We’ve looked at the miles ahead for Augusta-area high school teams in 2024, now it’s time to dive deeper into these schedules.
Every schedule has those games fans have marked off long before the first football is snapped. You know the ones. The buzz travels through the hallways from the first bell Monday morning until the game clock hits zeroes Friday evening.
The student sections are having as much, or more, fun than the players on the field. While some carry heavier weight like region titles and state playoff berths, others are just about a year’s worth of bragging rights. Either way, what happens in these contests will live on until the next one.
Here’s a look at some of the noteworthy rivalry games on the Augusta-area high school football slate in 2024.
Here are 11 Augusta-area high school football rivalry games to watch in 2024
Augusta Christian at Lincoln County
Aug. 16
While not exactly a rivalry game, this will be a fun one for two passionate fan bases. These teams rarely cross paths (and haven’t in more than 20 years) and for the Lions, it’ll be a tough draw for the first week of the season.
Evans at Lakeside
Sept. 6
The Knights took last year’s nail-biter 16-15. This series has proven to be one where blowouts are scarce and often takes four quarters to decide. Nothing changes here with region implications on the line.
South Aiken at North Augusta
Sept. 6
North Augusta racked up 63 points in this game last season and the Yellow Jackets look to be stronger than ever coming into coach Richard Bush’s second year at the helm. As we’ve seen before, however, these rivalry games can be highly unpredictable.
Hephzibah at Cross Creek
Sept. 27
The Rebels cruised to a 39-14 win in last year’s meeting, but it’s noteworthy that the Razorbacks seemed to improve down the stretch as the roster got healthier. Rivalry games are a great time to throw out the stat sheet, because anything can happen in this type of environment.
Laney at Thomson
Sept. 27
These two teams met two years ago in a month-long thriller that could’ve easily shifted the tide in the region for the eventual state champion Bulldogs. While Thomson-Burke County is the big draw in this region slate, overlooking the Wildcats could prove to be a one-way ticket to the loss column.
Thomson at Burke County
Oct. 4
In a series marked by one-score deficits (five points over the last two meetings) and late-game heroics, Burke County-Thomson is once again a region contest. With the Bears dropping back down to Class 2A, this will likely once again be the deciding game in Region 4.
Josey at Laney
Oct. 4
One of the oldest rivalries in the CSRA has been one-sided as of late. Laney is riding a three-game winning streak and has outscored Josey 78-8 over that span.
Greenbrier at Lakeside
Oct. 10
A late touchdown pushed Lakeside over the top as the Panthers knocked off Greenbrier 14-10 last season. Now the rivals will face off as region opponents for the first time in six years.
Aquinas at Harlem
Oct. 11
Harlem edged Aquinas in an offensive shootout a year ago, 47-42. They’ll return to the same field as the Bulldogs look for their fourth-straight victory in the series.
Greenbrier at Evans
Oct. 25
Evans took last year’s thriller 22-21, a game that could have easily gone the other way. They’ll meet again at Blanchard Stadium, this time as region opponents.
Midland Valley at North Augusta
Nov. 1
These two teams met last season in what was arguably the best Augusta-area clash in two decades. The Mustangs prevailed with the 49-48 win (their first over the Jackets in 25 years), clinching the region championship in the process. Both teams have likely had this game circled ever since the clock hit zeroes last fall as the rivalry returns to North Augusta.
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