Regions 8-AA, 8-AAAA, and 7-AAAAA conitnue with the early portion of their region schedules while several big rivalries around northeast Georgia resume this week.
Here is a look at some of the key games in the area Friday night:
FLOWERY BRANCH at CHESTATEE
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Gainesville, War Eagles Stadium
FLOWERY BRANCH (2-1 overall, 0-0 Region 7B-AAA): lost 38-35 to Creekview last week.
CHESTATEE (1-1 overall, 0-0 Region 7A-AAA): beat Johnson 22-12 last week
LAST MEETING: 2008, Flowery Branch won 24-7 at home; Flowery Branch leads series 5-2
NOTEABLE: The Falcons have won four straight in the series - all in lopsided fashion. The average margin of victory in the last four meetings has been 27 points. Flowery Branch is coming off a gut-wrenching loss to Creekview in a game where the lead changed hands half-a-dozen times. It was the most points given up by the usually stout Flowery Branch defense since a 47-34 loss to Chamblee in the 2007 playoffs. Connor Shaw, who threw for over 350 yards last week, and the Falcons' offense were nearly unstoppable until an interception in the final minute deep in Creekview territory snuffed out a late rally. Chestatee looked shaky early allowing a quick Johnson field goal but then allowed just one TD and a late FG the rest of the way and held Johnson to just 144 total yards for the game. The War Eagles' Ben Souther had a record-setting night with a school-record 98-yard TD run and also became the school's all-time leading rusher with 152 yards on the ground.
NORTH HALL at CLASS AAA No. 1 GAINESVILLE
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Gainesville, City Park Stadium
NORTH HALL (1-1 overall, 0-0 Region 7A-AAA): off last week, lost 35-7 to Buford two weeks ago
GAINESVILLE (3-0 overall, 0-0 Region 7B-AAA): beat White County 42-20 last week
LAST MEETING: 2008, Gainesville won 27-0 at The Brickyard; Gainesville leads series 17-4
NOTEABLE: In the series Gainesville won 14 of the first 16 meetings but North Hall has won two of the last five meetings, with both wins coming at City Park. In fact, the last five games have been won by the road team. The Red Elephants may have to contend with their own success and not being overly satisfied after being named the new No. 1 team in Class AAA for the first time since 1983. Despite turnovers and mistakes, the Gainesville offense has been nearly unstoppable averaging 35 ppg in the first three weeks. The defense allowed its first points of the season last week. North Hall has had two weeks off since losing to Buford. The Trojans played well for 2 1/2 quarters trailing just 14-0 to the Wolves before wearing down in the fourth quarter. Since the series resumed in 2002, only two games have been decided by seven points or less....Gainesville's Tyson Smith had a huge game last week throwing for two touchdowns in their version of the 'wildcat' formation and also catching two TD passes.
JOHNSON at PICKENS
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Jasper, Pickens Stadium
JOHNSON (0-3 overall, 0-0 Region 7B-AAA): lost 22-12 to Chestatee last week
PICKENS (1-1 overall, 0-0 Region 7A-AAA): lost 28-0 to West Forsyth last week
LAST MEETING: 2008, Johnson won 33-14 in Oakwood; Johnson leads series 5-4
NOTEABLE: A streaky series with Johnson winning the last two games and Pickens winning the three previous meetings. The Knights have struggled in Jasper losing three of the four meetings at Pickens Stadium. The Knights are in desperate need of a win having lost eight of their last nine games overall going back to laast season. They came into this season with high expectations but mistakes and turnovers have plagued them so far in 2009. Anthony Prophet and Mantevious Rucker were held in check last week by Chestatee as Johnson only had 144 yards of total offense. The Dragons shocked West Hall in in their opener but struggled against a bigger West Forsyth team last week. After three straight winning seasons and two trips to the playoffs from 2004 to 2006, Pickens has gone 5-17 since 2007. The Dragons are looking for momentum before jumping into their subregion schedule with winnable games against Chestatee, Gilmer, and Lumpkin County in consecutive weeks.
WHITE COUNTY at WEST HALL
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Oakwood, West Hall Stadium
WHITE (2-1 overall, 0-0 Region 7A-AAA): lost 42-20 to No. 1 Gainesville last week
WEST HALL (0-3 overall, 0-0 Region 7B-AAA): lost 35-18 to Gilmer last week
LAST MEETING: 2008, White County won 24-21 in Cleveland; West Hall leads series 8-5
NOTEABLE: The Warriors were knocked back down to Earth last week against Gainesville but they did score the first points of the season on the Gainesville defense. West Hall, however, continues to struggle on defense having already allowed 118 points (39.9 ppg) on the season. White County has averaged 21 points a game so far on offense and moved the ball well in the second half against Gainesville. White County has won the last three meetings and the last four meetings have all been decided by eight points or less. The Warriors need a win for mometum before jumping into the subregion schedule. White County will have an off week next week before taking on North Hall, Creekview, and Chestatee in consecutive weeks. The Spartans also face a tough stretch with No. 1 Gainesville, No. 10 Flowery Branch, and Johnson to follow.
GILMER at EAST HALL
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Rabbittown, East Hall Stadium
GILMER (1-1 overall, 0-0 Region 7A-AAA): beat West Hall 35-18 last week
EAST HALL (0-3 overall, 0-0 Region 7B-AAA): lost 21-7 to Lumpkin County last week
LAST MEETING: 2008, East Hall won 33-26 in double overtime in Ellijay; East Hall leads series 16-2.
NOTEABLE: East Hall has dominated the series winning 14 straight going back 1982. The last Gilmer win came in 1971, 15-12 in Ellijay. The Vikings won a thriller last year over the Bobcats for their only win of the season. It may take a similar effort this year. Gilmer's win last week snapped a 16-game losing streak going back to 2007. East Hall has now lost nine straight games - its longest such streak since dropping 13 in a row in 1997-98. The Bobcats' offense has show much improvement early on with 53 points. Gilmer scored just 70 total points all of last season. The East Hall defense has played well despite getting little help from the offense allowing 21 ppg so far. However, the Vikings have scored just seven points in 2009.
NORTH OCONEE at RIVERSIDE
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Gainesville, Maginnis Field
N. OCONEE (3-0 overall, 2-0 Region 8-AA): beat Union County 31-30 in double overtime last week
RMA (2-1 overall, 2-0 Region 8-AA): beat Rabun County 20-6 last week
LAST MEETING: 2008, North oconee won 23-21 in Bogart in first-ever meeting between the two schools. RMA missed two field goals in the final seconds that would have won the game.
NOTEABLE: Last year's game eventually determined the No. 2 seed in 8-AA when tiebreakers were applied. This begins a stretch for Riverside that could determine its playoff future. The Eagles will travel to emerging East Jackson next week before home games against No. 7 Jefferson and always-tough Fannin County at home. Its' also the second major clash in Region 8-AA for Riverside against a playoff team from last year. The Eagles knocked off Banks County two weeks ago at home and now face another projected contender for the playoffs this week. It's even more important for tiebreaker purposes with North Oconee facing very winnable games over the next three weeks against Banks, Rabun, and Dawson County. Those three teams are a combined 2-7 in 2009. North Oconee has looked sharp on offense averaging 31 ppg so far behind RB Brandon Whitlock, who has 560 yards and 9 TDs in the first three games. But the Titans' defense has been touched for 46 points in the first two region games. Riverside has not been dominating on offense averaging just 16.1 ppg so but has taken advantage of mistakes. The Eagles defense has been stingy allowing just 18 total points in two region games so far. Riverside has won 16 of its last 18 games at Maginnins Field. North Oconee has played well on the road the last two season going 3-3, including playoffs.
EAST JACKSON at UNION COUNTY
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Blarisville, Memorial Stadium
EAST JACKSON (3-0 overall, 2-0 Region 8-AA): beat Oglethorpe County 28-14 last week
UNION COUNTY (2-1 overall, 1-1 Region 8-AA): lost 31-30 to North Oconee in double overtime last week
LAST MEETING: 2008, Union County won 35-14 in only meeting between the two schools
NOTEABLE: Expect some points in this one. The East Jackson offense has been clicking early averaging 39 ppg so far. Union County is averaging 33 ppg. The Panthers made a gutsy call against North Oconee last week to go for two and win in it overtime. As a result, the Panthers face almost a must-win with games against Jefferson and Fannin County looming the next two weeks. East Jackson is by far the biggest surprise in north Georgia in the early going. The Eagles came into their second varsity season having won just three games in their history and had never been above .500. Now, they have matched that total already and are right in the middle of the playoff race. The Eagles will find out if they are a contender beginning a stretch this week with three games against playoff teams from last year over a five-week span. The Eagles' defense has allowed 20 ppg but has improved each week. Union County has allowed 23 ppg but both defenses have to deal with both of their teams' quick-strike offenses.
LOGANVILLE at HABERSHAM CENTRAL
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Mt. Airy, Raider Stadium
LOGANVILLE (1-1 overall, 1-1 Region 8-AAAA): beat Salem 47-35 last week.
HABERSHAM (1-2 overall, 1-2 Region 8-AAAA): lost 23-7 to Clarke Central last week
LAST MEETING: 2008, Loganville won 19-6 in Loganville; Habersham leads series 4-3
NOTEABLE: Habersham had won four straight in the series until last year's loss. The Raiders are in a must-win situation virtually the rest of the way after two tough losses in the region already. No teams got into the playoffs last with more than four region losses. Defensively Habersham has been outstanding allowing just 17 ppg in an offensive-minded region. But the offense has struggled scoring just 33 points (11 ppg) so far. The Raiders are typically tough at Raider Stadium having won 17 of their last 20 at home since the 2006 season. They have won their last two at home against Loganville. The defending region champion Red Devils exploded last week with their biggest offensive output since scoring 47 in a 2001 win over Jackson County. The defense has allowed 27.5 ppg in two games.
CLASS AAAAA No. 3 PEACHTREE RIDGE at NORTH FORSYTH
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Coal Mountain, Raider Valley
P'TREE RIDGE (2-1 overall, 1-0 Region 7-AAAAA): beat Northview 44-0 last week in region opener
N. FORSYTH (3-0 overall, 1-0 Region 7-AAAAA): lost 35-18 to Gilmer last week in region opener
LAST MEETING: 2008, Peachtree Ridge won 34-23 in Suwanee; Peachtree Ridge leads series 3-0
NOTEABLE: North Forsyth is off to its best start since the 2005 season when the Raiders advanced to the second round of the playoffs. The Raiders, however, have never beaten the Lions but have improved in each game against them after losing 63-0 in 2007. Last year the Raiders held leads of 10-0 and 17-7 before the Lions exploded in the fourth quarter to pull out the win. Peachtree Ridge rebounded last week after getting embarrassed by Lowndes County (51-17 two weeks ago.
WEST FORSYTH at CLASS No. 9 CREEKVIEW
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Canton, Creekview Stadium
WEST FORSYTH (2-1 overall, 0-0 Region 7B-AAA): beat Pickens 28-0 last week.
CREEKVIEW (2-0 overall, 0-0 Region 7A-AAA): beat No. 3 Flowery Branch 38-35 last week
LAST MEETING: 2008, West Forsyth won 27-24 in first-ever meeting between the two schools
NOTEABLE: Creekview comes into the game ranked for the first time in its school history after bringing down the Falcons last week. The Grizzlies have shown real versatility winning a defensive battle against Class AAAA Sequoyah two weeks ago and then winning a shootout last week. After a 0-4 start last year in their first-ever varsity season, the Grizzlies have won 8 of their last 9 games, with their only loss to Eastside in the first round of the playoffs last year. Their last regular season loss was to North Hall in their subregion opener last year. West Forsyth may the best team in Georgia that few fans know much about. The Wolverines in their two year history are 10-3 overall but unfortunately play in the same subregion as No. 1 Gainesville and No. 10 Flowery Branch. They were the only team in Georgia in any classification last year to go 8-2 and NOT make the playoffs. The Wolverines feature a bruising power running attack but has been vulnerable on defense allowing nearly 20 ppg even with last week's shutout of Pickens.
JEFFERSON at OGLETHORPE COUNTY
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Lexington, Patriot Stadium
JEFFERSON (3-0 overall, 2-0 Region 8-AA): beat Fannin County 42-27 last week.
OGLETHORPE (1-2 overall, 0-2 Region 8-AA): lost 28-14 to East Jackson last week
LAST MEETING: 2008, Jefferson won 48-20 in Jefferson; Jefferson leads series 27-8
NOTEABLE: Jefferson has owned the series, which goes all the way back to 1952. The Dragons have won seven straight and eight of the last 10 meetings dating back to 1995. The last Patriots win was in 1997 â
Wednesday
November 27th, 2024
7:29PM
