Jeff Hart

High school football season kicked off with some intriguing matchups Friday night, none more so than defending state champ and Class AA No. 1 Buford visiting 2009 Class AAA state runner-up Gainesville.

West Hall doesn

The Flowery Branch defense held Madison County to just 97 total yards of offense in taking a 21-0 win in the Falcons

Jefferson

Dacula scored 13 points in the final 10 minutes to rally for a 34-31 win over Mill Creek Friday night.

White County rallied twice from six point deficits and scored in the final two minutes to pull out a thrilling 21-14 win over East Jackson Friday night on the road.

Banks County racked up more than 400 yards of offense and four different players scored touchdowns in the Leopards

Zay Henry ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns and Stanley Williams added 72 yards and one score to lead Class AAAA tenth-ranked Apalachee to a 35-7 win over Habersham Central Friday night.

Gainesville softball coach Jeremy Kemp has been waiting for a breakthrough win for his up-and-coming program. He finally got it Thursday against perennial power West Hall.

The East Hall girls volleyball team dropped a pair of tough matches Thursday at the Lakeview Academy gym.