One of the nation’s signature high school football events that signals the beginning of the season, the Corky Kell Classic, will kick off on August 17 at Johns Creek High School and will feature 11 games over four days, capping off with four games on Saturday, August 21 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. However, before all the action on the field, the annual Corky Kell Luncheon was held as players and coaches representing this year’s participating teams were all on hand along with the event’s organizers.
“We’re excited,” Score Atlanta Founder, IJ Rosenberg said of the of the annual football classic now in it’s 31st year and has grown over the years from when it was a one day, two team event. “We’ve moved some things around,” Rosenberg said, referring to the Corky Kell featuring three games on Friday and four on Saturday, where as in previous years, Friday featured two games and Saturday hosted five. “We’re all getting a little bit too old for five games,” Rosenberg jokingly said, however reminded that regardless of the change, the Classic will continue its tradition of featuring “great match ups”.
And with those great matchups, comes some of the state’s and nation’s top recruits including Lawson Luckie tight end for Norcross, Dylan Lonergan, quarterback for Brookwood and Mill Creek safety, Caleb Downs, who has had a chance to participate in the Classic all throughout his high school career, yet he’s still looking forward to the Hawks’ season opener against Walton. “Glad to be here. It’s a big event and glad to take advantage of it,” Downs said.
This year’s classic will also feature a host of new head coaches including Johns Creek’s Drew Connell, who said growing up he had always wished for an opportunity to play in the Classic and excited about the chance to coach in the event when his Gladiators take on Parkview. “Obviously it’s huge. You know watching the Corky Kell all these years, even in high school I wanted to play in it,” Connell said adding that taking on Parkview will be a “huge moment” and opportunity for his guys to go out and compete.
Archer Tigers’ new head coach, Dante Williams, also coaching his first Classic when the Tigers take on West Forsyth on Thursday, said for him, he at times as to “pinch” himself as he is still taking things in. “Now I’m the leader in the big chair and the Corky Kell is such a great event,” Williams said and adding that the exposure the Classic creates for the players is like no other. “That’s why Georgia stands apart. To start the season off on TV, it forces us to bring our A game,” Williams said.
The Corky Kell Classic begins Wednesday with two games at Johns Creek as Kell will take on Cherokee Bluff at 5:30p.m. followed by Johns Creek and Parkview at 8:30p.m.