Official 2019 high school football practices started this week, and that means we are that much closer to the beginning of a new year of athletic competition. In addition to the customary coverage of local sports you will find at this blog and on the @AugBball social media feeds, the new year will bring new partnerships for AugBball that will allow us to achieve our mission and purpose – to publicize and tell stories about the outstanding accomplishments of our athletes and leaders – in ways that seemed impossible to me until recently. Our biggest and most exciting new feature this year will be the live streaming of full games, starting with the high school football season, and using the expertise of SUVtv, which has earned the reputation as the leader in high school sports broadcasting by presenting hundreds of high level games annually for the nearly a decade in this region of the country. Help making this project possible will come from foundational sponsors like Lineage of Champions, which in addition to organizing the eight year old CSRA All Star Bowl Week that features this area’s best football players, also operates a national network of travel basketball leagues and tournaments that have included some of the sport’s most famous professional and collegiate players during the past two decades.

Here are the details for our high school football broadcasts, which will begin August 23, the opening night in Georgia and South Carolina for the new season:

AugBball Football Game of the Week Powered by SUVtv

Schedule (subject to change)

8/23 – Richmond Academy at Hephzibah

The audio segment below was not produced by AugBball. It was clipped from episode 1 (link to full interview) of this season’s TFR Conversations with Coaches podcast series. But the story Hephzibah coach William Harrell tells about his vision for his football program is the kind of story we hope to be able to tell every week of every season:

8/30 – Harlem at Aquinas

The second week’s feature will be a rematch of last year’s thrilling 33-31 Fighting Irish victory at Harlem. Two returnees (shown above) from that battle are among the area’s most highly recruited players: junior Cameron Garnett of Harlem and senior Jaden Blount of Aquinas.

9/6 – North Augusta at Grovetown

At 6-3 and 280, Grovetown defensive end Simeon Barrow will be difficult to hold at bay. According to Grovetown coach Damien Postell, the senior enters the season with 27 scholarship offers, and his top 5 schools are Michigan State, West Virginia, Missouri, Virginia Tech and Tennessee.

9/13 – Clarke Central at Thomson

Clarke Central topped Thomson 42-21 last season. Both schools have a rich football tradition. Thomson’s Christian Tutt (shown above), now a sophomore in Auburn’s secondary, is the latest Bulldog to play at the major college level.

9/20 – Burke County at Evans

Quarterback Juanya Dove will look for a way to help Burke County reclaim a region title this season after finishing second to Baldwin last season.

9/27 – Thomson at Grovetown

Grovetown will have a difficult task in giving its fans something to celebrate on homecoming night when Thomson tries to spoil the party.

10/4 – Hephzibah at Jefferson County

In this matchup between last season’s region champion (Jefferson County) and its runner up (Hephzibah), Jefferson County’s Kydran Jenkins, who has committed to Purdue, will be prowling for Rebel ball carriers.

10/11 – Washington-Wilkes at Aquinas

In this region contest Aquinas will try to contain Donovan Anthony, a three year starter at quarterback who will play football for Army in college. The Irish have won the last two meetings, both in Washington.

10/18 – South Aiken at North Augusta

North Augusta has won the last two installments of this rivalry, including last season’s furious comeback on the road, the highlights of which are shown above.

10/25 – Grovetown at Lakeside

Grovetown swept its way through region play last season with a record of 5-0, including a 30-14 win over Lakeside.

11/1 – Thomson at Burke County

During each of the past two seasons, the matchup between Burke County and Thomson has been the most exciting game of the year. These are our two best football programs, and there is no better place in the area to watch high school football than the Bear Den.

More to watch for from AugBball, SUVtv and Lineage of Champions