The Georgia High School Association released the 2015 high school football schedules for every member team in the state Wednesday afternoon, and so fans can begin to anticipate another season on the horizon.
Here are three things to know about next season’s schedule for Forsyth County teams:
The rivalries
It’s what makes high school football still so endearing. The atmosphere from big crowds, the angst built up from a week’s worth of Twitter wars. The bragging rights.
Lambert was the county champion last season, if you keep track of that sort of thing, going 3-0 against North, South and West.
Here’s how the rivalries line up this season: South at North, Sept. 18; Lambert at North, Sept. 25; West at North, Oct. 9; South at West, Oct. 16; West at Lambert, Oct. 23; Lambert at South, Nov. 6.
Central doesn’t play one of its traditional county rivals during the regular season, though it does face North on Aug. 14 in a scrimmage game. The closest thing to a rivalry game for Pinecrest Academy would be its Oct. 30 game against King’s Ridge.
The bye week
Every team needs a break during the season. Let those nagging injuries heal. Make some roster adjustments.
In recent years, Forsyth County teams have had their byes fall on the same week, creating a virtual vacuum of high school football. Insert frown face.
The scenario returns this season on Oct. 2, when Central, Lambert, North, South and West are all off. That leaves center stage for Pinecrest, who plays Whitefield Academy that night. The Paladins have an early bye the week of Sept. 4.
Sideline newcomers
Forsyth County teams will face six teams with new head coaches this season: Centennial, Dawson County, Habersham Central, Johns Creek, Mountain View and Whitefield Academy.
Centennial hired Grayson defensive coordinator Lenny Gregory, who’ll be a head coach for the first time. Gregory actually has a Forsyth County connection; he was defensive line coach at South in 2003. Gregory replaced Jeff Carlberg, who went 9-21 in three seasons at Centennial. The Knights compete against Lambert, North, South and West in Region 6-AAAAAA.
Dawson County hired former Lambert and Sequoyah head coach Sid Maxwell, who is 128-83 in 20 seasons. Maxwell started the program at Lambert in 2009 and went 31-16 in five seasons that included three state playoff appearances. Maxwell replaced Jeff Lee, who resigned at Dawson after 12 seasons. The Tigers face Central in a non-region game Aug. 28.
Habersham Central hired Jackson County’s Benji Harrison, who went 12-20 in three seasons as head coach. Harrison replaced Michael Pollack, who went 1-19 in two seasons at Habersham. The Raiders compete against Lambert, North, South and West in Region 6-AAAAAA.
Mountain View hired defensive coordinator Nich Bach, who returned to the team just weeks after he was hired as Dunwoody’s head coach. It’s Bach’s first head coaching job. He replaced Doug Giacone, who went 8-22 in three seasons at Mountain View. The Bears face South in a non-region game Aug. 21.
Whitefield Academy is still looking for a head coach to replace Jimmy Fields, who was asked to leave after eight seasons. The Wolfpack compete against Pinecrest in Region 6-A.
Forsyth Central
Aug. 14, at North Forsyth (scrimmage)
Aug. 28, at Dawson County
Sept. 4, vs. Woodland-Cartersville
Sept. 11, vs. Cass
Sept. 18, vs. Kell
Sept. 25, at Riverwood
Oct. 9, at North Atlanta
Oct. 16, vs. Sprayberry
Oct. 23, vs. North Springs
Oct. 30, at Cambridge
Nov. 6, Region 7-AAAAA play-in game
Lambert
Aug. 21, at Lanier
Sept. 4, vs. Johns Creek
Sept. 11, vs. Centennial
Sept. 18, at Alpharetta
Sept. 25, at North Forsyth
Oct. 9, at Habersham Central
Oct. 16, vs. Northview
Oct. 23, vs. West Forsyth
Oct. 30, at Chattahoochee
Nov. 6, at South Forsyth
North Forsyth
Aug. 14, at Forsyth Central (scrimmage)
Aug. 28, vs. Cherokee
Sept. 4, at Chattahoochee
Sept. 11, at Northview
Sept. 18, vs. South Forsyth
Sept. 25, at Lambert
Oct. 9, vs. West Forsyth
Oct. 16, at Johns Creek
Oct. 23, at Centennial
Oct. 30, vs. Habersham Central
Nov. 6, vs. Alpharetta
Pinecrest Academy
Aug. 28, at North Springs
Sept. 11, at Walker
Sept. 18, vs. Trion
Sept. 25, vs. Mt. Paran Christian
Oct. 2, at Whitefield Academy
Oct. 9, at St. Francis
Oct. 16, vs. Mt. Pisgah Christian
Oct. 23, vs. Fellowship Christian
Oct. 30, at King’s Ridge
Nov. 6, Region 6-A play-in game
South Forsyth
Aug. 14, at Winder-Barrow (scrimmage)
Aug. 21, vs. Mountain View
Sept. 4, at Centennial
Sept. 11, vs. Habersham Central
Sept. 18, at North Forsyth
Sept. 25, vs. Chattahoochee
Oct. 9, at Northview
Oct. 16, at West Forsyth
Oct. 23, vs. Alpharetta
Oct. 30, at Johns Creek
Nov. 6, vs. Lambert
West Forsyth
Aug. 14, vs. Carrollton (scrimmage)
Aug. 28, at Mill Creek
Sept. 4, at Alpharetta
Sept. 11, vs. Chattahoochee
Sept. 18, vs. Habersham Central
Sept. 25, at Northview
Oct. 9, at North Forsyth
Oct. 16, vs. South Forsyth
Oct. 23, at Lambert
Oct. 30, vs. Centennial
Nov. 6, vs. Johns Creek