In Countdown to Kickoff, WALB Sports’ Aaron Meaux and McKenzie Blaze break down everything you need to know before football season in South Georgia. Watch LIVE and view previous episodes on WALB.com, the WALB News 10 app and on streaming apps at 7 p.m. every weekday from July 28 to Aug. 12.

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — GHSA Class A Region 2 enters 2026 with four new head coaches across five programs and no shortage of questions to answer before October.

Atkinson County is replacing a standout senior class and entering region play for the first time after two seasons on a non-region schedule. Clinch County returns a Final Four core under a new leader who calls the program his alma mater. Irwin County is rebuilding its identity under a head coach returning to the chair. Lanier County is in its third head coaching change in four years but says the culture has never looked more defined. And Mitchell County arrives in a new region with a new system and one of the most physically imposing offensive lines in Class A.

Atkinson County Rebels: Building depth for a new challenge

Atkinson County went 9-1 last season on a non-region schedule and enters Region 2 play for the first time in 2026.

Head coach Bobby Jones said the young roster is trending in the right direction but has a long way to go.

“Last year’s graduation class, we had some really good ones and have some big shoes to fill,” Jones said. “So far, our sophomore class, I feel like has been moving in that direction. They still got a long ways to go. I don’t know if you can replace a Darrien Roberts or a Zy Williams, because they were really special last year. But the young guys are doing well. They’re starting to understand the offense.”

Senior fullback Messiah Johnson and sophomore tailback Javen Jordan are expected to share the backfield workload in a run-heavy offense built on option and misdirection. The quarterback competition is between sophomore Isaiah Odom and Cager Mullis, who has been managing a knee injury this summer. Jones identified Odom as the better fit for the option-heavy system.

Georgia State commit Tykevious “Rudy” Locke is the program’s top two-way difference-maker, anchoring the defensive tackle position. Locke’s ability to control the middle of the defense is expected to give the Rebels a foundation up front on both sides of the ball.

Jones said the goal entering Region 2 is straightforward: be competitive where the program previously was not.

“This year, this is to see if what we’ve been doing is working because we’re still coming back into one of the toughest regions in single-A football,” Jones said. “I’m hoping that we can be tough and physical and play for four quarters and compete with folks where in the past, we were not competing with people at all.”

The non-region schedule includes games against GMC, Miller County, Telfair County and Montgomery County, with a bye week before region play begins against Mitchell County.

Clinch County Panthers: Championship standard under new leadership

Clinch County reached the Final Four in 2025 and enters 2026 under first-year head coach Rance Morgan, who takes over at his alma mater after also serving as an assistant principal at the school.

Morgan said the transition has been seamless.

“I’m excited. I love this school. I love this community,” Morgan said. “It’s been smooth. They know me. I know them. The coaches know me. I know them. I know the ins and outs of this place. They know my standard. They know kind of how I do things.”

Morgan’s daily program pillars are effort, accountability and care. His stated goal is for the Panthers to play fast within a defensive system simple enough to execute at full speed.

Quarterback Traviian Miller returns after a standout sophomore season that made him a finalist for WALB’s underclassman of the year award. Miller is a dual-threat player who can throw and run and serves as the engine of the Panthers’ offense. Receivers Kamarion Johnson and Jakyri Posley — all three players are also coming off a state basketball championship — return as the primary pass catchers.

Johnson, described as a vocal leader and high-level Division I prospect, is expected to stretch the field alongside Posley on the outside.

The biggest question for Clinch County is its offensive line. The unit has size but lacks varsity experience, and Morgan acknowledged the group will have to develop quickly once the regular season begins.

Clinch opens the season against Fitzgerald in Week 1. Non-region road games against Miller County and Seminole County follow before region play begins at Irwin County.

Irwin County Indians: Building brotherhood in Osceola

Irwin County enters 2026 under head coach Beau Johnson, who is returning to the head coaching position after four years coaching the defensive line at Coffee County. Johnson inherits a program with seven seniors and several freshmen and sophomores expected to play meaningful roles.

Johnson said the program’s history is respected but not a burden.

“Respect the past, honor the past, honor the tradition,” Johnson said. “But we’ve got to worry about 2026. It’s not 2019. It’s not 1998. It’s 2026.”

Johnson’s October timeline is the program’s measuring stick.

“What we want to do is we want to be playing our best football come October,” Johnson said. “Our saying down at Blountstown is when it got cool outside and we had to put a hoodie on is when we want to be playing our best football. Just buy into the process, get better each and every week. And by the time me and you have to put sleeves on in the fall and the leaves are changing colors, hopefully we’re playing our best Indian football.”

The offense will run a wing-T system featuring buck sweeps, belly dive options, misdirection and jet motion. Returning quarterback Christian Clark is described as quiet but respected, and Johnson said he will push Clark toward a more vocal leadership role as the season progresses.

Returning skill players EJ Nelson, Evan Stephens and Drake Rodriguez-Wynn — all now upperclassmen — posted significant yardage in 2025 and are expected to carry the run-heavy attack. Freshman defensive back Kyle Bivens was identified by Johnson as an underclassman to watch in his first varsity season.

Johnson said the team’s strongest position group is not on the field.

“It’s always been, everywhere I’ve been, brothers for life,” Johnson said.

The Indians’ early non-region schedule includes games at Fitzgerald and at Wilcox County, followed by a home game against Berrien in September before region play begins.

Lanier County Bulldogs: BITE mentality under a new leader

Lanier County is in its third head coaching change in four years after a 2-9 season. New head coach Marcus Gowan arrives from Gordon Central and has introduced what he calls the BITE mentality — Bold, Invested, Tough, Excellent.

Gowan said the framework is not a slogan.

“Our biggest thing that we’ve been trying to preach to our kids is trying to establish a Bite mentality in everything that they do,” Gowan said. “We want them to be bold. We want them to take chances. We want them to go be great. One of our big beliefs is that greatness is a mindset, which is something that I carried over with me from Valdosta. We want them to be invested in what they do.”

Gowan also issued a challenge to the roster beyond the varsity level.

“We really have to hone in the mental aspect of the game,” Gowan said. “One of the things that I’ve challenged not only our high school, but our middle school guys is to become a savant of the game.”

Senior Alex Contreras starts at quarterback. Contreras is also a baseball pitcher — an experience base Gowan said has prepared him well for the poise demands of the position. Trent Rice is the only veteran returning on the offensive line, a unit that will otherwise be rebuilt around young players. The offensive line’s communication and development is the program’s most urgent challenge.

The secondary is Lanier County’s most experienced and capable group. Junior safety Evan Yerby brings track-level speed. Senior safety Jalen Lamb provides veteran leadership. Junior Bryce Murphy and sophomore Caleb Taylor are also expected to see meaningful time in the back end.

Lanier opens Aug. 21 at home against Berrien County, followed by a road trip to Brantley County.

Mitchell County Eagles: Line-first identity under a new system

Mitchell County enters 2026 under first-year head coach Kareem Hess, who previously interviewed for the program’s offensive coordinator position last year. Hess played at Tiftarea and graduated from Albany State, giving him a built-in familiarity with South Georgia football.

Hess said his program’s identity begins with mindset.

“We don’t want to be weak-minded. We want to be strong-minded,” Hess said. “We want to fight to the end. Just having a different mindset about what it takes to be a really good football team and understanding what that means.”

Hess identified both lines of scrimmage as the program’s strength heading into 2026.

“Up front is our strength, defensive line and offensive line,” Hess said. “And so we got to be able to run the football, get out to the quarterback and stop the run.”

Senior offensive linemen Caden Murray and Paul Davis anchor a physical front that also includes Khalil Murray, Karan Davis, Brandon Scott and King Grimsley.

Jadarian Hudson, who goes by “Jig,” takes over at quarterback. Hudson is a basketball point guard with no prior quarterback experience. Hess said Hudson’s ability to distribute, command his teammates and perform in pressure situations — traits developed on the basketball court — make him a strong fit at the position.

The Eagles’ multi-purpose players are expected to be matchup problems throughout the season. Junior Montorie Lee is described as a versatile athlete. Khalil Murray lines up at linebacker and halfback. Junior King Grimsley and senior Kentorial Wimberly each play wide receiver and safety.

Mitchell County opens the season at Seminole County, then hosts Miller County on Sept. 11 before a rivalry game at Pelham to close out non-region play. Region 2 play follows.

The 2026 GHSA football season begins Aug. 21.

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