Here's a look at five things we learned from Week 5 of the high school football season...
1. Region 7-3A is looking very much like a three-team race for the top
We had an idea that Dawson County and North Hall would be amongst the front-runners in Region 7-3A this season -- and certainly we expected Greater Atlanta Christian to fight for its third straight 7-3A crown. And after the first night of region play this past week it looks indeed that that is the case, as all three won handily. The Tigers, Trojans and Spartans each laid down markers and are a combined 13-2 (GAC's two losses came to two powerhouse programs in Westminster and Prestonwood Christian out of Texas -- and by a combined eight points). All three rely on veteran playmakers, and while they each play the game a little differently, they do what they do very well. And two of them are on a collision course for Friday, as North Hall plays host to GAC at The Brickyard. We can't wait to see what will happen.
2. 8-2A set up for first judgement night this Friday
Speaking of big Friday showdowns, this region is chock full of them this week. After the first two weeks of league play Banks County, Rabun County and Union County -- along with Elbert County -- have separated themselves from the rest of the pack, going 2-0. (The remaining four programs are each 0-2 in region play.) But those unblemished records will change this week, as all four face each other. Rabun travels to Banks and Union heads to Elbert, and the winners will set themselves up for a titanic showdown later in the season.
3. Commerce crosses into rarified territory
We had a feeling the Tigers' 2018 schedule shaped up invitingly for a veteran Commerce squad, and that has indeed proven true. The Tigers have rampaged through the first half of their slate, winning three games handily -- their closest battle a 33-20 defeat of Hart County. And now Commerce finds itself sitting at 5-0 for the first time since 2002. While that may seem like not so long ago to some of us who remember a pre-internet/cell phone world, consider that the players on the Tigers squad were mainly in diapers the last time that happened. And looking at the rest of its schedule it is quite conceivable that Commerce could go 9-0 (the final regular season opponent, a region cross-over game, is yet to be determined). Tigers coaches and players cannot afford to look ahead, and you can bet they won't. But us fans and onlookers can do a little speculating, and Commerce is certainly playing its way into a impressive-looking position.
4. Where does Flowery Branch fit in versus the three winners from Region 7-4A?
We hate answering a question with a question, but it is one worth asking. The only team not to play a region game last week in 7-4A was the Branch, and while the Falcons fought their way to a fourth straight win, the expected powerhouses of the league -- defending Class 4A champion Blessed Trinity and 4A runner-up Marist -- stormed to big wins. Denmark also outscored Chestatee in a 61-47 shootout. The fifth-ranked Falcons will kick off their league campaign this week at White County -- which is far better than its 1-4 record, and it will be interesting to see how the Branch measures up. The Falcons are hoping to end the Atlanta private school hold on 7-4A, and, so far, they look like the kind of team with the ability to do that. But we'll learn plenty more starting this week.
5. Gainesville keeps improving, must find consistency
Last season Habersham Central was the hard-luck story of northeast Georgia, dropping six games by razor-thin margins. This season the Raiders have turned that experience into success in the win column. The Red Elephants are hoping to make that trannsition now that region play is set to get under way. Gainesville has seen its share of hard luck this campaign, dropping two games in the final minutes while learning under a new coaching staff, and Friday's 28-19 loss to Flowery Branch showed plenty to be excited about for the future, as they battled the Falcons every step of the way. The key for Gainesville is to develop consistency. There is ability on hand, including a true standout in running back Quintavious Hayes (who ran for 173 yards against a stout Falcons defense). And the Red Elephants seem just a play or two away from bouncing back from their 0-5 start and making some real noise this season -- and in Region 8-6A.
FRIDAY'S AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES
Athens Academy 46, Towns County 8
Archer 48, Buford 24
Banks County 31, Oglethorpe County 7
Blessed Trinity 45, West Hall 3
Commerce 35, Madison County 8
Dawson County 36, Lumpkin County 3
Denmark 61, Chestatee 47
Flowery Branch 28, Gainesville 19
George Walton Academy 46, Lakeview Academy 15
Greater Atlanta Christian 51, East Hall 20
Hart County 30, Jackson County 13
Jefferson 70, East Jackson 0
Lanier Christian Academy 13, John Hancock 6
Marist 41, White County 6
North Hall 60, Cherokee Bluff 6
Prince Avenue Christian 56, Riverside Military 6
Rabun County 45, Monticello 16
Union County 55, Putnam County 0
AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR SEPT. 28
Cherokee Bluff at Fannin County*
Dacula at Gainesville*
Dawson County at East Hall*
Flowery Branch at White County*
Greater Atlanta Christian at North Hall*
Habersham Central at Lanier*
Jackson County at Morgan County*
Jefferson at Franklin County*
Johnson at Buford*
Lakeview Academy at Hebron Christian*
Lanier Christian Academy at Cherokee Christian (Cherokee Veterans Park)
Marist at Chestatee*
Monroe Area at East Jackson*
Rabun County at Banks County*
Towns County at Riverside Military*
Union County at Elbert County*
West Hall at Denmark*
*-Denotes region game
