Class 1A-3A Private Blog: Dark Horses and Contenders

The private class is one of the most up-in-the-air classes in the state. Both state finalists have new coaches, and the two other semifinalists lost the majority of their teams. With all of that, any team can make a run at a state championship.

The Favorites

The class is full of talent, but a handful of teams stand out above the rest. Prince Avenue Christian enters the season as the favorite to win it all in 2025. The Wolverines have a talented roster led by 4-star Andrew Beard, along with multiple other players including Izak Koep and Ben Musser. However, they have a new coach in Jon Richt, creating some unknowns.

Their region rival, the defending champion Hebron Christian, is heading into the first year of the Kenny Dallas era. The Lions lose much of their team from last year, including QB Thomas Stallworth, LB Carrington Coombs, DB Gerritt Kemp, and DL Sichan John. However, they return some high-end players, including DL Fred Moses, OL Fletcher Turk, and WR Jarvis Mathurin. The team should once again be a contender, but there will be many questions surrounding the roster.

The Dark Horses

Holy Innocents’ is coming off a season in which the team was extremely young and struggled at times. However they are no stranger to success, making it to the quarterfinals or better three times from 2019 to 2021. The last two years, the Golden Bears lost in the first round, but the team is a year older and could make a run. Starting quarterback Ryan Woods is entering his sophomore season after being one of the few freshman starters in the state. The team also returns massive senior wide receiver Khalid Worthy, a 3-star recruit and one of the biggest mismatches in the state. Standing at 6-foot-7, he is an extremely dangerous weapon. On defense, they return sophomore defensive back Brayden Bailey, the son of Champ Bailey. He is already receiving college interest and is a future star.

It’s odd to call a team that has made the quarterfinals or better in five straight years a dark horse, but Calvary Day falls into that category. The Cavaliers are the forgotten Savannah school this season. Calvary Day enters 2025 under new head coach Jason Cameron, who is taking over a well-oiled machine. While the team doesn’t have the roster it did in 2022 or 2023, they still feature some of the most dangerous weapons in the state. The 2028 pair of Lavon Ownes II and Ty Pinckney will be an explosive receiving duo to watch this year, while on defense, cornerbacks Emerson Lewis and Braxton Bell will help create a dominant pass defense. Over all they have the ability and the players to make a run at the programs first title.

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