Week 1 football picks: Predicting the first week of Bayside South high school football

The high school football season on the Eastern Shore kicks off in just one day, as final practices take place before the games officially begin. It's shaping up to be another exciting year of Bayside Conference football.

Last year we saw Stephen Decatur bring a state championship back to the Eastern Shore. The Seahawks will kick off their title defense on Friday night against one of the Bayside's top teams. The remaining Bayside South teams will also play under the Friday night lights, as Bennett and Snow Hill start at home, while Wi-Hi, Parkside and Washington begin on the road.

Here are picks for the first week of Bayside South High School Football:

Week 1 Bayside South high school football picks

Sept. 6: Polytech at James M. Bennett

6 p.m. | Wicomico County Stadium

The Bennett Clippers are the lone Salisbury school starting the season at home this week, as they will be at Wicomico County Stadium this Friday hosting Delaware's Polytech. Last season saw much improvement for the Clippers after multiple consecutive winless seasons, and with top players like Zakai Smullen, Liam Nelson, Myles Jarmon and Jamareon Stevens back, the Clippers will hope last seasons improvement and momentum carries over to this year.

When these two teams faced off in last season's opener at Polytech, it was a high-scoring, entertaining game that Polytech won 58-42. Polytech finished its season with a 10-2 record before falling in the Delaware state semifinals, its best season on the football field in quite some time. Polytech is set to bring back a few of its top offensive weapons from last year, just like Bennett, which could lead to yet another exciting opener to the season.

With home-field advantage this time, Bennett pulls out the win.

Pick: James M. Bennett

Sept. 6: Queen Anne's at Stephen Decatur

6 p.m. | Stephen Decatur High School

The defending Class 2A State Champion Stephen Decatur Seahawks will kick off their title defense Friday night at home in front of their home fans in Berlin. The Seahawks haven't lost a game since the 2022 state semifinals against Milford Mill, and will hope their win streak continues into the new season.

Decatur returns a strong senior class with multiple years of experience when it comes to playing and competing at a high level, including a few Division-I recruits like Davin Chandler, Ethan Bradshaw and Trybe Wise. They'll have to replace some key pieces, including last year's star quarterback Brycen Coleman, but all around the Seahawks look like they are the most talented team in the Bayside again this year.

Queen Anne's is typically a top contender in the Bayside each year, and is also a familiar opponent that Decatur knows well, as the Seahawks defeated the Lions 41-7 in last year's playoff run. Decatur's win streak continues to start the season, defeating Queen Anne's at home.

Pick: Stephen Decatur

Sept. 6: Washington at Colonel Richardson

6 p.m. | Colonel Richardson High School

The Washington Jaguars are coming off of consecutive winless seasons since they were unable to field a team during the pandemic-shortened spring season in 2021, and will hope that 2024 will be the year they get back in the win column.

The Colonel Richardson Colonels are a tough team for the Jaguars to open the new season against, as Colonel is consistently one of the Bayside's best Class 1A schools. Though it made some strides in competing last year, Washington starts the year 0-1 on the road Friday night.

Pick: Colonel Richardson

More: Who will be the Bayside South Football Player of the Year in 2024? Vote for your pick here

More: 30 Bayside South high school football players to watch during the 2024 season

Sept. 6: Annapolis Area Christian at Snow Hill

6 p.m. | Snow Hill High School

The Snow Hill Eagles are opening their season at home this year, where they will host Annapolis Area Christian, the same school they defeated 20-0 on the road in last season's opener.

The 2023 season was a successful one for the Eagles under first-year head coach Raheem Hammond . Led by seniors like Zyheem Collick, Tyler Reddick and Jayceere Fields, the Eagles went 5-4 in the regular season before falling in the playoffs. The Eagles will look to follow up last season's winning record, their first in a decade, with continued progress.

The Eagles will need players to step up after the graduation last year's senior class, but a solid foundation has been set in Snow Hill, and they will grab back-to-back season-opening wins over Annapolis Area Christian.

Pick: Snow Hill

Sept. 6: Parkside at Kent Island

6 p.m. | Kent Island High School

The Parkside Rams will start their season on the road, and they will face stiff competition against Kent Island, one of the Bayside's top teams and a recent Class 2A runner-up in 2022, and a quarterfinalist in 2023.

Parkside finished 3-7 last year, and while its final record was a disappointing one, it showed some solid signs to build on for this season, with a few young offensive playmakers standing out last season. Parkside will hope that more experience will lead to an improved season, as they try to break through to the Bayside's top tier of teams.

Wouldn't be surprised if this was a close game to open the year, but Kent Island grabs the win to start 1-0.

Pick: Kent Island

Sept. 6: Wicomico at Linganore

6:30 p.m. | Linganore High School

Wi-Hi is another team that will be experiencing a rematch of its season opener last year, as they travel to face Linganore High School in Week 1. Linganore came to Salisbury last season and defeated Wi-Hi 40-0.

Wi-Hi will hope that this season is a bounce back year, as it went 2-8 under first year head coach Matt McMurdo. But facing a team like Linganore, which went 12-2 last year and almost won the Class 3A state title, will be a tough matchup for Wi-Hi in Week 1.

Pick: Linganore

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Week 1 football picks: Predicting the first week of Bayside South high school football