There is a new look with Savannah football teams competing in the Georgia Independent Athletic Association this season as Savannah Country Day enters the fray after moving over from the Georgia High School Association, while St. Andrew's is ready to christen its new football field with its opener against Hilton Head Prep on Friday, Aug. 21.
The teams will meet for the first time when SCD hosts the Lions on Friday, Oct. 30.
Savannah Country Day opened the season on the road on Friday, Aug. 14, as the Hornets lost 27-0 in a game at Strong Rock Christian.
Here's a look at what to expect in the 2026 from the Savannah Country Day and St. Andrew's football teams.
Savannah Country Day
The Hornet are making the move from the Georgia High School Association to the Georgia Independent
Athletic Association after posting a 4-7 record and losing in the first round of the Class A-3A Private School State playoffs to Mount Vernon.
Joey Blackmore, the former North Dakota State standout safety,enters his second year leading the program.
The Hornets have a star senior coming back in Thomas Holland, a running back/linebacker who filled in at quarterback last season when Devin Trawick was injured.
Holland, who is also an excellent soccer player, rushed for 1,084 yards and 13 touchdowns ― averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He was named a preseason GIAA All-State first-team selection by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
"Thomas is a slashing runner who is very physical," Blackmore said. "But he also has the ability to beat you with his speed."
Holland was hurt early on in the Hornets opener at Strong Rock Christian and he may be held out of SCD's game at Bluffton on Friday, Aug. 21, but Blackmore said the injury shouldn't keep the standout senior out for long.
Trawick returned from his injury at the end of the season and the junior is looking for a big season. He threw for 609 yards with two touchdowns and seven interceptions in seven games last year, and rushed for 244 yards and a score, picking up 5.8 yards per carry.
SCD lost its top receiver to a transfer and defensive back, as junior Peyton Bean made the move to Benedictine. He had 35 receptions for 518 yards and three scores last year.
Sophomore Amir Atkinson will be a featured receiver along with his classmate, Jalen Jordan and junior Eli Bailey, Blackmore said.
Wells Headley will be a senior leader at defensive end. He was a second-team All-Region 3A Division I pick last season when he had 37 tackles with seven for losses and three sacks. He'll be on a talented line that includes junior Avery West and S'Zavier House, a junior who doubles as the heavyweight on the Hornet wrestling team.
Junior William Rhodes is a standout linebacker who led the Hornets with 10 tackles and an interception in the loss at Strong Rock Christian.
Liam Murphy is another senior leader in the defensive backfield after recording 50 tackles and an interception last year.
Blackmore said he and the team are embracing a lot of unknowns as the season gets started competing in a new organization. The Hornets will continue their cross-town rivalry with Savannah Christian as they host the Raiders on Sept. 18, while starting what could be a new cross-town rivalry when they play at Bethesda Academy on Sept. 25.
St. Andrew's
The excitement level is running high at St. Andrew's as the Lions get set to play their first game on their newly installed turf field when they host Hilton Head Prep on Friday, Aug. 21, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
Wes Worthington enters his third season leading the program and has been working hard to develop a competitive squad.
It looks like the pieces are in place this season with some talented players returning to lead the Lions.
Senior Jack Kelley, who doubles as a talented catcher who has committed to play baseball at USC Sumter, is a standout on both sides of the line.
Quarterback Pat Jackson is back behind center after a season where he threw for 700 yards and nine touchdowns, while rushing for 496 yards and five scores.
Junior running back Darius Chapman is a versatile athlete who is a standout guard in basketball. He ran for 491 yards and four scores last year ― averaging 6.1 yards per carry, while catching eight passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.
Addison Solomon and Thomas Kirk are back as a senior leaders on both sides of the line in his third year as a starter. He also serves as the squad's long snapper.
"We're a small school and we don't have any selfish guys on our team," Kirk said. "We play as a unit and our goal is to win as a team."
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: What to expect from the 2026 Savannah Country Day, St. Andrew's football teams
