Here's a look at GHSA football playoff matchups for Savannah area teams
The regular season ended on Friday night for high school football teams competing in the Georgia High School Association, and the playoffs begin next week.
Effingham County was the big winner Friday as the Rebels rallied to beat Brunswick 31-28 to win the Region 2-6A crown, their first region title since 1995.
South Effingham lost to Evans 35-20 and the Mustangs missed out on a postseason berth.
Here's a look at the nine teams from the Savannah area that made the GSHA playoffs and their first-round matchups.
Effingham wins Region title How Effingham County rallied late to win first region football title since 1995
SCPS's Brooking commits to Clemson What led Savannah Christian's Logan Brooking to commit to this ACC football program
Why Beach forfeited to Calvary Day Here's why this Savannah-area football team had to forfeit final game of the season
Class 4A
Benedictine
The two-time defending Class 4A champions are looking to make it a three-peat as the Cadets (10-0) enter the playoffs ranked No. 1 in 4A by the AJC.
The Cadets are set to host Baldwin (6-4) at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, at a time to be announced.
Baldwin is led by senior running back Micah Welch, who has committed to Colorado.
BC is stacked with talent led by senior quarterback Luke Kromenhoek, who is committed to Florida State.
Junior linebacker Third Scroggins recently picked up his fourth recruiting star and earned an offer from Tennessee this week.
New Hampstead
The Phoenix have been making waves behind the play of junior Rashawn Truell, a first-year starter at quarterback. New Hampstead beat Burke County 34-28 last week to secure the first home playoff game in school history.
The Phoenix (5-4), the No. 2 seed out of Region 3-4A, will host Westside-Macon (8-2) Saturday, Nov. 11, at Pooler Stadium at a time to be announced.
Westside has a strong run game led by Jessie Bell (1,128 yards and 14 touchdowns through nine games) and Kadiphius Iverson (913 yards and 11 scores).
Truell leads Class 4A with 2,718 yards passing with 32 touchdowns and just four picks.
Jaylen Hampton, the senior committed to Western Kentucky, has 63 catches for 985 yards and 11 scoring catches, while Malachi Lonnon (40 catches for 746 yards and nine scores) and Kamari Maxwell (31 catches for 608 and seven touchdown catches) to form perhaps the top trio of receivers in Georgia.
Class 3A
Calvary Day
The Cavaliers (10-0) had the final week of the season off after Beach forfeited its game at the Cavs, citing a lack of players in its lineup.
Calvary Day, ranked No. 1 in Class 3A by the AJC, is the No. 1 seed out of Region 3-3A and is set to host Jackson (2-8) on Friday, Nov. 10 at a time to be announced. Jackson comes out of the five-team Region 3-2A and has wins over Union Grove (1-9) and Pike County (0-10).
The Cavaliers have one of the most talented teams in the state, led by senior quarterback Jake Merkinger, who has committed to Tennessee and his classmate, tight end Michael Smith, headed to South Carolina. Thomas Blackshear, and Caden Arnold have combined for 1,615 yards and 23 scoring catches with Smith, and star junior Doopah Coleman is back in action after being sidelined with an injury.
With a win, Calvary would host the winner of Thomasville (5-5) and Harlem (7-3) in the second round.
Savannah Christian
The Raiders (8-2) rolled to a 63-21 win at Liberty County Thursday behind Zo Smalls, who had 167 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Savannah Christian, ranked No. 5 in Class 3A by the AJC, is a No. 2 seed and will host Peach County (3-6) at Pooler Stadium Friday, Nov. 10 at a time to be announced.
The Raiders have a star-studded lineup featuring junior Elijah Griffin, a five-star defensive lineman and his classmate Logan Brooking, a 4-star tight end who committed to Clemson Friday. Senior David Bucey is headed to South Carolina.
Savannah Country Day
The Hornets (7-3) dominated in a 68-14 win over Groves on Senior Night Friday.
The No. 3 seed out of Region 3-3A, SCD will be on the road to face Upson-Lee on Friday, Nov. 10, at a time to be announced.
Upson-Lee (8-2) is led by senior running back Ja'Quan Bentley, who has 18 rushing touchdowns and 1,306 yards (stats through nine games) on the season. He has committed to Georgia Southern.
SCD is led by junior quarterback Barton Mixon who has thrown for 1,376 yards and 16 touchdowns, while running for 748 yards and nine scores (through nine games), along with two-way lineman Rooster Bing, a highly-regarded senior.
Class 6A
Effingham County
Effingham County got a last second field goal from Gage Brooks Friday night as the Rebels beat visiting Brunwick to lock up the program's first region title since 1995.
Effingham (7-3) earned the No. 1 seed out of Region 2-6A with its sixth straight win and is set to host Lovejoy (6-4) Friday, Nov. 10, at a time to be announced.
Effingham has been getting it done offensively behind a strong run game led by AJ Butts and Jayden Evans, while senior Nate Hayes runs the offense as a true dual threat man behind center.
Butts is also the team's leading tackler at linebacker, and the Rebels are hoping is healthy after he injured his knee on a pivotal 37-yard reception that helped set up the game-winning field goal against Brunswick.
Class 1A Division I
Bryan County
Bryan County (9-1) won the first region crown in a school history dating back to 1976 with a win over Savannah High last week, and then won nine games for the first time in school history Friday with a 50-0 win over Claxton on senior night.
Bryan County is set to host East Laurens (3-7) on Friday at a time to be announced.
Bryan County is led by Austin Clemons, who has rushed for 1,192 and 14 scores, with 72 tackles (through nine games) and Tanner Ennis (96 tackles), both two-way seniors.
Class 6A
Richmond Hill
The Wildcats are the No. 4 seed coming out of Region 1-7A, considered one of the toughest in the entire Southeast region.
Richmond Hill (5-5) will be on the road Friday, Nov. 10, to face Grayson (8-2), ranked No. 8 among Class 6A teams in the state by the AJC.
Grayson is led by senior quarterback Jeff Davis, who has thrown for 2,051 yards and 25 touchdowns (through nine games) and has offers from Florida Atlantic and Western Michigan.
Richmond Hill is led by jack of all trades Nick Bliss. The senior has 18 touchdowns on the season, with 12 rushing, four receiving and a kickoff return to go along with a punt return. Joshua Troupe leads the Wildcats with 721 yards rushing.
Class 5A
Jenkins
The Warriors had a chance to secure the No. 3 seed out of Region 1-5A, but were turned back in a 35-0 loss at Statesboro Friday night.
The Warriors (3-7) are the No. 4 seed out of the region and will be on the road to face Arabia Mountain (9-1) on Friday at a time to be announced.
The Rams allow just 12.2 points per game and feature junior defensive back McKaden Smith, who has offers from Georgia Southern and App State.
Jenkins is led by senior defensive end Lorenzo Cowan, who has 50 tackles and four sacks and has committed to play at Kentucky.
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: First-round GHSA playoff matchups for Savannah area football teams
