Join us tonight as we kick off our 2023 GPB Sports Football Fridays in Georgia schedule as the Cedar Grove Saints take on the Westlake Lions in College Park. Coverage starts 7:30 p.m. on GPB-TV.

These are two of the most talent-rich programs in the state, deep with college football prospects but meeting for just the second time ever. Cedar Grove defeated Westlake 30-20 last season.

Week 1 FFIG

The Lions are ranked No. 6 in the GPB Sports Class 7A Top 10 and are off to a 2-0 season start, obliterating their first two opponents North Cobb and Crisp County by a combined 102-40. Both games were on the road.

The Saints are ranked No. 1 in the 3A Top 10 but are 1-1 on the season, defeating 2022 5A semifinalist and 10th ranked Dutchtown 34-33 before losing on the road to Monarch 50-42 as part of the Broward County (Fla.) High School National Football Showcase.

Pound-for-pound, maybe the strongest program in the state, Cedar Grove will not play a team in the same classification until their three-game region schedule at the end of the regular season.

The Saints have won four state championships, all in the last seven years, and reached the state finals last year where they fell to region rival Sandy Creek 21-17 in a controversial finish. This will be Cedar Grove’s first televised game since that officiating mistake marred the end of that title game last December. It’s a big reason why the GHSA has adopted officiating replay review for the 2023 championship games.

Westlake has never won a state championship but have been a consistent contender over the last decade. The Lions reached the quarterfinals last year, falling to eventual state champion Mill Creek. Westlake has had four quarterfinal finishes and two semifinal finishes over the last eight seasons.

Few high school programs have put more players in the NFL than the Lions. Stars such as QB Cam Newton, DB Adam “Pac Man” Jones and current Atlanta Falcons CB A.J. Terrell graduated from Westlake.

So, this one should be a lot of fun. Despite the fact this is just the second-ever meeting, in large part because of the two programs’ disparity in GHSA classification, Saints Coach John Adams calls this a big rivalry game because the players in the two programs grew-up playing with and against each other in youth football on the southside of Atlanta.

So that’s the game preview. Now here’s a look at the Top Prospects to Watch.

Westlake Lions – Head Coach Rico Zackery 11-4 in his second season.

Juan Gaston

Juan Gaston, Westlake

Credit: 247 Sports

Juan Gaston – 6-8, 335, Junior – Highest Ranking: Consensus 4-Star and On3 Industry Ranking No. 3 IOL in the country – 18 offers including Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama

Christian Peterson – 5-10, 185, Senior – Committed to UCF in July over 23 other offers including Mississippi State – Highest Ranking: ESPN 4-Star and No. 26 SAF in the country.

Tomir Bransford – 6-0, 180, Junior – Highest Ranking: 3-Star and On3 Recruits No. 33 RB in the country – 12 Offers including Penn State

Antwan Smith – 6-3, 205, Senior – Committed to Kentucky in June over 16 other offers including Duke and NC State – Highest Ranking: Consensus 3-Star LB

Raemon Mosby – 6-0, 187, Senior – Committed to Louisville July 4th over 16 other offers including Georgia Tech – Highest Ranking: Consensus 3-Star CB

Harper Holloman – 6-3, 265, Senior – Committed to UConn in June over 23 other offers including Georgia Tech – Highest Ranking: 247 Sports 3-Star LB

DeMarius Hines – 6-0, 190, Senior – Committed to East Carolina in June over 18 other offers including Kent State – Highest Ranking: 247 Sports 3-Star SAF

Kendall Farmer – 6-0, 285, Senior DL – Committed to App State in June over 21 other offers including UMass and Army

Tyler McKinstry – 5-11, 181, Senior – Committed to Kent State in June over 10 other offers including UAB and Southeast Missouri State – Highest Ranking: 247 Sports 3-Star CB

John Betts – 6-2, 210, Senior LB – Committed to Air Force over 11 other offers including Western Kentucky and Army

Dominic Steward – 6-5, 265, Senior OL – Committed to Troy July 4th over 7 other offers including Middle Tennessee and Arkansas State

Travis Smith – 6-4, 195, Junior WR – 12 Offers including Georgia Tech and Georgia

Kennedi Bailey – 6-2, 155, Sophomore CB – Five Offers including Arkansas, Texas A&M and Georgia Tech

Carmelo O’Neal – 6-3, 195, Senior FS – Six offers including Navy.

Zion Williams – 5-11, 173, Senior WR – Five offers including UMass.

Sekou Peters – 6-3, 275, Junior DE – Offered by Boston College, Western Kentucky, and Arkansas State

Jabari Harris – 6-3, 215, Junior TE – Offered by UConn and Austin Peay

Deuce Wimberly – 5-9, 174, Junior CB – Offered by Florida State

 

Cedar Grove Saints – Head Coach John Adams 24-7 in his third season.

Devin Carter

Devin Carter, Cedar Grove

Credit: 247 Sports

Devin Carter – 6-1, 170, Sophomore – Committed to Florida State over 17 offers including Georgia and Auburn – Highest Ranking: 247 Sports No. 5 2026 WR and No. 6 prospect in Georgia.

E.J. Colson – 6-0, 195, Junior – Committed to UCF in July over 8 other offers including Virginia Tech and Cincinnati – Highest Ranking: On3 Recruits 4-Star and Rivals No. 6 QB in the country.

Lakhi Roland – 6-1, 175, Senior – Committed to Maryland in April over 7 other offers including Buffalo and UConn – Highest Ranking: Consensus 3-Star CB – NOTE: Currently not with the team due to a family matter.

Kyle Mosley – 6-1, 286, Senior – Committed to UAB in July over 7 other offers including Georgia Southern and App State – Highest Ranking: 247 Sports 3-Star DL

Bo Walker – 5-8, 190, Junior RB – 12 Offers including Ole Miss and Arkansas

Jakyre Horton – 6-0, 182, Senior ATH – Committed to Western Kentucky in August over 4 other offers including Memphis and UConn

Waylan Wooten – 6-2, 270, Freshman DT – Offered by Arkansas and UAB

Andrew Leslie – 6-1, 195, Junior WR – Four offers including UAB and Toledo

Jaylen Slaughter – 6-4, 240, Senior OL – Five offers including Georgia State

Joseph Slaughter – 5-10, 180, Senior CB – Offered by Army and Samford

Samarius Turner – 5-10, 165, Junior WR – Offered by Akron

Wesley Brown – 6-3, 200, Senior LB – Offered by Southeast Missouri State and Georgetown

Jordan Thorton – 6-2, 280, Senior OL – Committed to Anderson over offer from Clark Atlanta

Chase Kerns – 6-2, 245, Senior OL/DL – Offered by Clark Atlanta

Keith Bass – 5-11, 195, Junior LB – Offered by Clark Atlanta

 

So, join Wayne Gandy, Jon Nelson, Hannah Goodin and me for our Emmy-winning Football Fridays in Georgia Game of the Week as the Westlake Lions host the Cedar Grove Saints starting at 7:30 p.m.

Now if somehow, you miss it live, don’t worry, we replay the entire Football Fridays in Georgia Game of the Week at 11:30 p.m. You can also watch live on the GPB Sports app or our Twitter or Facebook page from wherever you are or watch it on demand anytime at GPB.org. 

Enjoy your Football Friday in Georgia!