SOUTH GEORGIA (WALB) — The 2026 high school football season arrives in South Georgia with new region alignments, a revised GHSA playoff format, new head coaches at 12 programs and three defending champions each facing a different kind of title defense.

Champions with targets

Thomas County Central, Worth County and Sherwood Christian enter the season as defending champions, but each program faces a distinct set of challenges.

Thomas County Central is replacing key production at quarterback, running back and along the offensive line. Despite the roster turnover, expectations at the Thomasville-area program have not changed.

“The climb to the top is nowhere near as hard as staying on the top,” coach Justin Roberts said. “We’re not going to win games just because our jersey says Central. You got to go out there and earn it. And you’re going to be everybody’s Super Bowl.”

Worth County brings back quarterback Lyndon Worthy — who has experience in championship moments — along with a more developed offensive line. The Rams, however, lost significant defensive production, including defensive coordinator Bull Barge to Lee County and linebacker Chance Sims, Josh McGee and others who anchored last season’s unit.

“This is a new football team,” Worth County’s Jeff Hammond said. “And we’re not going to sneak up on anybody. And we’re going to get everybody’s A game.”

Sherwood Christian faces the most unusual title defense in the state. The Eagles won back-to-back eight-man championships but are moving to traditional 11-man football for 2026.

“We don’t have a guy on this team who’s played 11-man football before,” Sherwood Christian head coach Doug Eason said. “So it’s been a process of just teaching them the game. And football, I don’t care what level — offensive line wins games in the trenches.”

New coaches, new standards

Twelve new head coaches are entering the 2026 season across the South Georgia coverage area, including at Bainbridge, STEM Charter, Terrell County, Pataula Charter, Monroe, Early County and others.

WALB Sports Director Aaron Meaux said the first challenge for any new staff is not wins, but belief.

“First, a new staff has to get players to believe in their message. Then it has to get them to practice those beliefs. Once that happens, the results will have a chance to follow,” Meaux said.

Early County was highlighted as an example, with Coach Laversay Taylor cited for emphasizing competition for roles from day one.

“Ever since day one I got here, guys have been on board,” he said. “They just want somebody that cares about them. They just want to work.”

Region realignment and the new playoff format

The map changed for 2026, and with it, the road to the postseason. Teams in the GHSA Class 2A saw Worth County and Brantley County depart while Brooks County and Cook County joined the region.

“You could argue that it got tougher,” said Lowndes head coach Adam Carter. “I think our region is going to be even better this year than it was last year. I think we got five playoff teams.”

The new GHSA playoff format was identified as a major storyline. The format now allows more than four teams per region to qualify for the postseason.

“We could have saw this last year in Region 1 with that Class 7A — all five could have been in the postseason,” Meaux said. “And now with the playoff format, you might get a chance to actually see that.”

Pressure points: Depth, line play and poise

Three pressure points were identified as central concerns across the region heading into 2026: roster depth, offensive line development and poise under pressure.

Depth was cited as the hardest to address once the season begins. Brooks County and Grace Christian were among the smaller programs mentioned as navigating thin rosters.

“When you’re trying to play a football season with 12 guys, how do you define success? To me, it’s making it through the end of the year — being able to finish all nine games,” said Grace Christian’s Richard McClure.

Offensive line development was flagged as a pressure point for Thomasville and other programs replacing experienced linemen. Communication — whether five linemen can recognize pressure and make consistent calls together — was identified as the key indicator of growth.

Poise was highlighted for Deerfield-Windsor, which enters 2026 with a new group despite a long history around championship football.

“How poised are we going to be when the stuff hits the fan?” Deerfield-Windsor’s Jake McCrae said. “When things get tough, and you gotta look around that huddle and you don’t see those guys — what are you gonna do?”

Penalties were identified as the most underrated early-season statistic to monitor.

“They say if you give up 100 yards in penalties, it’s like giving up seven points,” Meaux said. “A lot of these teams are young. They’re going to be holding, offsides, false starts. If you can minimize those, you have an opportunity to grow.”

Quarterback watch

Several teams enter 2026 with settled situations under center: Jordan Bush at Lee County, Lyndon Worthy at Worth County, Junior Burrus at Brooks County and Bryce Puckett at Cairo.

Puckett set a Cairo single-game passing record with 356 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore against Troup County in the playoffs.

Cook has an open competition between senior Jayden Joiner and sophomore Nole Register. Thomasville is turning to Christian Hayes, whose mobility is expected to change the offense from previous seasons. Bainbridge is working a new offense around junior Jeremy Jones, a transfer from Lee County. Sherwood is asking a former running back, Chuck LaGrange, to lead its new 11-man offense.

“Jordan Bush is a really good player. He’s committed to Mercer University, and we feel like he gives us the best chance to be successful,” Lee County’s Dean Fabrizio said.

Among the playmakers expected to shape offenses this season: Colt Williams, Bryian Duncan, George Lamons, Jaquaveon Nelson, Kamarion Johnson and Malik Young.

Games to watch

Five matchups were identified as potential season-defining games:

Thomas County Central at Lee County — A region title contender matchup between the defending champion and an experienced returning roster.

Valdosta at Lowndes — A rivalry game in a three-team region where one loss can significantly alter a team’s postseason path.

Clinch County at Seminole County — A measuring stick for two programs with October and November aspirations.

Worth County at Sumter County — A non-region game between the defending Class 3A champion and a program Meaux picked to win the region in 2026.

Cairo vs. Westover — A region game Meaux called potentially decisive for the 4A Region 1 title race.

Region projections

WALB Sports Director Aaron Meaux offered the following region title picks for 2026:

GIAA 8-man: CCA (Georgia Christian — team to watch)

GIAA 11-man: SGA (Valwood — team to watch)

GHSA Class A Region 2: Clinch County (Lanier County — team to watch)

GHSA Class A Region 1: Seminole County

GHSA Class 2A Region 1: Fitzgerald (Brooks County — team to watch)

GHSA Class 3A: Sumter County (Worth County — team to watch)

GHSA Class 4A Region 1: Cairo (Westover — team to watch)

GHSA Class 5A/6A Region: Lee County (Thomas County Central — team to watch)

GHSA Class 7A Region: Valdosta (Lowndes — team to watch)

Meaux said his most confident pick was Valdosta, while his least comfortable was Fitzgerald in the competitive Class 2A Region 1, where Brooks County, Thomasville, Cook and Berrien also contend.

The first Locker Room Report of the 2026 season is scheduled to air Aug. 21 at 11 p.m.

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