5 things: What we learned from week 1 of high school football

Here's a look at five things we learned from area teams during "week 1" of high school football...

1. Gainesville offense found some new weapons

Granted the biggest gun in the arsenal was already in place, but quarterback Deshaun Watson hooked up with several new potential stars in Friday's season-opening win over West Forsyth, showing that the Red Elephants' offense may be just as deadly as last year's. Gainesville fans already knew Michael Byrd was a playmaker in the backfield, but the running back took more of a feature role last week and thrived in it, scoring two touchdowns. After graduating two standout receivers, the Red Elephants showed they could be even deeper at the spot this season, as nine different players caught passes, including converted running back Jay Gaudlock, who had a monster night with 10 receptions for 183 yards and a TD. Orrin Ragland's touchdown catch in the second quarter was also a thing of beauty on both ends -- a perfectly-thrown pass and an-inch perfect route, leap and catch. The Red Elephants will face an infinitely tougher task this weekend, taking on a powerhouse Buford defense -- which allowed just six points in its opener -- and it should be a battle to remember.


2. For North Hall offense, it's "next up"

In the days leading up to the season, North Hall's players and coaches displayed an extra bounce in their step. And Friday's performance displayed why -- especially on the part of the Trojans' offensive line. North Hall's men in the trenches were a perceived strength coming into 2013 -- it's no longer perceived, and the numbers show why. No matter who was carrying the ball for North Hall, they found room to run against a strong Chestatee defense in a 33-15 win. Don't get us wrong; we're not saying you could put one us back there and pick up 70 yards a game (after all we've all got those creaking joints and our vision isn't what it used to be...). But with a strong stable of backs, North Hall's offensive line will give the Trojans the ability to rotate those weapons and keep them fresh -- which proved huge in the fourth quarter on Friday and could do so throughout the season.


3. Evan Shirreffs is ready for prime time

The Jefferson football team deserves a big collective pat on the back after Friday's shut down of longtime rival Commerce, and the Dragons definitely found themselves an offensive spark in new starting quarterback Evan Shirreffs. Us on the outside knew Shirreffs had the tools to be good, but it's never easy to follow a standout, maybe doubly so when that standout is your own brother. But in his first start for graduated older brother Bryant, Evan Shirreffs showed he is ready to take that challenge head-on, completing 17 of 28 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns -- not to mention flashing his own running ability, breaking loose for a 46-yard scoring run. The Dragons have plenty of talent and weapons surrounding Shirreffs, and certainly there will be raised expectations after Friday's impressive start.


4. Dawson County developing "clutch" ability

Two weeks in a row Dawson County has found itself in a four-quarter dogfight, and, two weeks in a row, the Tigers have answered the bell to notch a victory. Most encouragingly for Dawson County fans is that the Tigers have done it in two different ways. In week 0 vs. East Hall, Dawson County got it done through the air with some clutch touchdown passes from new starting quarterback Zack Buchan. And in week 1 vs, Lumpkin County, the Tigers did it on the ground, as Cody Lamar (213 yards and a TD) and Jackson Putnam (109 yards, TD) rolled up the rushing yards. After replacing a large amount of its offense from a season ago, Dawson looks to have re-loaded with players who learned much about last season's winning ways. Claiming victories late is called "clutch" and there is no substitute for it.


5. Johnson and East Hall won't let early losses get to them

It would have been easy for Johnson and East Hall to get down after tough losses in week 0. The Knights were blanked by West Hall, while the Vikings were tripped up late against Dawson County. Both losses could have been psychologically damaging. But neither team allowed that to happen and showed as much in week 1, as both bounced back in impressive fashion. East Hall defeated Chattooga by 36 points, while Johnson dropped Oglethorpe County by a 26-point margin. Both programs have worked hard under coaches Bryan Gray (East Hall) and Jason Roquemore (Johnson) to change the mindset of their players, and Friday's results show that both have taken big steps in doing just that.


FRIDAY'S AREA FOOTBALL FINALS, AUG. 30

Buford 46, Elbert County 7

Dawson County 27, Lumpkin County 13

East Hall 48, Chattooga 12

East Jackson 14, Banks County 10

Fellowship Christian 41, Lakeview Academy 14

Gainesville 58, West Forsyth 28

Gilmer 22, Fannin County 0

Jefferson 40, Commerce 0

Johnson 34, Oglethorpe County 8

Lanier 42, Apalachee 14

Mill Creek 41, Dacula 28

North Forsyth 31, Forsyth Central 0

North Gwinnett 35, Grayson 0

North Hall 33, Chestatee 15

Northside, Warner Robins 28, Flowery Branch 6

Stephens County 21, Franklin County 13

Union County 41, Towns County 14

White County 35, Habersham Central 14

Winder-Barrow 26, Jackson County 21


AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, SEPT. 6
Apalachee at Greater Atlanta Christian
Athens Christian at Banks County
Brookwood at Mill Creek
Buford at Gainesville
Dawson County at North Forsyth
East Jackson at Commerce
Fellowship Christian at Towns County
Hayesville, N.C. at Rabun County
Hebron Christian at Lakeview Academy
Jefferson at Jackson County
Monroe Area at Winder-Barrow
North Hall at Johnson
Oconee County at Lanier
Riverside Military at Whitefield Academy
Stephens County at Habersham Central
Union County at Fannin County
West Forsyth at Flowery Branch
West Hall at Chestatee
White County at Lumpkin County