GAINESVILLE -- As Friday night showed, what you do prior to the region and subregion season may have absolutely no bearing on what happens once those schedules commence.
Take North Hall vs. Chestatee, for example. The War Eagles entered with a 3-1 record and an offense that had impressed in the early going. But even though North Hall came in at 1-3, it was the Trojans that dominated, rushing over around and through Chestatee for a 48-7 win at The Brickyard -- behind 280 yards rushing from Imani Cross.
Commerce also busted out of a two-game slump in its first Region 8-A game, blasting Athens Christian 41-0.
The trends didn't buck everywhere, however...
In Class AA, No. 1 Buford scored six different ways in thrashing Decatur 66-13 in its Region 6A-AA opener. Gainesville pounded rival Johnson 47-0, the second straight season the Red Elephants shutout the Knights. East Hall opened its Region 8A-AA schedule with a 35-14 win over Rabun County behind Jamond Witt, who had more than 200 yards of all-purpose yards.
Lumpkin County continued its best start in 11 years after knocking off White County 31-7 in its Region 8-AAA opener at home.
Also in Region 8-AAA, West Hall finally broke into the win column with a solid 38-9 win over Walnut Grove on the road. Player-of-the-Week candidate Chandler Newton led the way with 211 yards and three touchdowns passing and 59 yards rushing and another touchdown.
In Region 8-AA, Jackson County snapped its four-game losing streak with a 30-13 win over Oglethorpe County and Banks County rallied to beat Union County 16-14. North Oconee held off Jefferson 38-28 in a battle of the top two teams in the region.
Habersham Central had its biggest offense output in a decade with a 54-10 win over Winder-Barrow in Region 8-AAAA action. The last time the Raiders scored 50 or more points in a game came against Franklin County in a 56-8 win in 2001.
Riverside Military Academy also got its first victory of the season beating Social Circle 21-0 at Maginnis Field.
AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES, SEPT. 30
Apalachee 45, Madison County 9
Banks County 16, Union County 14
Buford 66, Decatur 13
Cherokee, N.C. 35, Rabun Gap-Nachoochee 16
Commerce 41, Athens Christian 0
Dawson County 35, Fannin County 30
East Hall 35, Rabun County 14
Gainesville 47, Johnson 0
Habersham Central 54, Winder-Barrow 10
Hart County 38, East Jackson 10
Jackson County 30, Oglethorpe County 13
Lumpkin County 31, White County 7
North Hall 48, Chestatee 7
North Oconee 38, Jefferson 28
Northview 39, North Forsyth 13
Riverside Military Academy 21, Social Circle 0
Stephens County 24, Franklin County 7
Towns County 33, North Cobb Christian 6
West Hall 38, Walnut Grove 9
Wednesday
April 30th, 2025
4:08AM
