Region campaigns are kicking off all around the state, but there are still some intriguing non-region contests on tap for Week 5 of the prep football season.
In northeast Georgia the Jacobs Media family of radio stations brings you a mix of each this Friday night.
Since the schedules were released in March, football fans around Gwinnett County and all of northeast Georgia have had this game, amongst others, circled on their calendar: Buford at Archer.
The Wolves (3-1) enter this week's showdown as the No. 2 team in Class 5A, while the Tigers (3-1) are No. 7 in Class 7A, and it will undoubtedly be one of the entire state's marquee matchups when it takes place on the airwaves of WDUN AM 550 live from Lawrenceville.
Both teams feature a slew of players bound for top-level collegiate programs and each has faced a tough schedule to this point with one loss each versus top-ranked opposition -- Buford falling to Florida's Deerfield Beach 19-14 and Archer dropping a 21-19 decision to Milton.
Meanwhile, Flowery Branch is also off to a strong start after running out to a 3-0 start and a No. 6 ranking in Class 4A. The Falcons will look to go 4-0 for the first time since 2011 when they take on a Gainesville team looking to get on track in a game broadcast live on WDUN FM 102.9.
The Red Elephants (0-4) have shown glimpses of rebounding in each of their last three contests, including two fourth quarter leads in each of their two home contests this season and would love nothing more than to find the winning formula against a former region rival. But it will not come easy against a Branch defense that is yielding just 9 points per game and a Falcons offense led by a punishing rushing attack and the explosive Jalin Strown on the perimeter.
Buford, Branch, and Gainesville are each facing their final non-region contest of the campaign and will want to set the tone for the rest of the season. Chestatee, however, is now into region play, and after pulling off its first victory of the season last week at Fannin County, 45-42, the War Eagles (1-3) hope to keep rolling when they play host to Denmark in a game broadcast live on 94.5 FM The Lake.
Chestatee's offense appears to have found the formula for success over its last two games, scoring 86 points combined, including 1,030 total yards for sophomore quarterback Christian Charles.
The War Eagles face an inaugural Danes (3-1) team coming off its first loss of the season, 38-21 to Dawson County. Denmark also has plenty of talent, including receiver Ze'Vian Capers (6-foot-4, 200 pounds), and the War Eagles know they will have to be at their best.
There are also plenty of other key contests on Friday, including the beginning of region play in 7-3A and 8-3A. An improved Lumpkin County (2-2) heads to Dawson County (4-0) for the 41st installment of a rivalry split 19-19-2 in 7-3A. Jackson County (2-2) also plays host to Hart County (1-3) in a key battle for each team in 8-3A.
Jacobs Media and AccessWDUN will keep you up to date on all of the contests with our Friday Game Night page. You can also stay informed with our twitter feed: @FridayGameNight.
