There was no shortage of standout performances in Week 7 of the Greater Savannah high school football season, and the Savannah Morning News has opened an online poll for readers to select the Athlete of the Week. The poll features a mix of football stars, a cross-country champion, and top performers from other sports, reflecting a busy weekend of local competition.
Benedictine’s junior Don’Trey Ford made a significant impact in his team’s win over Evans, rushing for a career-high 154 yards on just seven carries, including a 90-yard touchdown run, and adding a 40-yard touchdown reception. His performance helped veteran Benedictine coach Danny Britt notch his 200th career victory. Ford’s teammate, senior Omari Burse, also contributed, running for 100 yards and two touchdowns on five carries and throwing a 40-yard touchdown pass.
At Bradwell Institute, senior quarterback Jah’Barri Felix combined for 478 total yards and seven touchdowns in an overtime victory over Brunswick. Felix completed 18 of 30 passes for 355 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 123 yards and three scores. His teammate, senior wide receiver Jacobi Pasley, who has committed to West Virginia, had eight catches for a career-high 206 yards and two touchdowns, also adding 22 rushing yards.
Calvary Day’s senior quarterback James Mobley IV threw for a career-best five touchdown passes in a win at Metter. Effingham County’s sophomore quarterback Matthew Dillon threw four touchdown passes in a victory at Glynn Academy, marking a career high. His teammate Isaiah Brown, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound junior, caught three first-quarter touchdown passes in the same game.
The poll also includes top performers from other sports. Richmond Hill senior Julia Anastasio won the Great American XC Festival’s Invitational Race in Cary, North Carolina, finishing the 3.1-mile course in 18:35.90, outpacing a field of 311 runners. Her team took the overall title at the event. Richmond Hill freshman Liam Penttila posted the highest placement on his team in the Invitational Championship Race, finishing 79th with a time of 16:01.
In baseball, South Effingham freshman Kendall Ward went 3-for-3 with two home runs and three RBIs, also pitching four scoreless innings in a win over Brunswick. Volleyball saw strong showings from St. Andrew’s junior Khloe Jesswein, who had double-digit kills in a sweep of Coastal Home School, and Habersham School sophomore Olivia Shingler, who recorded 11 kills in a win against Veritas Academy. South Effingham senior Morgan Stringer contributed 10 kills, seven serves received, and four digs in a volleyball victory.
Other football candidates include Liberty County senior Noel Best, who rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns against Windsor Forest; Jenkins senior Jaylon Elliott, who ran for 145 yards and a touchdown at Wayne County; and Windsor Forest junior Jayden Martin, who rushed for 96 yards with a touchdown and passed for 164 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Liberty County.
Jenkins senior Torean Wilson ran for 128 yards and a touchdown and passed for another score in a win at Wayne County. South Effingham sophomore Liam Coburn threw for 142 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Lakeside-Evans. Bethesda Academy junior Jordan Turner completed 4 of 7 passes for 112 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a 20-yard score in a win at Camden Military. Savannah Christian junior Caden Godbee was 9 of 15 passing for 134 yards and a touchdown in a win over Savannah High. Beach senior Jayvion Williams threw for 276 yards and two scores in a loss to Pierce County.
Readers have until Tuesday, October 13, at 11 a.m. to vote in the Savannah Morning News Athlete of the Week poll. There are no restrictions on voting, allowing the community to weigh in on the best local performances across multiple sports during Week 7. The poll is a chance to celebrate athletes who delivered standout efforts under the lights and on the course in recent days.
According to Yahoo Sports.
Update — Oct 20, 2026: Update: Despite a shortened high school football schedule in the Greater Savannah area, several standout performances were recorded on Friday night. New Hampstead’s Christian Kinlaw scored a career-high five rushing touchdowns in a victory over Windsor Forest. Bradwell Institute quarterback Jah’Barri Felix threw four touchdown passes and added a rushing score in a win against Greenbrier. In flag football, Groves quarterback Tamiya Washington contributed five touchdown passes and rushed for 121 yards in a 33-0 win over Savannah Christian. Strong efforts were also noted in softball, flag football, and cross-country events. Readers are encouraged to participate in the open poll to select the Savannah Morning News High School Athlete of the Week. Voting will close Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 11 a.m. Yahoo Sports
