Some people might feel the only winner on Friday night was the weather -- but don't tell that to Chestatee High.
The War Eagles halted an 18-game losing skid that stretched back to 2014 courtesy a nail-biting 23-21 victory at East Hall that actually was called early due to a lightning delay that saw the game still in the third quarter at 11:30 p.m. when officials halted play for good.
That was typical on a night when lightning wrecked havoc throughout northeast Georgia. Three games containing area teams never even finished thanks to Mother Nature, including the longtime Lumpkin County-White County rivalry. Rabun County's trip to Mt. Pisgah was also cut short, as was Dawson County's battle with Forsyth Central. Dawson and Rabun were both leading when their games were cancelled.
(NOTE: To read in-depth game stories and watch video highlights from contests involving teams throughout northeast Georgia, visit our Friday Game Night page.)
But those teams able to carry on produced results worth noting, including a thriller at Flowery Branch, as North Hall held off the Falcons 21-20, as the Branch missed a last-minute field goal that would have sealed a comeback win. The contest proved a fitting throwback to a fierce old rivalry within Hall County, as the Trojans moved to 2-0 on the season; the Falcons fell to 0-1.
East Jackson also picked up its first win under new coach Christian Hunnicutt and matched its win total from
One old Hall rivalry proved one-sided, however, as West Hall dominated Johnson from just about the outset, winning the Battle of Oakwood 42-14 at Billy Ellis Memorial Stadium to move to 1-1 in 2016. The Knights are now 0-2.
Gainesville is also now 1-1 after a tough, 28-7 loss to Alpharetta at City Park; the Red Elephants will look to bounce back at home to Clarke Central next week.
Jefferson continued its dominant start on Friday, hammering Riverwood 38-14 behind another dominating rushing performance from running backs Colby Wood and Zack Boobas, as they helped Jefferson rush for 266 yards.
Commerce provided the very definition of a strong run game, however, piling up 451 yards in a 43-0 season-opening defeat of Banks County that sw the Leopards fall to 0-2. Union County also opened its campaign with a 36-16 win over Gilmer. Stephens County also drilled Franklin County 61-20 to get its season going in style. Winder-Barrow also produced a bounce-back win, 41-7 over Walnut Grove.
Elsewhere, Mill Creek kept its strong start going with a 32-7 defeat of Stephenson, while North Gwinnett bounced back from last week's loss to Brookwood with a 43-29 defeat of Milton.
WEEK 1 AREA PREP FOOTBALL SCORES, Aug. 26
Alpharetta 28, Gainesville 7
Chestatee 23, East Hall 21
Commerce 43, Banks County 0
East Jackson 38, Lakeview Academy 6
Jefferson 38, Riverwood 14
Johns Creek 28, North Forsyth 21
Madison County 42, Jackson County 14
Mill Creek 32, Stephenson 7
North Gwinnett 43, Milton 29
North Hall 21, Flowery Branch 20
Prince Avenue Christian 34, Riverside Military Academy 0
River Ridge 27, Apalachee 14
Stephens County 61, Franklin County 20
South Gwinnett 17, Lanier 0
Union County 36, Gilmer 16
West Hall 42, Johnson 14
Winder-Barrow 41, Walnut Grove 7
CANCELLED (Due to weather)
Forsyth Central at Dawson County
Rabun County at Mt. Pisgah Christian
White County at Lumpkin County
