Football season is just around the corner

With the 2006 football season a couple of months away, I took a look at the schedules of our county teams, and all I can say is that fans will not have to wait very long to see some key matchups.

Evans opens its season with a bang. The Knights have games with Harlem (Sept. 1), at Lakeside (Sept. 15), at Greenbrier (Sept. 22) and against rival Effingham County (Sept. 29) - all before the first month of the season is over.

Harlem also begins with some tough matchups. The Bulldogs travel to Evans and Lincoln County for their first two games. Late in the season, Harlem will go to Sandersville, Ga., to play an always-tough Washington County squad.

Greenbrier has its opener against Westside on Sept. 1. After that, they face county rivals Lakeside and Evans in two of their next three games. New Wolfpack coach Scott Chadwick will get a chance to see how his team will handle the pressure of big games pretty early.

Lakeside opens at Class A Aquinas and will be at home for their battles with Greenbrier and Evans. If anyone has a favorable schedule with all these rivalry games being played so early, I guess it would be the Panthers. Lakeside does have to replace several key players, including Chris Drayton, Paul Miller and Kyle Hill. The Panthers close out the opening month with road games at the Academy of Richmond County (the newest member of Region 3B-AAAA) and always-tough Statesboro.

Here is a look at the schedules:

Evans

Sept. 1 vs. Harlem

Sept. 8 bye week

Sept. 15 at Lakeside

Sept. 22 at Greenbrier

Sept. 29 vs. Effingham County

Oct. 6 vs. Richmond Academy

Oct. 13 at Statesboro

Oct. 20 vs. Brunswick

Oct. 27 at Ware County

Nov 3 vs. Glynn Academy

Nov. 10 at Wayne County

Greenbrier

Sept. 1 at Westside

Sept. 8 at Lakeside

Sept. 15 at Effingham County

Sept. 22 vs. Evans

Sept. 29 vs. Richmond Academy

Oct. 6 vs. Statesboro

Oct. 13 at Brunswick

Oct. 20 vs. Ware County

Oct. 27 at Glynn Academy

Nov 3 vs. Wayne County

Nov. 10 bye week

Harlem

Sept. 1 at Evans

Sept. 8 at Lincoln County

Sept. 15 vs. Aquinas

Sept. 22 bye week

Sept. 29 vs. Liberty County

Oct. 6 at Burke County

Oct. 13 vs. Glenn Hills

Oct. 20 at Washington County

Oct. 27 vs. Thomson

Nov 3 vs. Butler

Nov. 10 at Cross Creek

Lakeside

Sept. 1 at Aquinas

Sept. 8 vs. Greenbrier

Sept. 15 vs. Evans

Sept. 22 at Richmond Academy

Sept. 29 at Statesboro

Oct. 6 vs. Brunswick

Oct. 13 at Ware County

Oct. 20 vs. Glynn Academy

Oct. 27 at Wayne County

Nov 3 vs. Effingham County

Nov. 10 bye week