the six Coweta County high school football teams kick off the 2022 regular season this weekend.
Defending state champion Trinity Christian hosts Woodward Academy on Friday night to get things started. Across the county, Heritage School opens its campaign hosting St. Mary’s. Both games begin at 7:30 p.m.
At Starr’s Mill, the 2nd annual Coweta-Fayette Kickoff Classic will take place on Saturday. Northgate faces Whitewater in the opener at 12:30 p.m., followed by Newnan squaring off against Sandy Creek at 4 p.m. and the nightcap has East Coweta taking on host Starr’s Mill at 7:30 p.m. Fayette County took two-of-three contests last year with East Coweta claiming the only win for Coweta, a 41-24 victory over Whitewater.
Central Christian, which moves to 8-man football this year, has an open date on the first weekend. The Crusaders start the year at home on Aug. 26 against New Creations.
Trinity Christian took all the marbles in the GHSA 1-A Private Classification a year ago, finishing a perfect 14-0 and defeating Prince Avenue Christian, 55-28, to win the state championship. In 2022, the Lions have moved up three classifications to GHSA 4-A and will face Region 4 opponents Fayette County, LaGrange, North Clayton, Riverdale, Starr’s Mill, Troup and Whitewater.
East Coweta made it to the GHSA 7-A State Playoffs in 2021, finishing the year with a 7-4 record after dropping the first round contest to Grayson. The Indians will continue in GHSA Region 2, 7-A with region opponents Campbell, Carrollton, Pebblebrook and Westlake. Now that cross-county rival is no longer a region opponent, the two will face off on Aug. 26 at East Coweta instead of the usual end of the season date.
Speaking of Newnan, the Cougars advanced to the first round of the GHSA 7-A state playoffs last year as well. Newnan ended the year with a 3-7 record following a loss to Brookwood. This year, the Cougars drop down a classification and will be members of Region 5, 6-A. Their region opponents will be Alexander, Douglas County, East Paulding, Langston Hughes, New Manchester, Paulding County and South Paulding.
Northgate stays in 5-A in 2022, but moves from Region 2 to Region 3. The Vikings finished last season at 2-8 overall. Their new region opponents will be Drew, Harris County, McIntosh and Northside-Columbus.
Heritage School was winless in 10 games during its final year in GHSA a season ago. The Hawks moved back to their old stomping grounds (GISA) with several other private schools following the GHSA reclassification process last winter. Heritage School will now compete in the newly-branded GIAA (Georgia Independent Athletic Association) and its District 5, 3-A opponents will be Brookstone, St. Anne-Pacelli, Strong Rock and Westfield.
And finally, Central Christian ended its last season in GAPPS (Georgia Association of Private and Parochial Schools) 11-man football with a 3-7 record in 2021. The Crusaders will now compete in 8-man football and will be members of the GAPPS Region 2, 2-A . Central Christian’s region opponents will be New Creations, Sherwood Christian, Young Americans and Vidalia Heritage.
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CRUSADERS
Aug. 19 … Open
Aug. 26 … New Creations
Sept. 2 … Victory Baptist
Sept. 9 … at Fideles Christian
Sept. 16 … at Lafayette Christian
Sept. 23 … Johnson Ferry Christian
Sept. 30 … at Praise Academy
Oct. 7 … Sherwood Christian
Oct. 14 … Open
Oct. 21 … at Young Americans
Oct. 28 … Vidalia Heritage
Nov. 4 … at Horizon Christian
Head Coach: Paul Frantz
GAPPS Region 2, Class AA (8-man football)
2021 Record: 3-7
EAST COWETA INDIANS
Aug. 20 … at Starr’s Mill, 7:30 pm (1)
Aug. 26 … Newnan, 8 pm
Sept. 2 … at Hillgrove, 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 … Sandy Creek, 8 pm
Sept. 16 … Lowndes, 8 pm
Sept. 23 … Lambert, 8 pm
Sept. 30 … Open
Oct. 7 … at Carrollton, 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 … at Campbell, 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 … Open
Oct. 28 … Westlake, 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 … Pebblebrook, 7:30 pm
Head Coach: John Small
GHSA Region 2, 7-A
2021 Record: 7-4
(1) – Coweta / Fayette Kickoff Classic
HERITAGE SCHOOL HAWKS
Aug. 19 … St. Mary’s, 7:30 pm
Aug. 26 … Creekside Christian, 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 … Kendrick, 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 … Open
Sept. 15 … at Cross Keys, 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 … at Calvary Christian, 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 … at King’s Ridge Christian, 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 … Open
Oct. 14 … at Westfield School, 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 … Strong Rock Christian, 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 … at Saint Anne Pacelli, 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 … Brookstone School, 7:30 pm
Head Coach: Jake Copeland
GISA District 5, 3-A
2021 Record: 0-10
NEWNAN COUGARS
Aug. 20 … Sandy Creek, 4 pm (1)
Aug. 26 … at East Coweta, 8 pm
Sept. 2 … Open
Sept. 9 … Hardaway, 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 … Paulding County, 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 … at South Paulding, 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 … at East Paulding, 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 … Alexander (HC), 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 … Open
Oct. 21 … at Langston Hughes, 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 … Douglas County, 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 … New Manchester, 7:30 pm
Head Coach: Chip Walker
GHSA Region 5, 6-A
2021 Record: 3-7
(1) – Coweta / Fayette Kickoff Classic
NORTHGATE VIKINGS
Aug. 20 … Whitewater (1), 12:30 pm
Aug. 26 … Starr’s Mill, 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 … at Villa Rica, 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 … Griffin, 7:30 pm
Sept. 16 … at Central Carrollton, 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 … Veterans (HC), 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 … Open
Oct. 7 … McIntosh, 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 … at Northside Columbus, 7:30 pm
Oct. 21 … Harris County, 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 … Open
Nov. 4 … at Drew, 7:30 pm
Head Coach: Mike McDonald
GHSA Region 3, 5-A
2021 Record: 2-8
(1) – Coweta / Fayette Kickoff Classic
TRINITY CHRISTIAN LIONS
Aug. 19 … Woodward Academy, 7:30 pm
Aug. 26 … at Fellowship Christian, 7:30 pm
Sept. 2 … at Mary Persons, 7:30 pm
Sept. 9 … Open
Sept. 16 … Riverdale, 7:30 pm
Sept. 23 … at North Clayton, 7:30 pm
Sept. 30 … Starr’s Mill, 7:30 pm
Oct. 7 … at Whitewater, 7:30 pm
Oct. 14 … Open
Oct. 21 … LaGrange, 7:30 pm
Oct. 28 … at Troup, 7:30 pm
Nov. 4 … at Fayette County, 7:30 pm
Head Coach: Kenny Dallas
GHSA Region 4, 4-A
2021 Record: 14-0, GHSA 1A Private State Champions
