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.

SOUTH GEORGIA (WALB) — Worth County, Sumter County and Crisp County open the season with high hopes and some new faces. All three programs face significant roster turnover heading into the year.

Worth County Rams

The Worth County Rams enter 2026 as defending state champions following a 15-0 season — the program’s first title since 1987. Head Coach Jeff Hammond returns to lead the team, but the Rams must replace seven defensive starters and their defensive coordinator, who departed for Lee County.

Quarterback Lyndon Worthy returns for his fourth and final season under center. He has started since his freshman year and has played in region and state championship games. Wide receiver Jaquaveon Nelson also returns as the offense’s primary target. The offensive line brings back multiple starters, a development Hammond said puts the unit ahead of where it was at this point last season.

“It’s nothing that’s changed as how we want to play,” Hammond said. “We want to be fast. We want to be physical. Be good on both sides of the ball. The biggest question mark is going to be is this is a new group. That group has left us, and this is a new football team. And we’re not going to sneak up on anybody.”

Running backs Chance Sims and Josh McGee, both key contributors to last year’s championship run, have graduated. Linebacker Malik Muhammad, who recorded 71 tackles in 2025, returns as a junior and is expected to anchor the defense.

Worth County’s non-region schedule includes Brooks County, Cairo, Early County, Thomasville and Fitzgerald before entering region play. Region opponents include, Crisp County, Sumter County and Carver. The Rams have two consecutive bye weeks built into the schedule.

Sumter County Panthers

Sumter County enters 2026 under Head Coach Will Rogers, who took over the program in 2022. The Panthers finished one game short of the state championship last season.

The program faces notable changes at key positions. Quarterback Ishmael Jones has graduated, and sophomore Max Copley will take over under center. Copley has not appeared in game action at the varsity level. Rogers said the program’s standard remains unchanged.

“If you’re in with the ones, you’re a one,” Rogers said. “It’s really about playing to a standard. And it goes far beyond the stretch of just being on the football field.”

Wide receiver Ayden Robinson, a standout from last season, transferred to Camden County following a family relocation. Rogers said the Panthers lost roughly seven defensive starters from last year’s unit, which he described as one of the best defensive lines in the state.

Defensive tackle Ja’micquel Solomon returns as a four-year starter and is expected to anchor the defensive line.

“They’re going to hunt,” Rogers said of his defense. “We’ve never been part of a bad defense. So they’re going to hunt.”

Sumter County’s schedule includes an early non-region home game against Dougherty before road contests and a bye week ahead of region play. The Panthers’ three-game region stretch — at Worth County, home against Crisp County and against Carver — is expected to determine the region title race.

Crisp County Cougars

Crisp County enters its second season under Coach Justin Newman. The Cougars must replace 10 of 11 starters on defense and seven on offense.

Caden Lofton, a multi-sport athlete described as a basketball player transitioning to quarterback, will take over under center. Returning receivers Mareo Thomas and Keimon Banks are expected to serve as his primary targets. Running back LJ Brown returns and is projected as the focal point of the offense.

Newman said the team’s focus heading into September is discipline and fundamentals.

“We’ve been really pleased with a lot of the younger guys stepping up into the roles,” Newman said. “We’ve got to replace 10 of 11 on defense and seven on offense. And a lot of guys have really stepped up.”

Newman said the team’s defensive identity remains intact despite the turnover.

“If they don’t score, you can’t lose,” Newman said. “We’re going to be a defensive-minded team. We’re going to run the football. We want to hang our hat on being hard-nosed and playing fast, physical football on defense.”

Crisp County opens the season on the road against Early County, a region opponent. The schedule also includes home games against Brooks County and Tift County before a bye week and a closing three-game region stretch at Sumter County, at Carver and home against Worth County.

GHSA football begins Friday, Aug. 21.

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