Today is the final edition of the 2015 preview articles. Those of you following on “the.dom”, the 1A-4A previews will be posted shortly. To read them now, head over to http://www.examiner.com/sports-in-atlanta/chris-mooneyham.

Here is the schedule leading all the way up to kick off on Friday, August 21st:

Today: GHSA Football, 6A season preview

Wednesday 12^th: The Mooneyham Poll…GHSA 1A Football

Thursday 13^th: The Mooneyham Poll…GHSA 2A Football

Friday 14^th: The Mooneyham Poll…GHSA 3A Football

Monday 17^th: The Mooneyham Poll…GHSA 4A Football

Tuesday 18^th: The Mooneyham Poll…GHSA 5A Football

Wednesday 19^th: The Mooneyham Poll…GHSA 6A Football

Thursday 20^th: The Top 15 games of the 2015 GHSA football season

Friday 21^st: Lineup for kick off. We preview our first 680 The Fan Friday Night Football Game of the Week.

A brief look at the top teams and storylines in 6A Georgia high school football, 2015:

I have Archer at number one in The Mooneyham Poll and I believe they have the best shot at the state title. Despite the losses of quarterback Gabe Tiller, running back Randy Nails, tight end Conner Redmond and defensive lineman Robbie Armstrong and a host of other important players on both sides of the ball; the Tigers still have an incredible level of talent coming back on both sides of the ball. Senior wide receiver Kyle Davis is one of the top at his position nationally. Senior DB/RB Dylan Singleton is one of the top two-way players nationally. Junior athlete Jamyest Williams is one of the fastest rising recruits in the country. Junior DB/RB Isaiah Pryor is already a four-star for 2017 and Quinn Miller will be one of the top linebackers in the state the same year. Plus, throw in two high profile transfers: senior offensive lineman EJ Price (from Central Gwinnett) and senior linebacker Donta Evans (transferred in from SC/ 6’3/ 230). The big question, of course, is at quarterback. Even with all of that talent, it’s hard to replace a three-year starter.

When McEachern’s offense fires on all cylinders this year it will be incredible to watch. If they can play top 20 defense, they could be unstoppable. Junior quarterback Bailey Hockman (3551/ 42/ 10) is the REAL DEAL and he has a bevy of weapons to choose from. The Tyler’s, Smith (2014: 65/1291/20) and Simmons, form one of the top wide receiver duo’s in the state. Senior running back Sam Jackson is a good combination of speed and power; and tight end Christian Roberson has verballed to Mississippi State. Defensively, it’s all about Julian Rochester and Andrew Tarver. Rochester is another nationally ranked defensive end in this state. 2015 is the year of the defensive end in the state of Georgia. This may be the first you’re hearing of it, but it won’t be the last. Julian looks like he is 28-years-old and plays like it too. They do have questions on the offensive line and in the secondary. Up front, the Indians lost Chuma Odoga to Southern Cal and Chandler Jones to Louisville. To win a state title, they will need to win a shoot-out.

I believe I am higher on Peachtree Ridge than most. Obviously, people have concerns about replacing quarterback Chance Thrasher; and for good reason. However, the Lions sport perhaps THE best secondary in America. SR DB Chad Clay (UGA commit) transferred in from Walton in 2014, SR DB Nigel Warrior transfers in from Westlake this year (2014: 71 T/ 5 Int (TD)/ 6 PD/ 2 FR (2 TD)/ 2 FF/ 2 BLK Punts/ KOFF Return TD/ TD Rec), JR DB/WR DeAngelo Gibbs is one of the top CB in America for 2017 (although it looks like he is going to spend more time at WR in 2015), and SR DB Baylen Buchanan is committed to Louisville. At the very least, if quarterback play is solid this year, this team is certainly Final Four level.

Grayson lost a number of major defensive players from last year that helped the Rams return to the playoffs. Now, with playoff caliber experience, they will have a chance to mix in younger guys to push them back into the semifinals. Junior quarterback Chase Brice will be a top five guy at his position in 2017 and Cameron Brent is impossible to see behind the LOS. This team will win on the back of their defense. They return: SR DE Mykelle McDaniel (6’4/ 255), SR DT/DE Chris Martin (GA Tech), SR DB Adesola Abisoye, SR LB Denzel Wright, SR DL Bryce Morais. The man who could take them to the next level? Owen Pappoe. He is a freshman…and he is 6’1/194.

The defending state champions, Colquitt County, could absolutely repeat. The Pack returns: SR QB Chase Parrish (2900 Yards/ almost 30 Tds), SR WR Keil Pollard (all-time leading rec in school history), ATH Qwazavia Lee (who could EXPLODE in exposure this year and was big time at National Select 7 on 7 in Hoover), WR Ty Lee, TE Shaun Bonner (this guy is a LOAD, really tough to bring down), OLB Ja’Quain Blakely (Florida and Tennessee appear to be his leaders) and SR DB Rakeem Hightower. They also lost a ton of guys who started or played significant snaps for three years: RB Sihiem King (Kentucky), LB Bull Barge, OL Alfred Brown, DL/LB Quintin Hampton, and LB Tomarcio Reece. For Colquitt, it will be all about how the brackets layout.

Hillgrove could surprise in 2015. This was actually an underrated team last year. The loss to Archer (56-13 in the state quarterfinals) didn’t help that argument. However, people forget the Hawks were region champs by beating McEachern, and suffered three one-possession losses in the regular season. They also return a quarterback who was HM All-State (Matt Wilson), a top five Cobb County tackler (LB Cameron Tew) and a First Team All-State defensive back (Jalen Phelps). The region will be top heavy this year and bad on the bottom; if they win the games they should, they are guaranteed a second place finish. There is always, because of the way the brackets lay out, a surprise team that reaches the Final Four; there is a chance Hillgrove, Roswell or Newton fits this role.

Roswell is going to win their region and, wait for it, could be a state championship contender. Senior linebacker Tre Lamar (Clemson commit) is one of the hardest hitters in the state; and he leads a back seven that is championship caliber: SR LB Tyrone Hopper (6’3/212), SR S Marcelino Ball (5’11/195), JR DB LeAnthony Williams Jr (6’0/ 170), JR DB Xavier McKinney. They will also return junior running back Sheldon Evans, who could be a house hold name by the end of the year. Last year, Evans absolutely exploded in the last nine games of the campaign after becoming the feature back. He put together a 301-yard performance in the regular season finale versus Lassiter and averaged over 200-yards per game in the last seven. Senior quarterback Quintarius Neely transfers in from Lovejoy to take over for the graduated James Whitaker.

Like Roswell, Newton features another great running back you might not know, junior Kurt Taylor. Taylor is one of the top players at his position for 2017. The Rams also have a senior quarterback who tossed nearly 30 touchdowns, Romario Johnson; two top flight wide-outs in DeAndre Huff and Jeremiah Holloman, and return numerous defensive starters, including secondary star Jaquan Henderson. Just as important, after last year’s fine season, these players have experience in winning. Plus, they could earn a number one playoff seed and win this region over both Lovejoy and Tucker. That’s right, I said it. I don’t think it will happen, but it is possible. The Tigers and Wildcats will certainly be down a bit from 2014. Tucker reloads every year, we know this, and Lovejoy has owned the Southern Crescent; but over the last two years these two storied programs have lost so much talent.

Tucker is getting the benefit of the doubt because of their constant ability to reload. However, the Tigers have lost as much talent over the last three years as anyone in the state; and four major DI players from 2014: Duke Shelly (Kansas State), Jonathon Ledbetter (UGA), Elijah Sullivan (Kansas State), and Delvin Weems (Marshall). They will return a senior quarterback in Garrett Rigby, senior athlete Akeem Peters and defensive end Tabarius Peterson. Lovejoy’s cupboard is neither bare nor stocked, it’s somewhere in the middle. Preston Williams, one of the greatest Georgia wide receivers of all-time, is gone. Also graduated are two fine offensive linemen (highlighted by Randy Robinson), another couple of Custis boys (highlighted by Montrell), and a host of running backs. Plus, quarterback Quantarious Neely has transferred to Roswell. The three-way contest between Tucker-Newton-Lovejoy will finish 1-3 in the region; and I think I am going out on a limb and say Newton beats Lovejoy and takes second in the region. Part of me wants to say the Rams win both…

Norcross returns: four offensive lineman, senior running back Jamir Billings, top 2017 defensive end Robert Beal, and a couple of really good wide receivers. However, the Blue Devils need to find a quarterback. Whoever wins the Norcross-North Gwinnett game takes second place in the region. Speaking of which…

At press time, North Gwinnett may still be locked in a FOUR-WAY quarterback competition. Most likely, senior transfer Davis Kelly wins the job, but they also love the sophomore Cade Fortin. Southern Cal commit Josh Imatorbhebhe highlights the offense. The 2015 version of Coach Sphire’s squad will most certainly give up more points than we’re accustomed to seeing. Plus, the Bulldogs are not nearly as deep as they have been the last decade.

­            Westlake will return a top ranked defense, even without Nigel Warrior (who transferred to Peachtree Ridge). Defensive back Ronnie Blackmon, and LB’s Jaden Hunter and Jarrod Jones, will lead the charge; but, how much will they score?

On the opposite end of the spectrum, North Paulding will be really hard to stop offensively. RB/WR DJ Owens and TE Dylan Autenreith will help QB Kyle Banks threaten the 4,000-yard mark; but, can they stop anyone? I believe the winner of North Paulding at Marietta earns the fourth sport from Region 4.

Valdosta, Lowndes, Lee County, Camden County, and Tift County all bunch together; and most likely someone with playoff talent is left out. I must admit, I have all five of these teams so even, I am struggling to predict the order of finish. Really struggling! Valdosta will be a playoff team, but somehow, I don’t think they find their way to second place in the region. Lowndes is the wildcard-as far as place in the region. With an off-season coaching staff overhaul, a re-loaded defense and another fine stable of running backs, the Vikings will be back in the playoffs. Lee County was a tremendous story last year; and you know, they could actually be better in 2015. They did lose some talent. The Trojans will feature an offense returning three year starting quarterback, Garet Morrell. Can they step up defensively? As I write this, I still can’t believe Camden County didn’t win a single region game in 2015. Of course, four of their five losses in the region were by one possession; and they lost some real talent from previous teams. Some young guys played last year; maybe they will be on the right side of the cycle in 2015. Tift County lost three of their top four offensive weapons, including QB Taj Chambers and RB Malik Henry; and head coach John Reid is now at Rome. So, I am going to predict: Colquitt, Lowndes, Valdosta and the number four seed comes down to Lee and Camden.

Tomorrow: The Mooneyham Poll…GHSA 1A Football