For the first week of the prep football season nine games are on tap.

Gordon 20 · Wheeler 13: If what few numbers Ed Meyer has stayed healthy, then Gordon will improve on last year’s 1-8-1 standard.

Briarcliff 17 · Shamrock 14: The Dragons will find an 8-AAA opponent tougher than they are used to tangling with.

Druid Hills 21 · SW DeKalb 7: ​​Jim Rakestraw’s crew should get the season off to a good start.

Henderson 17 · Clarkston 14: By all rights the Angoras should be favored and should win, but Terry Sparks’ Cougars could pull quite a surprise if they’re up this week.

Chamblee 21 · Peachtree 14: Chamblee has the “hosses” but Jim Thomason’s boys should not be taken lightly.

Lithonia 14 · Milton 7: The Bulldogs will have their work cut out to get back on the winning track. They’ll find folks won’t just roll over for them because they were tough in Class B ball.

Stone Mountain 17 · Berkmar 14: The talented toe of Joe Medley might mean the difference in this one. But one thing for certain: The Pirates won’t be anyone’s patsy this season.

Marist 21 · Decatur 7: Decatur’s Don Lewis coaches his first game as a head man with the youngest team in the state. This means the Bulldogs are giving up too much in the way of experience.

St. Pius 14 · Woodward 13: George Maloof will not let his people forget last year’s 6-3-1 record after winning the state title the year before.