Football Preseason Officially Gets Underway Monday

With summer workout and conditioning programs now in the rear-view mirror, prep football teams will officially start the preseason Monday with their first of the GHSA’s mandated acclimation-day practices.

In a rule adopted several years ago, the GHSA requires teams to hold five days of non-padded practices to acclimate to the heat before putting on the full pads.

Several local teams will have a full week of those non-padded sessions, followed by their first practice in full pads Monday, July 29. Preseason scrimmages for many teams will end that week on Friday, Aug. 2.

Among the scrimmages on Aug. 2 are North Murray at Pepperell, Darlington at Mount Paran Christian, Model at LaFayette, Armuchee at Temple and Coosa at Mount Zion (Carroll). Rome will also play an intrasquad “soap game” scrimmage Aug. 2.

The following week brings another slate of preseason scrimmages with Rome visiting Rockmart on Thursday, Aug. 8, followed by Model at Armuchee, Pepperell at Coosa and Unity Christian at Community Christian on Friday, Aug. 9.

The regular season kicks off Aug. 16 with Rome hosting Creekside at Barron Stadium for the Corky Kell-Dave Hunter Classic, as well as Darlington hosting Mount Vernon, Model hosting Sonoraville, Unity Christian hosting Young Americans Christian at Coosa High and Pepperell visiting Pickens.

Coosa and Armuchee will play their regular-season openers Aug. 23, with the Eagles visiting Southeast Whitfield and the Indians visiting Ridgeland.