The Lovejoy Wildcats look to be the team to beat in the newly minted Region 2AAAAAA.

The Wildcats lost to Tucker in the Class AAAA championship game last season.

The Druid Hills Red Devils make the jump from Class AAA to the now highest classification in the Georgia High School Association this year because of the closing of Avondale High School.

This region has several schools classified in the smaller classifications in previous seasons. Alcovy, Lovejoy, Morrow and Rockdale County come up from Class AAAA. Luella and Newton were in Class AAAAA last season.

Alcovy and Lovejoy are the only teams that made the postseason in 2011 from Region 2AAAAAA.

Projected Order of Finish:
1. Lovejoy
2. Luella
3. Newton
4. Alcovy
5. Rockdale County
6. Druid Hills
7. Morrow

DRUID HILLS RED DEVILS
Coach: Kip Hall (Georgia); 7th season (15-45)
2011 Record: 4-6
Starters Returning: 7 (offense), 6 (defense)
Top Returning Players: Sr. QB/CB Kyle Simmons, 6-0/170; Sr. WR/DB Jaquan Johnson, 6-1/180; Sr. LB Najee Johnson, 6-2/235; Sr. LB D’Andre Byrd, 6-1/220; Sr. C Luis Gutierrez, 6-0/250; Sr. WR Mikel Wheller, 6-0/180; Jr. K Ben Whealler, 5-10/150; Sr. TE/DE Noah Thomas, 6-2/220; Sr. OL/DL Desi Bigby, 6-3/250; Soph. DB Drew Huggins, 5-11/180; Sr. WR Brennan Walsh, 6-1/175; Soph. RB Hasaan Enis, 5-11/160

Season Outlook:
The Red Devils have a tough task ahead of them with the move up to the largest classification in the GHSA. On top of the move, they will have to deal with a team that made it to the Georgia Dome last season in Lovejoy.

Druid Hills has not had many successful seasons in the past two decades, but if the team can make some noise early, the season could take a positive turn.

The Red Devils’ last winning season was in 1993. The team has not made the postseason since the 1985 season. The team has won more than three games only four times since ’93. Good news for the Red Devils is that Hall has led the team to three of those four.

With a surge early or late, the Red Devils could be poised to break into the winning column and possibly the playoffs.

Schedule:
Aug. 31: vs. Clarkston (Adams)
Sept. 7: vs. Chamblee (Adams)
Sept. 15: vs. Therrell (Adams)
Sept. 28: vs. Lovejoy (North DeKalb)
Oct. 5: at Luella
Oct. 12: vs. Newton (HC) (Adams)
Oct. 19: at Johnson-Gainesville
Oct. 26: vs. Alcovy (Avondale)
Nov. 2: at Morrow
Nov. 9: at Rockdale County