Here's a look at five things we learned from Week Zero of high school football action...
1. Mill Creek is among the power programs in the state
Last season we knew the Hawks were good -- their state semifinal run proved it. But, as with any first-time experience, we wondered whether it was the start of a trend or an outlier. Judging by Mill Creek's performance in Saturday's Kell Classic in the Georgia Dome -- during which it stuffed the two-time defending state champion Colquitt County team that also ended the Hawks' own state title hopes last season -- 2015 was most definitely part of a pattern. The Hawks outplayed the Packers, slamming the door on Colquitt's 30-game win streak and proved that, despite graduating a bevy of talent from last season, they now have the pedigree to remain amongst the elite in the state of Georgia. Granted, it was a season-opener that will have no bearing on the 2016 postseason. But that does not translate into a meaningless contest -- far from it. Mill Creek showed plenty on Saturday, and must now be considered amongst the front-runners in the biggest classifiction in the state.
2. Habersham Central and North Forsyth made statements
OK, so we're sort of cheating here with a two-for-one subject, but both of these programs deserve a mention for how they performed on Friday night in their respective season openers. And after struggling through the past few seasons, it certainly looks as if things are finally trending up for both sets of Raiders. Habersham went for the jugular against a good East Hall program, displaying the type of wide-open offense that has been the trademark of coach Benji Harrison's teams (both as a head coach at Jackson County and offensive coordinator at Flowery Branch). The Mt. Airy Raiders were also stout defensively against the Vikings' own wide open attack, as Habersham sprinted out to a 31-0 lead while stuffing East Hall for just nine yards rushing. Meanwhile, North Forsyth provided a bit of a shock in its first game under new coach Robert Craft, pulling away from Sequoyah for its first season-opening win since 2013 -- which was also the last time the Coal Mountain Raiders made the playoffs. North Forsyth showed enough on Friday to breed plenty of optimism. The Raiders piled up 400 yards of offense while the defense held the Chiefs to just 157 total yards for the game. Both programs have tasted success in their histories and have searched long and hard to get it back. It will be interesting to see how both teams handle their success -- which is something different in of itself. But it is well deserved for both sets of Raiders and their respective fanbases.
3. There is plenty of firepower in northeast Georgia
We already knew that guys like Jefferson runnning back Colby Wood were good -- but as Friday showed, he is far from alone in the elite category of players in our coverage area. The junior helped the Dragons torch Discovery in their season opener, rolling up 191 total yards and three touchdowns -- and that was just the tip of the iceberg. For instance, there was Habersham Central's Michael Babers, who piled up 198 yards rushing and three TDs in a win over East Hall. There was North Hall's Kyle Bacus, who rolled up 187 yards rushing and three TDs in a win over Chestatee. There was North Forsyth quarterback Ben Bales, whose 245 yards passing and four TDs helped the Raiders defeat Sequoyah. There was Gainesville's Martavious Davis, who hauled in four catches for 169 yards and a score in a win over West Hall. And there was Lanier's Marcko Baity, who pounded out 268 yards rushing and three TDs in the Longhorns' win over Northview. And lets not forget Chestatee's Nick Lyles, who piled up an astounding 277 total yards and three touchdowns as the War Eagles battled their old rival North Hall to the last gasp (more on that later). So, yes, folks, there are plenty of standouts in northeast Georgia this season, and they are just getting warmed up -- 2016 is looking strong indeed.
4. GHS is on the right track, but West Hall makes impression in loss
The Red Elephants' 20-10 defeat of the Spartans in Oakwood on Friday showed that Gainesville does indeed have the type of defense that is a rock on which a region and playoff run could be built. The Red Elephants' speed and hard-hitting approach yielded just three points (West Hall's touchdown came on a defensive score). Gainesville's offense, however, is still building. It was to be expected in a season-opener in which the Red Elephants were starting five new offensive linemen. Yet, new quarterback DJ Irons and his supporting cast showed enough to make us think this will once again be a dangerous attack if it can develop consistency and avoid mistakes and penalties -- penalties that cost Gainesville more than 100 yards on Friday. On the other side of the coin, a lot of the lapses were made due to a Spartans defense that has come ready to play in 2016. And West Hall too has plenty going for it, as it heads into the season. This was a game designed to test both programs, and it proved an apt exam Friday. And while one team had to lose, it is certain that both coaches will like a lot of the answers given -- even if there is plenty of room for improvement on both sides.
5. Chestatee is on the upswing
No the War Eagles did not halt a losing skid that now stretches back to the 2014 season, but Chestatee showed enough in its 35-28 loss to North Hall on Friday to make us believe it is on the way back up. New head coach Shaun Conley obviously has the War Eagles fighting and believing -- they rallied from a 21-7 halftime deficit to push North Hall to the final whistle. He also has some talent at his disposal in the fleet-footed Nick Lyles (see point No. 3), quarterback Storm Yarbrough and receiver Baylee Camp -- a trio that will only get better as the season progresses and should prove a headache for any defensive coordinator. Meanwhile, the War Eagles' size in the trenches will prove an asset that should also improve -- Chestatee proved hard to move for long stretches on Friday night. No, that big first win did not come. But it, judging from Friday, it is on the way soon.
WEEK ZERO AREA PREP FOOTBALL SCORES, Aug. 19
Clarke Central 31, Winder-Barrow 0
Habersham Central 45, East Hall 13
Hebron Christian Academy 17, East Jackson 7
Fannin County 17, Gilmer 14
Franklin County 26, White County 7
Gainesville 20, West Hall 10
Jackson County 21, Banks County 16
Jefferson 48, Discovery 0
Lanier 34, Northview 13
North Forsyth 34, Sequoyah 14
North Hall 35, Chestatee 28
Roswell 24, Buford 7
Social Circle 19, Johnson 14
Towns County 33, Hayesville, N.C. 14
SATURDAY’S SCORES
Mill Creek 34, Colquitt County 27
Brookwood 37, North Gwinnett 23
WEEK 1 AREA PREP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, Aug. 26
Alpharetta at Gainesville
Banks County at Commerce
Chestatee at East Hall
Forsyth Central at Dawson County
Gilmer at Union County
Lakeview Academy at East Jackson
Lanier at South Gwinnett
Madison County at Jackson County
Milton at North Gwinnett
North Forsyth at Johns Creek
North Hall at Flowery Branch
Prince Avenue Christian at Riverside Military Academy
Rabun County at Mt. Pisgah Christian
River Ridge at Apalachee
Riverwood at Jefferson
Stephens County at Franklin County
Stephenson at Mill Creek
Walnut Grove at Winder-Barrow
West Hall at Johnson
White County at Lumpkin County
