Marietta’s rise among top early storylines

The Marietta Blue Devils will start the season at No. 1 in the rankings in the highest classification despite a losing record in 2018 and no advancement beyond the quarterfinals in 25 years. The reason is simple — talent.

Marietta has seven players ranked among the consensus top 100 senior recruits in Georgia. Those include quarterback Harrison Bailey and lineman B.J. Ojulari, both committed to Tennessee, and tight end Arik Gilbert, an AJC Super 11 pick.

Marietta is the only Georgia team ranked in the top 25 by USA Today (No. 9) and MaxPreps (No. 24), the two most widely known national polls. ESPN announced last week that one of its networks will televise Marietta’s Aug. 30 game against St. Joseph’s Prep of Pennsylvania.

Marietta will open Thursday at Rome, the No. 2 team in Class AAAAA, in the Corky Kell Classic.

Here are some other intriguing 2019 storylines:

■ Who’s next? Milton and Heard County won their first state titles in 2018. North Gwinnett, Lee County, Blessed Trinity and Hapeville Charter won their firsts in 2017. Cedar Grove and Rome won their firsts in 2016. There was Allatoona and Pace Academy in 2015; Benedictine and Mount Paran Christian in 2014; Creekside, Aquinas and Marion County in 2013; Norcross, Gainesville and Jefferson in 2012. The last time there were no firsttime winners was 2001. Best suspects this year? Callaway is the only preseason No. 1 team that has not won a state title.

■ ECLA’s drive for five: Eagle’s Landing Christian can become the first school in Georgia history to win five consecutive state titles. ELCA opens No. 1 in the Class A private-school division.

■ Big cleats to fill: Tradition might not graduate, but star players eventually do. How will their teams manage? Warner Robins was 3-8 before Dylan Fromm transferred in, then 28-2 with him behind center. Will the Demons revert? Cedar Grove and Clinch County each won two state titles during the past three seasons with twoway blue-chip starters Jadon Haselwood and Trezmen Marshall. They’re playing major Division I football now. Blessed Trinity won back-toback Class AAAA titles with arguably the most versatile, productive multisport foursome in state history — QB/DB Jake Smith, RB/LB Steele Chambers, WR/DB Ryan Davis and LB/TE J.D. Bertrand. All were four-year football starters. “We will miss them in more ways than the obvious,” Blessed Trinity coach Tim McFarlin said.

■ Big whistles to blow:

There never have been more coaches following great coaches than in 2019. How do you follow a coach who reached 10 consecutive semifinals and won two championships in the highest class? That’s Justin Rogers’ assignment at Colquitt County, which forced out Rush Propst. Or what about 16 consecutive region titles and three state championships? That’s Clay Stephenson’s challenge at Calhoun, where Hal Lamb has retired.

■ Reclassification: For the first time in four years this fall, the GHSA will fully reclassify its 450-plus schools. The new region and class assignments won’t be ratified until January, but the writing should be on the wall before football season ends. The executive committee voted last spring to maintain the current seven classifications and to break Class A into 16 regions (eight public, eight private).

■ The official story:

Several 2018 games were rescheduled in midseason because of a shortage of referees. Friday night lights could continue to expand into Thursday and Saturday.

■ The move to Georgia State: Georgia State Stadium is the new home of the state finals. It’s a move from an indoor NFL stadium that seats 70,000 to an outdoor college stadium that seats 24,333. How will it work for a revolving door of fan bases during eight games and two days? It’s expected to be a financial boon to the participating schools as the 16 state finalists could stand to divvy up another $500,000 at the lower-cost venue.