Corky Kell Classic changes relocate site for Kell-Walton opener

Earlier this week organizers of the Corky Kell Classic announced that some of the games in the season-opening week of the Georgia high school football season will be moving away from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.

That includes the East Cobb matchup between Kell and Walton that’s scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 22.

Instead of playing at the home of the Falcons, the Longhorns and Raiders would be squaring off at Mill Creek High School in Gwinnett County.

Corky Kell organizers made the change due to social distancing and sanitizing concerns at the NFL stadium.

We say “would” because the Georgia High School Association, which oversees high school athletics in the state, is monitoring preseason workouts that continue on Monday.

They’ve limited high school football teams according to social distancing and sanitizing guidelines. On Monday, teams will be allowed to practice with helmets, which must be sanitized before and after every practice.

The GHSA board of trustees is meeting Monday to discuss the opening of fall sports. In Georgia, those are football, volleyball, cross country, softball and flag football.

Cobb school superintendent Chris Ragsdale said Thursday that the school district will start the school year online-only, and many extracurricular activities are being cancelled. He said high school sports are still on for now, but he would be following GHSA guidance.

A total of 11 games at the Corky Kell Classic are scheduled over four days starting Aug. 19. The other locations are at West Forsyth High School, Dacula High School and Barron Stadium in Rome.

The Kell-Walton game is scheduled to kick off five games at Mill Creek on Aug. 22, with a start time of 9 a.m. The only other Cobb school involved, McEachern, will face North Gwinnett in the finale at 9 p.m.

For the last two seasons, the final slate of Corky Kell Classic games had been played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Last year, Walton rallied to defeat Norcross, and Kell edged Mays. For the first time, the Longhorns and Raiders slated to play each other in the event named after the late Wheeler High School coach and administrator.