With the 2024 high school football season exactly one month away, it’s time to start getting acclimated to all the “new” around the Augusta area’s football landscape.
An assortment of new playmakers, new coaches, new regions, a new GHSA classification structure and new expectations for championship dreams will begin to emerge when the season kicks off in earnest on August 16. But the Aquinas Fightin’ Irish football program isn’t waiting until August to get a glimpse of its most exciting new thing.
Aquinas broke in its brand, spankin’ new football digs last Thursday when it hosted Washington-Wilkes for some 7-on-7 football action. The Irish finished their final football campaign without an on-campus home of their own by compiling a 9-3 record in 2023, and advancing to the quarterfinals of the Class A state playoffs.
This year, Aquinas is looking to make more football memories in its own stadium as coach James Leonard hopes to lead his program to a second straight region crown and first state championship since 2013.
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Our photographer Rob Davis was able to capture some images of Aquinas’ first action inside its new stadium Thursday. Stay tuned for a chat with coach Leonard later in the week as he discusses his program’s summer progress and the excitement of kicking off a new season in their own stadium.
The new Aquinas High School Football Stadium in Augusta, Ga., before a 7-on-7 football scrimmage against Washington-Wilkes on Thursday, July 11, 2024. | Staff photo by Rob Davis.Aquinas during a 7-on-7 football scrimmage against Washington-Wilkes at Aquinas High School in Augusta, Ga., on Thursday, July 11, 2024. | Staff photo by Rob Davis.Aquinas during a 7-on-7 football scrimmage against Washington-Wilkes at Aquinas High School in Augusta, Ga., on Thursday, July 11, 2024.| Staff photo by Rob Davis.Aquinas during a 7-on-7 football scrimmage against Washington-Wilkes at Aquinas High School in Augusta, Ga., on Thursday, July 11, 2024.| Staff photo by Rob Davis.Aquinas defender breaks up a pass during a 7-on-7 football scrimmage against Washington-Wilkes at Aquinas High School in Augusta, Ga., on Thursday, July 11, 2024. | Staff photo by Rob Davis.Aquinas during a 7-on-7 football scrimmage against Washington-Wilkes at Aquinas High School in Augusta, Ga., on Thursday, July 11, 2024. | Staff photo by Rob Davis.Fans watch the action during a 7-on-7 football scrimmage against Washington-Wilkes at Aquinas High School in Augusta, Ga., on Thursday, July 11, 2024. | Staff photo by Rob Davis.Aquinas fans watch the action during a 7-on-7 football scrimmage against Washington-Wilkes at Aquinas High School in Augusta, Ga., on Thursday, July 11, 2024. | Staff photo by Rob Davis.Aquinas during a 7-on-7 football scrimmage against Washington-Wilkes at Aquinas High School in Augusta, Ga., on Thursday, July 11, 2024. | Staff photo by Rob Davis.Aquinas during a 7-on-7 football scrimmage against Washington-Wilkes at Aquinas High School in Augusta, Ga., on Thursday, July 11, 2024.| Staff photo by Rob Davis.Aquinas during a 7-on-7 football scrimmage against Washington-Wilkes at Aquinas High School in Augusta, Ga., on Thursday, July 11, 2024. | Staff photo by Rob Davis.Aquinas defender deflects a pass during a 7-on-7 football scrimmage against Washington-Wilkes at Aquinas High School in Augusta, Ga., on Thursday, July 11, 2024. | Staff photo by Rob Davis.Aquinas during a 7-on-7 football scrimmage against Washington-Wilkes at Aquinas High School in Augusta, Ga., on Thursday, July 11, 2024. | Staff photo by Rob Davis.
