Lowndes opens at No. 1 looking to avenge a heartbreaking 7A finals loss.
Georgia's growing reputation as a national hotbed for top high school football teams and players should continue in the 2020 season, which is scheduled to kick off in The Peach State on Sept. 4. Lowndes, which had its perfect season ruined in the state 7A championship game with a 17-9 loss to Marietta, opens the season at No. 1 in the MaxPreps preseason computer rankings.
The Vikings (14-1) have a long line of top players returning including 6-foot-1, 235-pound defensive end
Thomas Davis, 6-3, 210-pound defensive end
Jacques Hunter, senior safety
TJ Quinn (6-1, 200) and inside linebacker
Leon Williams (6-2, 215).
Needless to say, Lowndes is stacked on defense.
Grayson (Loganville) (11-2 last year) opens the season at No. 2. The Rams are led by 6-3, 215-pound senior quarterback
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson. He's got two superb wideouts in
Jamal Haynes (5-9, 175) and
Daejon Reynolds (6-2, 195) to go along with outstanding running back
Phil Mafah, a Clemson commit.
Parkview (12-2) returns 12 starters off a 12-2 team, including one of the best running backs in the state in 6-0, 225-pound
Cody Brown, and opens the season at No. 3.
Winning a state title in 2019 didn't sway the computer as defending 7A champion Marietta opens at No. 15, defending 6A champion Harrison is not among the preseason Top 25, while defending 5A champion Buford opens at No. 5.
See the complete list below. Click on team links for schedules, rosters and previews.
Georgia Preseason MaxPreps Top 25
2.
Grayson (Loganville), 11-2
3.
Parkview (Lilburn), 12-2
4.
Cedar Grove (Ellenwood), 13-2
5.
Buford, 14-1
6.
Blessed Trinity (Roswell), 14-1
7.
Warner Robins, 13-2
8.
Colquitt County (Norman Park), 9-3
9.
Carrollton , 12-1
10.
North Gwinnett (Suwanee), 12-2
11.
McEachern (Powder Springs), 12-1
12.
Mill Creek (Hoschton), 10-3
13.
Crisp County (Cordele), 11-4
14.
Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.), 6-5
15.
Bainbridge, 7-4
16.
Camden County (Kingsland), 8-3
17.
Marietta, 14-2
18.
Westlake (Atlanta), 6-5
19.
Lee County (Leesburg) 11-2
20.
Allatoona (Acworth), 11-3-1
21.
Milton, 8-4
22.
Athens Academy (Athens), 11-1
23.
Ware County (Waycross), 8-4
24.
Brooks County (Quitman), 9-6
25.
Dacula, 13-1
Norcross running back Phil Mafah has committed to Clemson.
Photo by Dean Swint
