An old cliche abounds that says that football teams will make their biggest improvements between week one and two -- and most coaches agree with that assessment.
With that in mind, plenty of area squads will look to make big strides this week, while a couple will take their initial bow on 2013.
Two of the area's teams will do so in a marquee showdown, as defending state champs Buford and Gainesville square off at City Park. (NOTE: To read our preview story about the game, click here. To watch a video preview of the game, click "play" in the box to the right.)
But that is far from the only big game in the area tonight, and several squads will undertake rivalry showdowns, including White County at Lumpkin County, Stephens County at Habersham Central, East Jackson at Commerce and Jefferson at Jackson County.
Meanwhile, teams such as Flowery Branch, Chestatee, Banks County and Lakeview Academy will look to rebound from week 1 defeats.
North Hall also travels to take on Johnson on the heels of an opening night victory, while Dawson County will look to go 3-0 for the first time since 2001 against a North Forsyth program looking to start 2-0 under new coach Jason Galt.
Rabun County and Riverside Military will also kick off their respective seasons tonight, the Wildcats hosting Hayesville, N.C., and Riverside traveling to Whitefield Academy.
For a look at all of the night's contests involving area teams, simply scroll down. And be sure to check back with Access North Georgia and our Friday Game Night page throughout the night for score updates and game stories and video highlights. You can also check for scores and highlights on our Twitter feed @FridayGameNight.
FRIDAY'S AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Games listed in alphabetical order by visiting team
APALACHEE at GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Spartan Sports Complex, Norcross
-- APALACHEE (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost to Lanier 42-14 last week.
-- GACS (2-0, 0-0 Region 6-AA): Defeated Savannah 41-6 last week. The Spartans are ranked No. 2 in Class AA.
-- HISTORY: GACS won the last meeting 31-21 in 2012. The Spartans lead the series 5-0.
ATHENS CHRISTIAN at BANKS COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Leopard Stadium, Homer
-- ATHENS CHRISTIAN (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-A): Lost to Landmark Christian 26-7 last week.
-- BANKS COUNTY (0-1, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Lost to East Jackson 14-10 last week.
-- HISTORY: Athens Christian won the last meeting 22-7 in 2012. Banks County leads the series 2-1.
BROOKWOOD at MILL CREEK
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Mill Creek Community Stadium, Hoschton
-- BROOKWOOD (1-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAAA): Bye last week after defeating McEachern 31-10 on Aug. 24.
-- MILL CREEK (1-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAAAAA): Defeated Dacula 41-28 last week. The Hawks are ranked No. 9 in Class AAAAAA.
-- HISTORY: Brookwood won the last meeting 31-21 in 2012. The series is tied 1-1.
BUFORD at GAINESVILLE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Bobby Gruhn Field, Gainesville
-- RADIO: 1240 AM
-- BUFORD (1-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Elbert County 46-7 last week. The Wolves are ranked No. 1 in Class AAA.
-- GAINESVILLE (1-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated West Forsyth 58-28 last week. The Red Elephants are ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAA.
-- HISTORY: Gainesville won the last meeting 19-15 in 2012. Buford leads the series 4-1.
-- NOTE: To read our preview story about the game, click here. To watch a video preview, click "play" in the box to the right.
DAWSON COUNTY at NORTH FORSYTH
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Raider Valley, Coal Mountain
-- DAWSON (2-0, 1-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Lumpkin County 27-13 last week.
-- NORTH FORSYTH (1-0, 0-0 Region 6-AAAAAA): Defeated Forsyth Central 31-0 last week.
-- HISTORY: North Forsyth won the last meeting 35-28 in 2012. The Raiders lead the series 6-1.
EAST JACKSON at COMMERCE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Ray Lamb Stadium, Commerce
-- EAST JACKSON (1-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAA): Defeated Banks County 14-10 last week.
-- COMMERCE (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-A): Lost to Jefferson 40-0 last week.
-- HISTORY: Commerce won the last game 28-14 in 2012. The Tigers lead the series 1-0.
FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN at TOWNS COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Frank McClure Stadium, Hiawassee
-- FELLOWSHIP (1-0, 0-0 Region 6-A): Defeated Lakeview Academy 41-14 last week.
-- TOWNS (0-2, playing a non-region schedule): Lost to Union County 41-14 last week.
-- HISTORY: Fellowship won the last meeting 17-12 in 2012. The Paladins lead the series 1-0.
HAYESVILLE, N.C. at RABUN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Frank Snyder Stadium, Tiger
-- HAYESVILLE (2-0): Defeated Copper Basin, Tenn., 47-7 last week.
-- RABUN (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-AA): The Wildcats finished 6-5 in 2012.
-- HISTORY: Rabun won the last meeting 20-6 in 2012. The Wildcats lead the series 6-4.
HEBRON CHRISTIAN at LAKEVIEW ACADEMY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Jock Horner Field, Gainesville
-- HEBRON (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-A): The Lions finished 1-9 in 2012.
-- LAKEVIEW (0-1, playing non-region schedule): Lost to Fellowship Christian 41-14 last week.
-- HISTORY: Lakeview won the last meeting 42-0 in 2012. The Lions lead the series 3-2.
JEFFERSON at JACKSON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Panther Stadium, Jefferson
-- JEFFERSON (1-0, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Defeated Commerce 40-0 last week. The Dragons are ranked No. 5 in Class AA.
-- JACKSON (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAA): Lost to Winder-Barrow 26-21 last week.
-- HISTORY: Jefferson won the last meeting 28-6 in 2012. The Dragons lead the series 5-0.
MONROE AREA at WINDER-BARROW
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: W. Clair Harris Stadium, Winder
-- MONROE (1-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Defeated Loganville 48-21 last week. The Purple Hurricanes are ranked No. 7 in Class AAAA.
-- WINDER (1-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Jackson County 26-21 last week.
-- HISTORY: Monroe won the last meeting 58-14 in 2012. The Purple Hurricanes lead the series 29-28.
NORTH HALL at JOHNSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Billy Ellis Memorial Stadium, Oakwood
-- NORTH HALL (1-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Chestatee 33-15 last week. The Trojans are ranked No. 7 in Class AAA.
-- JOHNSON (1-1, playing a non-region schedule): Defeated Oglethorpe County 34-8 last week.
-- HISTORY: North Hall won the last meeting 5507 in 2012. The Trojans lead the series 19-10, including 12 straight.
RIVERSIDE MILITARY ACADEMY at WHITEFIELD ACADEMY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Wolfpack Stadium, Mableton
-- RIVERSIDE (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-AA): The Eagles finished 2-8 in 2012.
-- WHITEFIELD (0-1, 0-0 Region 6-A): Lost to Pace Academy 38-23 last week.
-- HISTORY: Whitefield won the last meeting 41-0 in 2012. The Wolfpack lead the series 1-0.
STEPHENS COUNTY at HABERSHAM CENTRAL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Raider Stadium, Mt. Airy
-- STEPHENS (1-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Defeated Franklin County 21-13 last week.
-- HABERSHAM (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAAAAA): Lost to White County 35-14 last week.
-- HISTORY: Stephens County won the last meeting 44-8 in 2012. The Indians lead the series 26-11-1, including 10 straight.
UNION COUNTY at FANNIN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Rebel Stadium, Blue Ridge
-- UNION (1-0, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Defeated Towns County 41-14 last week.
-- FANNIN (0-1, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Lost to Gilmer 22-0 last week.
-- HISTORY: Union County won the last meeting 23-7 in 2012. Fannin County leads the series 12-9.
WEST FORSYTH at FLOWERY BRANCH
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Falcon Field, Flowery Branch
-- RADIO: 550 AM
-- WEST FORSYTH (0-1, 0-0 Region 6-AAAAAA): Lost 58-28 to Gainesville last week.
-- FLOWERY BRANCH (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost 28-6 to Northside-Warner Robins last week. The Falcons are ranked No. 10 in Class AAAAA.
-- HISTORY: West Forsyth won the last meeting 21-14 in 2012. Flowery Branch leads the series 2-1.
WEST HALL at CHESTATEE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: War Eagle Stadium, Gainesville
-- RADIO: 102.9 FM
-- WEST HALL (1-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Bye last week after defeating Johnson 35-0 on Aug. 23.
-- CHESTATEE (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Lost to North Hall 33-15 last week.
-- HISTORY: Chestatee won the last meeting 42-21 in 2012. The War Eagles lead the series 5-4.
WHITE COUNTY at LUMPKIN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Burial Grounds, Dahlonega
-- RADIO: 1350 AM, wrwh.com
-- WHITE (1-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Habersham Central 35-14 last week.
-- LUMPKIN (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Lost to Dawson County 27-13 last week.
-- HISTORY: White County won the last meeting 34-7 in 2012. The Warriors lead the series 33-11-1.
Tuesday
April 23rd, 2024
7:41PM
