If preseason

football scrimmages are called jamborees, the opening weekend of high

school football for the 2002 season could be called a "humdinger

of a hootenanny." The local football teams start the season by playing

some big games against some top-notch opponents.

The biggest

game Friday night will be Northgate at Newnan. The Vikings, coached by

Ron Beaucham, made the Class AA state playoffs last year but lost in the

first round. This year they are playing in Region 4-AAAA and start the

season against the Cougars, coached by Robert Herring, in what could be

a fun rivalry for years to come. This is the first time these two teams

have met on the gridiron during the regular season.

McIntosh will

start the season with a home game on the road. Renovations to the bleachers

at McIntosh High School are not done yet so the Chiefs will take on the

Golden Eagles of Eagle's Landing at Sandy Creek High School.

The Chiefs,

coached by Butch Prosser, have some experience at some of the skill positions

and have seemed to improve during the preseason. After this game, McIntosh

will be on the road for two weeks before hosting East Coweta.

Fayette County

starts the season Friday with a road game at Douglas County. The Tigers

are under new head coach Jim Lindsey and have some experience on both

sides of the ball. Douglas County is ranked ninth in AAAA and is known

for producing big plays and really airing the ball out.

Landmark Christian

School opens the season with a road game as well. The War Eagles will

travel to Adams Stadium in Dekalb County to face Cross Keys. Landmark

was a much better team last year than they were the year before and the

War Eagles are looking to build on that success. The Cross Keys Indians

play a non-region schedule in 5-AAA.

Our Lady of

Mercy gets its first full varsity season underway with a road game at

Pacelli Catholic. The Bobcats played a mixed schedule last year, going

2-1 in varsity play and 3-4 in junior varsity play. Coached by Alan Gordon,

Our Lady of Mercy has some talent on both sides of the ball.

Saturday will

also offer some more local football action as both East Coweta and Starr's

Mill head to the Corky Kell Kickoff Classic at the Georgia Dome. Starr's

Mill will face the Dacula Falcons at 2:45 p.m., while East Coweta, ranked

sixth, will face top ranked Parkview at 8:30 p.m.

The Panthers,

coached by Mike Earwood, are looking to start another season off on the

right foot as they hope to advance to the state playoffs yet again. Though

they have graduated a lot of talent, the Panthers have been able to reload

on both offense and defense. East Coweta is still the same perennial powerhouse

that can stop you with a stifling defense or beat you with an explosive

offense.

Sandy Creek

is the only local team off this week. The Patriots will begin their 2002

campaign next week with a home game against Fayette County.

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