The first “Rivalry Week” of the season is upon us just two Fridays into the 2018 prep football campaign -- and several intriguing matchups are on tap tonight around northeast Georgia.
At top of the list, especially coming off last week’s impressive showing by Johnson, is the latest Battle of Oakwood, as the Knights host West Hall at Billy Ellis Memorial Stadium. The Spartans have five straight wins in the series, but Johnson snapped a 24-game losing streak last week (38-0 victory over Oglethorpe County) and was dominant on the ground behind QB Sam Corbett. Meanwhile, the Spartans fell behind early but closed the gap late in a 35-19 loss at Commerce.
Elsewhere, White County travels to Lumpkin County in a rivalry that has stretched over 50 years. It will be the opener for the Warriors, who are coming off a playoff season, while the Indians rolled East Jackson last week (42-0). The Indians are looking to avenge their second-worst loss ever in the series from last season (66-14), and The Burial Ground is expected to be at overflow capacity.
There are also some outstanding matchups not involving traditional rivals like North Hall traveling to Jackson County. Commerce travels to Athens Christian looking to open its Region 8-A schedule with a win. However, the last time the Tigers hit the road against the Eagles (2016) they came away with a 21-14 loss.
For a look at all of the night's contests involving area teams, simply scroll down. And be sure to check back with AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night throughout the night for score updates and game stories and video highlights. You can also check for scores and highlights on our Twitter feed: @FridayGameNight
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR August 24
(Games listed in alphabetical order of visiting team)
BANKS COUNTY at FRANKLIN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Ed Bryant Stadium, Carnesville
-- BANKS COUNTY (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-2A): Lost 23-0 to Jackson County last week
-- FRANKLIN COUNTY (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-3A): Lost 13-3 to Stephens County last week
-- NOTABLE: Franklin County leads series 2-0. The Lions won 14-7 in 2015 when both were members of Region 7-3A. ... The Lions are trying to avoid a second straight 0-2 start to a season and their third such start in the last four campaigns. The Leopards also are trying to avoid a third consecutive 0-2 start. ... The shutout loss for the Leopards was their first since losing 43-0 to Commerce in 2016. But, they are breaking out a new wing-T offense under former North Hall architect Kerry Kidd and faced one of the better projected defenses in the area in Jackson County. ... Franklin County has not been an offensive juggernaut recently. They have scored 14 points or less in 8 of their last 14 games going back to the 2016 season. ... Banks County has a chance to put some wins together over the next month with East Jackson, Social Circle, and Oglethorpe County, who were a combined 5-25 in 2017, to follow.
CHEROKEE BLUFF at DENMARK
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Denmark Stadium, Alpharetta
-- CHEROKEE BLUFF (0-1, 0-0 Region 7-3A): Lost 33-0 to Whitefield Academy last week
-- DENMARK (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-4A): Season-opener for the Danes
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the brand new schools. ... The Bears got their inaugural season underway last week against an experienced playoff team from 2017. After some obvious nerves contributed to a first quarter blitz (they trailed 24-0) they held Whitefield to just three field goals the rest of the way. ... With actual gametape to review, the offense, which managed zero yards, should be able to make some adjustments. ... The Danes have not had that first real varsity action but they also are expected to have the numbers advantage and several players with actual experience from last season. Denmark coach Terry Crowder is no stranger to success having won a state title with Chattahoochee (Class 4A) in 2010.
CHESTATEE at DAWSON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tiger Stadium, Dawsonville
-- RADIO: nogasportslink.com
-- CHESTATEE (0-1, 0-0 Region 7-4A): Lost 63-7 to North Hall last week
-- DAWSON COUNTY (1-0, 0-0 Region 7-3A): Defeated Habersham Central 32-28 last week
-- NOTABLE: Chestatee leads series 4-2. The War Eagles won 27-22 in 2011. Chestatee has won four straight in the series. The last Tigers victory came in 2005, 16-7. ... The War Eagles, who are installing a new defensive look in 2018, were dominated by North Hall’s wing-T ground attack. They will need to make some fast adjustments. The Tigers last week, sporting a new-look ground game in their spread offense behind a big offensive line, racked up 320 yards rushing against Habersham, as SeVaughn Clark had 199 yards and Ahmad Kamara 144 yards for the game. ... The 7 points for the War Eagles last week was only the second time over their last 14 games going back to 2016 they have been held to less than 14 points. ... Chestatee is looking to avoid its first 0-2 start to a season since going winless in 2015. The Tigers are looking for their second straight 2-0 start and third over the last 6 seasons.
COMMERCE at ATHENS CHRISTIAN
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Eagles Field, Athens
-- COMMERCE (1-0, 0-0 Region 8-A): Defeated West Hall 35-19 last week
-- ATHENS CHRISTIAN (1-0, 0-0 Region 8-A): Defeated The Walker School 28-0 last week
-- NOTABLE: Commerce leads series 10-2. The Tigers won 35-0 in 2017 in Commerce. ... The two teams have met every season since 2008 but both of the Eagles’ wins have been since 2012. The last time the Tigers traveled to Eagles Field they were stunned 21-14 in 2016 while ranked in the top 5 in Class A. ... Both teams looked impressive last week in their openers and despite this being just the second week of the season, this one will have playoff implications. ... The Eagles just missed out on the playoffs last year by percentage points. The Eagles play in the power half of the now-subdivided region so with teams like Athens Academy (state runner-up) and Prince Avenue (state semifinalist) looming on the horizon region wins at home are a premium. ... Commerce is looking for its fifth straight 2-0 start to a season and a win to start 8-A play will certainly help in the power rankings at the end of the season. ... The Tigers went 5-0 on the road in 2017 and are 7-1 in their last 8 road contests going back to back-to-back road losses to Prince Avenue and Athens Christian in 2016.
EAST HALL at UNION COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Mike Colwell Memorial Stadium, Blairsville
-- EAST HALL (0-1, 0-0 Region 7-3A): Lost 70-6 to Flowery Branch last week
-- UNION COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-2A): Season-opener for the Panthers
-- NOTABLE: East Hall leads series 7-3. The Vikings won 62-42 in 2017. This will be the ninth meeting since 2000 but the first one where the two teams are not region opponents. ... The Vikings did not open the Scott Patrick-era they way they wanted but injuries may have played a part as they were forced to play three and sometimes four different quarterbacks due to injury. They were still looking for a consistent replacement to the graduated Austin Parker but now face even bigger questions. Meanwhile, their expected-to-be-tough ground game was shut down by the Falcons as bruising runner Cambren Harrison had just 4 yards on 4 carries. ... The Panthers also will be replacing a near-legend at QB in Cole Wright, who also graduated. They will turn to Pierson Allison, who will have help in three veterans at receiver in Sr. Kanon Hemphill, Jr. Sawyer Drake, and Jr. Kyle Morlock. ... The Panthers have won 14 straight season-openers, including 7 at home. Their last loss in a season-opener came in 2003 at home against Jefferson.
HABERSHAM CENTRAL at MADISON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Red Raiders Stadium, Danielsville
-- RADIO: 99.3 FM
-- HABERSHAM CENTRAL (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-6A): Lost 32-28 to Dawson County last week
-- MADISON COUNTY (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-4A): Lost 23-3 to Cedar Shoals last week
-- NOTABLE: Habersham Central leads series 18-4. Habersham won 41-24 in Danielsville in 2011. ... That 2011 matchup was the last time they have played but the two teams met every season from 2004-11 as members of 8-4A with Habersham going 6-2 in that span. ... Madison is just 2-10 at home in the series against Habersham. The Raiders, however, got both of their wins last year on the road going 2-3 away from Raider Stadium. ... Madison is the second of three straight 2017 playoffs team for Habersham to open the season and one of 7 playoff teams on the schedule. Offense is the key for the Red Raiders. Last week marked the sixth time since the beginning of the 2017 season they scored less than 20 points and are 0-6 in those contests. They are 4-1 in that span when scoring 20 or more. ... The Habersham offense under new QB Tre Luttrell posted some big plays and moved the ball against a good Dawson County defense.
JONESBORO at BUFORD
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford
-- RADIO: WDUN AM 550
-- JONESBORO (1-0, 0-0 Region 3-5A): Defeated Mi. Zion-Jonesboro 14-13 last week
-- BUFORD (1-0, 0-0 Region 8-5A): Defeated Tucker 40-14 last week
-- NOTABLE: Buford leads series 2-0. The two teams have not met since 1947, when the Wolves won 13-7. Buford won 33-6 in 1946 in the other meeting. Tom Riden, which is the namesake of the Wolves current stadium, was the actual coach of Buford the last time the two teams met. ... Both teams are coming off wins, with Buford looking impressive in an unexpected rout of Tucker, which was ranked 3rd in Class 6A. The Cardinals nipped their rivals last week to open with a win for the third consecutive season but they have not opened a season 2-0 since 2015, the last time they had a winning record. They also dropped down from Class 6A to 5A this season. ... Derrian Brown demonstrated that he is able to carry the proverbial load in the backfield for Buford rushing for 168 yards and 4 TDs last week.
KING’S RIDGE at RIVERSIDE MILITARY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Maginnis Field, Gainesville
-- KINGS RIDGE (0-0, 0-0 Region 6-A): Finished 2-8 in 2017; season-opener for the Tigers
-- RIVERSIDE MILITARY (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-A): Game with Christian Heritage last week postponed in the third quarter with the Eagles trailing 17-7. Will be made up next week
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... It will almost be a second opener for the Eagles, whose game last week was postponed due to weather. That should give them a slight advantage with a half under their belts against live competition. ... King’s Ridge has not faced a team from Region 8-A since beating Lakeview Academy in 2011. The Tigers are 2-0 all time vs. 8-A teams. ... The Eagles have lost four straight home openers going back to a 23-14 win over Georgia Military College in 2013. ... Riverside, however, is 3-0 in their last three contests against non-Region 8-A foes, averaging 24 ppg.
NORTH FORSYTH at GAINESVILLE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: City Park Stadium, Gainesville
-- RADIO: 94.5 FM The Lake
-- NORTH FORSYTH (0-1, 0-0 Region 5-7A): Lost 18-16 to Cherokee last week
-- GAINESVILLE (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-6A): Lost 42-0 to Mary Persons last week
-- NOTABLE: North Forsyth leads series 4-0. The Raiders won 30-0 in 2001. ... The last time these two teams met Bruce Miller was the coach in Coal Mountain. Miller left after the 2001 season for Gainesville, where he spent the next 16 seasons winning nine region titles and one state title (Class 3A, 2012) before stepping down after the 2017 season. ... The Red Elephants, however, appear to be in a rebuilding mode under new coach Heath Webb and were roughed up last week by a very stout Mary Persons team. The Raiders dropped a nip-and-tuck affair last week at home. ... Both teams are looking for a much-needed win but Gainesville is just 5-5 in its last 10 contests at City Park. The Raiders were 3-3 on the road in 2017. ... Gainesville also is just 1-3 vs. teams in larger classifications since 2012. The Raiders are 9-2 vs. lower classification teams over that same time frame.
NORTH HALL at JACKSON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Panther Stadium, Jefferson
-- NORTH HALL (1-0, 0-0 Region 7-3A): Defeated Chestatee 63-7 last week
-- JACKSON COUNTY (1-0, 0-0 Region 8-3A): Defeated Banks County 23-0 last week
-- NOTABLE: North Hall leads series 2-0. The Trojans won 28-18 in 1999. ... Both teams looked impressive last week in their season openers. The Panthers pitched their first shutout since a 17-0 win over White County in September 2015. Between their scrimmage two weeks ago and last week’s victory, the Jackson County has yet to give up a point. ... North Hall will offer a supreme challenge to the Jackson County defense. The Trojans had their largest output since a 68-42 win over East Hall to end the 2016 regular season. ... The matchup figures to be the Panthers front-7, led by Sr. NG Justin Key, So. DT Andrew King, Sr. DT Pete Parker, Sr. OLB Rayshun Dorsey, Sr. LB Elijah Pierce, and Sr. LB Nate Vincent, against the Trojans OL that is bigger and stronger but is thin on depth. ... The retooled North Hall wing-T is led Sr. HB Daniel Jackson, Sr. QB David Seavey, and Sr. RB Drew Faulkner. ... Jr. QB Tyler Wester and So. RB Bo Reeves combined for all three Panthers’ TDs in their opener.
RABUN COUNTY at NORTH MURRAY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Mountaineers Stadium, Chatsworth
-- RABUN COUNTY (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-2A): Lost 13-10 to Bremen last week
-- NORTH MURRAY (0-0, 0-0 Region 6-3A): Season-opener; finished 7-4 in 2017, lost 1st round of Class 3A playoffs
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Rabun County saw its 28-game regular season win streak snapped last week but it went down to the final play as Bremen booted a game-winning field at the final gun. ... The Wildcats offense, under new management behind Fr. QB Gunnar Stockton, had its moments against a Class 2A top 9 team in Bremen, but a blocked punt late helped set up the winning score. ... Stockton was 11 of 18 for 103 yards and 1 INT in his first varsity start. Austin Jones had 2 catches for 47 yards and Brison Beck had 16 carries for 100 yards and their only TD on the ground. ... The Mountaineers, who began varsity play in 2010, are 2-2 all-time in season home openers. ... The Wildcats now have a 16-game regular season road winning streak on the line. They are 16-2 overall on the road since 2014, with both losses coming in the playoffs.
STRONG ROCK CHRISTIAN at LAKEVIEW ACADEMY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Jock Horner Stadium, Gainesville
-- STRONG ROCK CHRISTIAN (0-0, 0-0 Region 5-A): Season-opener; finished 5-6 in 2017. Lost 1st round Class A Private playoffs
-- LAKEVIEW ACADEMY (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-A): Season-opener; finished 2-8 in 2017
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Strong Rock is coming off its first playoff appearance since 2008 and is the first of six playoff teams on the Lions schedule. ... Lakeview will sport a new QB in either So. Ben Puckett or Fr. Luke Bornhorst (brother of graduated Alec Bornhorst) but still has Sr. WR KJ Millwood, who rolled up almost 1,000 yards receiving in 2017. The running game could be improved with Brandon Wilson and Sam Perry in the backfield. ... But special teams and defense were the Achille’s heel for the Lions in 2017 and both will need to be addressed. ... They return just three starters from a 2017 defense that allowed 430 points so they will be inexperienced as well. ... Strong Rock, out of Locust Grove, is just 1-6 in its last 7 road games going back to the 2016 season.
WEST HALL at JOHNSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Billy Ellis Memorial Stadium, Oakwood
-- RADIO: 102.9 FM
-- WEST HALL (0-1, 0-0 Region 7-4A): Lost 35-19 to Commerce last week
-- JOHNSON (1-0, 0-0 Region 8-5A): Defeated Oglethorpe County 38-0 last week
-- NOTABLE: West Hall leads series 16-7-1. The Spartans won 59-7 in 2017 and have won five straight in the series. ... The Knights last win at home came in 2012, a 19-13 victory, their last in the series. ... Johnson snapped its ugly 24-game losing streak in impressive fashion last week while West Hall is now working on a 5-game losing streak overall going back to last season. ... The Knights bring a much more run-oriented option attack into the contest, and senior quarterback Sam Corbett -- a four-year starter -- rushed 12 times for a team-high 95 yards and 3 scores while attempting just five passes in the season opener. Senior running back Garry Daies added 88 yards rushing and 2 TDs, while junior running back Nolan Bullock also had seven carries for 75 yards. The Knights rushed for 297 yards as a team in the win. ... The Spartans defense faced a stout Commerce option attack in the opener and yielded 300 yards rushing. Senior linebacker Corey Dupree was a one-man wrecking crew in the game with 12 solo tackles, 3 assists, 1 tackle for loss and 1 forced fumble. ... The West Hall offense, however, has averaged 39.6 ppg during their win streak over the Knights. ... A new-look West Hall offense moved the ball against the Tigers last week getting rushing TDs from Solomon Riley and Michael Thompson but could not overcome a 28-point first half deficit.
WHITE COUNTY at LUMPKIN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Burial Grounds, Dahlonega
-- RADIO: www.northgeorgiasportslink.com; www.wrwh.com
-- WHITE COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-4A): Season-opener
-- LUMPKIN COUNTY (1-0, 0-0 Region 7-3A): Defeated East Jackson 42-0 last week
-- NOTABLE: White County leads series 36-11-1. The Warriors won 66-14 in Cleveland in 2017. White County has won 3 of the last 4 and 8 of the last 10 in the series. The two teams have met every year but six since 1964 and is the longest-running rivalry (48 meetings) for both schools. ... The margin of victory for the Indians last week was their biggest since opening the 2011 season with a 50-0 win over Riverside Military Academy. ... Lumpkin went back to their old wishbone attack and got tremendous balance last week getting touchdown runs from four different players -- two by for Luke Smith (63 ad 7) and he also caught a TD pass from quarterback Tucker Kirk. Kevin Harkins, Drew Allison and Kyle Amburgey all ran for touchdowns for the Indians. ... White County will turn to a bigger and more experienced So. QB J Ben Haynes, who is looking to build off a solid freshman season. Gone is RB Kaleb Crane and they will need to find enough in the backfield to give Haynes some help. ... The Warriors defense, however, should be stout again returning 7 starters, including Sr. DE Jay Lepkoske (Georgia State commit), Sr. DL DeeJay Fleming, Sr. LB Mike Mintz, Sr. DB Kurtis Havlen, and Sr. DL Noah Hoersten.
