Every spring we await the release of the following fall's football schedule, searching for those mouth-watering match-ups that will hopefully provide "instant classic" status.
The 2016 slate is full of contests that already bear state-wide recognition. Many more will provide a clear compass for the direction of area programs, while others will map the route of region crowns and playoff positioning.
With that in mind we present you now with 30 contests we feel are either can't-miss showdowns or that will tell the tale of the 2016 campaign.
Of course we have no crystal ball (oh the lottery tickets we would buy were it so), and the season will likely unfold in unpredictable fashion. But as it stands right now these are the games we think could be season-defining.
2016 CONTESTS FOR THE CALENDAR:
Buford vs. Roswell -- 5:45 p.m. Aug. 19 at McEachern High (Kell Classic) -- The most consistent power in the state over the past decade-and-a-half (Buford) will travel to face a Roswell team that is loaded with SEC-level talent. Both teams were runners-up in their respective classifications last season. Why would you not make the trek to this game (assuming you don't mind the traffic)? The Wolves are reloading but have some questions to answer, and they will face perhaps their toughest test of the campaign right out of the gate. WDUN AM 550 will be there live to bring you the action if you cannot make it in person.
East Hall at Habersham Central -- Aug. 19 -- East Hall is a program on the rise, coming off back-to-back playoff berths. Habersham is looking to get back to its winning ways after four years in the wilderness. Facing off in a season-opener will give each team plenty of food for thought. By the way, both the Vikings and Raiders have wide-open offensive attacks and stellar running backs.
Gainesville at West Hall -- Aug. 19 -- Gainesville will be breaking in its fourth starting quarterback in as many seasons against a West Hall program that coach Tony Lotti has turned into a playoff regular. With this being the season-opener -- named the Marvin Orenstein Kickoff Classic -- anticipation will be at fever pitch between two Hall County-based schools, which is a rarity for Gainesville since moving up classifications. Outside of Flowery Branch, the Red Elephants have not played another team from their own county since 2011.
Mill Creek vs. Colquitt County -- 5:45 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Georgia Dome (Kell Classic) -- Mill Creek and Colquitt put on a show in last year's Class AAAAAA semifinals, a 52-31 win for the Packers en route to a state crown. And it will be hugely intriguing to see what each has in store in the season opener. If they come close to matching last year's intensity it will be a kickoff to remember.
North Hall at Flowery Branch -- Aug. 26 -- The Branch is looking to bounce back from missing the playoffs in back-to-back campaigns, while North Hall is anxious to show it is a postseason regular again after getting back into state in 2015 (following a down 2014). These two rivals used to produce some intense showdowns when they were region foes, and it will be interesting to see what happens when they face off for the first time since 2009.
West Hall at Johnson -- Aug. 26 -- One of the most intense rivalries in northeast Georgia, the Battle of Oakwood will not be a season-opener for either. But you can bet this one has been circled on the calendar on both sides of I-985. Johnson would love a win to help bolster its first foray into region play since 2011 (it's a non-region game, but a win would build plenty of confidence headed into region play). Meanwhile, West Hall would love nothing more than to make it four wins in a row in the series.
Stephens County at Rabun County -- Sept. 2 -- Both teams have talent at their disposal but both also have key holes to fill from graduation. A win here would make a statement for either. Interestingly, despite their close proximity, Rabun and Stephens have played just six times and not since 1959 (according to Georgia High School Football Historians).
Chestatee at Lumpkin County -- Sept. 16 -- Both teams have new head coaches and are looking to rebound from disappointing 2015 campaigns. It is the last non-region game for Lumpkin County -- Chestatee will have one more on the schedule. But both will leave with a good deal of knowledge about the direction of their 2016 campaigns.
Habersham Central at Stephens County -- Sept. 16 -- Historically, this is one of the bitterest feuds in northeast Georgia, though shifting classifications and regions mean it has not been played regularly since the mid-2000s. Stephens holds a domineering edge in the series 27-11-1 -- but it has been a dogfight more often than not, with 20 of the contests decided by eight points or less. Both teams will look to make statements, and not just because of the color jersey on the other side. It is game four for both, and each will be looking to be at its best for the upcoming region slate.
Jefferson Davis (Ala.) at Buford -- Sept. 16 -- Buford faces four non-region games this season and three come against out-of-state foes, as finding willing non-region foes in-state is like pulling teeth for the Wolves. That said, Buford coach Jess Simpson says the Montgomery, Ala., school is a power that is back on the rise in its home state, and he expects a fight on his team's hands.
Loganville at Winder-Barrow -- Sept. 16 -- The Bulldoggs are eager to show that, despite graduating a stellar senior class from 2015, they will be right back in the hunt in 2016. It would make a huge statement to pick up a win against a strong Loganville squad.
North Hall at White County -- Sept. 16 -- This is another of those local rivalries that often produces some "ahhh" moments. White County is a team that hopes to show it is back on the rise after missing the postseason for the first time in three years in 2015. Meanwhile, North Hall will be in its last non-region contest of the campaign and looking to get its second win in a row in a series it leads 22-21.
Gainesville at Jefferson -- Sept. 23 -- Trust us on this one, both teams have this game circled on the calendar. Jefferson would love nothing more than to claim a high-visibility scalp as it preps for region play, while Gainesville will be rolling into the meat of a tough schedule. It could also be a fun clash of styles between Jefferson's punishing rushing attack vs. the Red Elephants' lightning-quick spread attack.
Lanier at St. Pius X -- Sept. 23 -- Lanier won its second straight region crown last season and is undoubtedly a program on the rise. And if it were able to knock off a Pius team that has been a paragon of power and consistency over the past seven years (the Golden Lions have reached at least the state quarterfinals in six of those seasons), the Longhorns would take a big leap in estimation around the state.
Mill Creek at Collins Hill -- Sept. 23 -- Mill Creek dominated Collins Hill last season -- 42-17 -- but the Eagles still made the state quarterfinals, losing to eventual runner-up Roswell by just one touchdown, meaning that the Hawks must be on their game against their region foes.
Dawson County at North Hall -- Sept. 30 -- Dawson County is looking to defend its Region 7-AAA crown (its first region title) and will open its league defense against a North Hall team that will be in its second region contest.
Marist at Gainesville -- Sept. 30 -- These are two of the historical powers in state history but have met just 13 times -- and not since the 1983 Class AAA semifinals. But this is not just a game of throwback, as both are also expected to be very good in 2016.
Prince Avenue Christian at Commerce -- Sept. 30 -- This is perhaps the contest in Region 8-A this season, as the Class A Public semifinalist takes on the Class A Private semifinalist. Prince Avenue took a 35-14 win last season, and the short-lived series is tied at 5-5, with the Wolverines wining five straight.
Dacula at Gainesville -- Oct. 14 -- Dacula battled through an up-and-down 2015, finishing 5-5, but coaches in Region 8-AAAAAA expect the Falcons to come in and vie for a crown, and this game could throw down an early marker for the winner.
Loganville at Flowery Branch -- Oct. 14 -- This game opens a potentially brutal stretch to close the season for the Falcons that also includes Clarke Central and Buford, and a win here could well mean home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs for either squad.
Dawson County at East Hall -- Oct. 21 -- This game last season became one of those instant classics, with Dawson edging a 35-28 back-and-forth affair that promises plenty more fireworks this season between two teams with plenty of firepower.
Rabun County at Elbert County -- Oct. 21 -- Rabun faces two tough region games against Banks County and Putnam County in the weeks preceding, but if the Wildcats can find ways to get wins there, then this could be for the region crown.
St. Pius X at Jefferson -- Oct. 21 -- The winner of this game will have a big leg up in the region title race. No it won't decide it (there are too many other good teams out there for that), but the winner certainly puts itself in a great position. And both teams are loaded with ability.
Commerce at Athens Academy -- Oct. 28 -- It is one of the rivalries in 8-A, and Athens Academy surprised Commerce with a 14-7 win last season. The Tigers lead the series 13-11.
East Hall at North Hall -- Oct. 28 -- This game represents the final regular season contest for North Hall, and both teams will have played a potentially powerful Greater Atlanta Christian by this point. There could be huge postseason implications on the line, as East Hall looks for its first win in eight attempts vs. the Trojans -- though the Vikings do lead the series 33-18-1.
Habersham Central at Winder-Barrow -- Oct. 28 -- Habersham Central has not been to the state playoffs since 2011; Winder-Barrow is looking for its third straight postseason berth. Both goals and playoff seeding could hinge on this outcome.
Lanier at Dacula -- Oct. 28 -- Lanier has never played fellow Gwinnett County school Dacula, but the two figure to have plenty on the line when they battle in this contest.
White County at West Hall -- Oct. 28 -- Both teams have built something impressive under their respective head coaches. Both also have playoff aspirations this season and this could well determine seeding in a five-team region.
Gainesville at Lanier -- Nov. 4 -- The last two Region 8-AAAAA crowns were decided by this game, and both were extraordinary, with the Longhorns edging both by a combined 11 points. Will a region crown again be in the balance?
Jefferson at Oconee County -- Nov. 4 -- This game produced one of the most eye-opening and thrilling games in northeast Georgia last season -- a 36-35 double overtime upset win for Oconee that derailed Jefferson's region title hopes. If it is even close to last year's showdown, then it will be worth watching 10 times over.
