The Westminster Wildcats (0-1 record/ #7 in AAA) visit the Greater Atlanta Christian Spartans (1-0 record/ #2 in AAA).

Westminster is squarely in the middle of one of the great runs in its long, highly decorated history. For three consecutive seasons, the Wildcats have hovered at championship level, bringing home the state championship via a memorable 2015 playoff run. That year, they became the first team in state history to win a state title with each playoff victory coming either on the road or at a neutral site. Over the last three seasons, Gerry Romberg (190-106 in 25 seasons at the helm) has seen his squad post a 33-9 record with a semifinal and quarterfinal appearance, to go along with the state title.

As is so often the case for smaller classification schools, they have won the last three years on the strength of a couple of stellar classes of young men. The 2017 edition of the men from West Paces Ferry has graduated, possibly, the two greatest classes in program history.

Gone is Cortez Alston, Ian Ude, and Chase Williams. Yet, no loss will be as obvious as that of the diminutive Zay Malcome. This guy was a human highlight reel; able to score from anywhere at any time. Last season, his performance versus Pace Academy was a great example of his career: 437 all-purpose yards – 175 rushing yards, 64 receiving yards, a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and 58-yard interception return for a score. Once again, the Wildcats will need to replace a very special senior class.

Speaking of tremendous runs, Greater Atlanta Christian is on the short list of most dominant teams in the state of Georgia, in the lower classifications, in this decade. Over the last seven seasons the Spartans have won 76 games, reached two state title games and two semifinals.

After falling in the AAA state championship game last season, GAC has lost so much talent entering 2017. But because of blowout wins, allowing for second stringers to play hefty minutes, the Spartans will return incredible talent with big game experience. Returning is a national level playmaker on both sides of the football in senior Kyler McMichael. A Clemson commit, McMichael rushed for 1,493-yards and 16 touchdowns last season. The men from Indian Trail-Lilburn Road also return the sires of former NFL lineman Chris Hinton. Myles and Chris Jr. dominate on both sides of the football.

They will need to replace three-year starting quarterback Davis Mills, now at Stanford, but head coach Tim Hardy, now 59-11 in five seasons on campus, likes his chances. He told the Gwinnett Daily Post during the off-season, “This is the deepest we’ve been since I’ve been here, by far.” That is a bad sign for the rest of the classification.

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