Thursday March 28th, 2024 6:27AM

Week 5: Teams look to make a move in region standings

By Jeff Hart Sports Reporter
Click here for a more in-depth, video look at tonight's White County at East Hall match-up.
This could be considered moving week for many teams in the area with several key matchups in virtually every region.

In Region 7-AAA, Dawson County travels to North Hall while White County and East Hall meet in Rabbittown in contests that could go a long way in deciding who makes it to the postseason. The Vikings need a win after falling to Dawson County in the season opener but may have the hottest offense in the area right now with back-to-back 50-point-plus games.

In Region 8-AAAA, Chestatee plays host to Stephens County in a game that will keep one team undefeated and tied atop the region standings.

Region 8-AAAAA has several key contests with Gainesville traveling to Heritage in an battle of unbeaten region teams. Flowery Branch will play host to Salem in hopes of keeping pace atop the region standings.

North Forsyth will try keep its best start in eight years going playing host to cross-county rival Lambert in 6-AAAAAA.

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

AREA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, SEPT. 27
APALACHEE at CLARKE CENTRAL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Billy Henderson Stadium, Athens
-- APALACHEE (0-3, 0-1 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost to Gainesville 49-6 last week.
-- CLARKE CENTRAL (2-1, 1-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Bye last week after defeating Loganville 27-17 on Sept. 13.
-- HISTORY: Clarke Central leads the series 4-1 and has won three straight in the series, including a 35-12 win last year. . .Defense has been the issue for the Wildcats. They have allowed 49 ppg but have played one of the toughest opening schedules against Lanier, GAC, and Gainesville, who are a combined 11-1 this season. . .The Gladiators are starting to get things together. After giving up 29 points to Marist in a season-opening loss, they have allowed just 29 points over the past two games. . .Clarke Central is 2-0 against Apalachee in Athens.

BANKS COUNTY at BUFORD
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford
-- BANKS (0-4, 0-1 Region 7-AAA): Lost to West Hall 48-13 last week.
-- BUFORD (3-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Bye last week after defeating Hancock Central 63-0 on Sept. 13. The Wolves are ranked No. 1 in Class AAA.
-- HISTORY: Buford leads the series 23-2 with one of Banks County's wins coming last as a result of a forfeit after Buford won the game 63-0 in Homer. The Leopards have not beaten the Wolves on the field since a 15-14 win in 1991. . .Banks County has not scored a point against the Wolves in six straight games and Buford has pitched eight shutouts against the Leopards over the last nine games in the series. . .Buford is averaging 49 ppg in 2013 and allowed just 21 total points. . .Banks County is averaging 11.9 ppg and had yielded 32 ppg. . .

DAWSON COUNTY at NORTH HALL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Brickyard, Gainesville
-- DAWSON (3-1, 1-0 Region 7-AAA): Bye last week after defeating Forsyth Central 23-20 on Sept. 13.
-- NORTH HALL (3-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Bye last week after defeating Jefferson 41-34 on Sept. 13. The Trojans are ranked No. 4 in Class AAA.
-- HISTORY: North Hall won 47-14 last year in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. . .The Trojans have won seven straight at The Brickyard and have allowed just 40 total points in that span. . .The Tigers have shown a penchant for winning on the road. They are 1-1 this season and have won six of their last nine away from Dawsonville. . .Dawson County is averaging 26.3 ppg in its three wins but was shutout by North Forsyth on the road. . .The Trojans are averaging 45.6 ppg in 2013.

ELBERT COUNTY at EAST JACKSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Eagle Stadium, Commerce
-- ELBERT (1-2, 0-0 Region 8-AAA): Bye last week after losing to Evans 34-31 on Sept. 13.
-- EAST JACKSON (1-3, 0-1 Region 8-AAA): Lost to Jackson County 38-6 last week.
-- HISTORY: Elbert County won 42-2 last year and leads the series 3-0. . .The Eagles have scored 14 points or less in all but one game this season. The defense has allowed 33.5 ppg this year . . .The Blue Devils offense has found itself the last two games averaging 29 ppg. . .Elbert County is 6-1 in its last seven road games going back to the start of the 2012 season.

GAINESVILLE at HERITAGE, CONYERS
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Evans Memorial Stadium, Conyers
-- RADIO: 1240 AM
-- GAINESVILLE (3-1, 2-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Apalachee 49-6 last week. The Red Elephants are ranked No. 5 in Class AAAAA.
-- HERITAGE (3-1, 2-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Cedar Shoals 17-14 in overtime last week.
-- HISTORY: Gainesville won 42-14 last year in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. . .An early-season battle for first place in Region 8-AAAAA. The two teams are tied with Flowery Branch atop the standings. . .The Patriots will find out how good their defense is against a potent Gainesville offense. Heritage has not allowed more than 14 points in any game this season. Meanwhile, the Elephants are averaging 47.5 ppg and nearly 60 ppg in their two region contests behind Deshaun Watson.

GEORGE WALTON at COMMERCE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Ray Lamb Stadium, Commerce
-- GEORGE WALTON (3-1, 0-0 Region 8-A): Defeated Warren County 39-14 last week. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 8 in Class A.
-- COMMERCE (2-2, 0-0 Region 8-A): Lost to Rabun County 28-0 last week.
-- HISTORY: George Walton won 26-14 last year and leads the series 3-0, all coming in the last three years. . .The Tigers have had an up-and-down season so far. In two victories they have outscored their opponents 47-23. In their two losses, they have failed to score a single point. . .George Walton is averaging 31.2 ppg and the defense has not allowed more than 19 points in any game this season. . .The Bulldogs are just 2-4 in their last six road games, including 0-1 this season. . .The Tigers are 5-2 in their last seven home games.

GREENE COUNTY at JEFFERSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Memorial Stadium, Jefferson
-- GREENE (1-2, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Defeated Hapeville Charter 35-13 last week.
-- JEFFERSON (2-1, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Bye last week after losing to North Hall 41-34 last week. The Dragons are ranked No. 7 in Class AA.
-- HISTORY: Commerce won 62-26 last year and leads the series 3-1-1. . .Jefferson suffered its first home loss in more than two years last week but the offense continued to roll. The Dragons are averaging 41.6 ppg and will be a tough matchup for the Tigers, who are allowing 24 ppg on the season. . .Greene County is playing the fourth of five straight road games to open the season. . .The Tigers are just 1-4 in their last five road games.

HABERSHAM CENTRAL at PEACHTREE RIDGE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Lion's Den, Suwanee
-- HABERSHAM (0-4, 0-2 Region 7-AAAAAA): Lost to Mountain View 27-0 last week.
-- PEACHTREE RIDGE (4-0, 2-0 Region 7-AAAAAA): Defeated Mill Creek 31-30 last week. The Lions are ranked No. 4 in Class AAAAAA.
-- HISTORY: Peachtree Ridge won 30-7 last year in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. . .The Raiders have struggled on both sides of the ball averaging just 7.9 ppg and allowing 41.5 pgg on defense. . .Peachtree Ridge is playing its fourth straight home game. . .The Raiders have lost seven straight road games. Their last win away from Mt. Airy came in 2011 when they beat Loganville 47-45.

JACKSON COUNTY at NORTH OCONEE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Titans Stadium, Bogart
-- JACKSON COUNTY (1-3, 1-0 Region 8-AAA): Defeated East Jackson 38-6 last week.
-- NORTH OCONEE (2-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAA): Defeated Athens Christian 56-0 last week. The Titans are ranked No. 8 in Class AAA.
-- HISTORY: North Oconee won 35-6 last year and leads the series 3-0. . .The Titans have scored 98 points and allowed just seven total points the last two weeks after a loss to No. 6 St. Pius to open the season. . .North Oconee has lost two straight home games. . .Jackson County has finally gotten its offense scoring 77 points the past two weeks after scoring just 21 the first two weeks.

LAKEVIEW ACADEMY at ATHENS ACADEMY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Slaughter Field, Athens
-- LAKEVIEW (0-3, playing a non-region schedule): Lost to Pinecrest Academy 43-3 last week.
-- ATHENS ACADEMY (2-1, 0-0 Region 8-A): Defeated Our Lady of Mercy 20-13 last week.
-- HISTORY: Athens Academy won 21-6 last year and leads the series 3-0. . .A young Lions teams is struggling allowing 35.6 ppg and has scored just 24 points in 2013. . .The Spartans are 11-1 in their last 12 games at Slaughter Field.

LAMBERT at NORTH FORSYTH
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Raider Valley, Coal Mountain
-- LAMBERT (1-3, 0-1 Region 6-AAAAAA): Lost to South Forsyth 21-14 last week.
-- NORTH FORSYTH (4-0, 1-0 Region 6-AAAAAA): Defeated Chattahoochee 24-6 last week.
-- HISTORY: Lambert won 21-7 last year in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. . .The Raiders are 4-0 for the first time since 2005. They have been balanced on both sides of the ball scoring 30 ppg while allowing just 8.1 ppg, including holding three opponents to six points or less. . .Defensively the Longhorns have played well allowing just 18.2 ppg against good competition. The offense, however, is scoring just 15 ppg.

MILL CREEK at NORCROSS
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Norcross Stadium, Norcross
-- MILL CREEK (3-1, 1-1 Region 7-AAAAAA): Lost to Peachtree Ridge 31-30 last week. The Hawks are ranked No. 7 in Class AAAAAA.
-- NORCROSS (2-2, 1-1 Region 7-AAAAAA): Defeated Duluth 38-3 last week.
-- HISTORY: Norcross won 49-41 last year and leads the series 7-0. . .The Hawks have been close to knocking off the perennial state power Blue Devils with single-digit losses each of the last two years. It's a huge game for both teams with the loser falling into the second-tier of the region standings. . .The Blue Devils rebounded last week after falling to No. 1 North Gwinnett two weeks ago. . .A win for Mill Creek will give the Hawks their best five-game start in school history. . .The last time the Blue Devils were 2-3 was in 2009 when they failed to reach the playoffs.

OGLETHORPE COUNTY at RIVERSIDE MILITARY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Maginnis Field, Gainesville
-- OGLETHORPE (0-3, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Bye last week after losing to Fellowship Christian 38-9 on Sept. 13.
-- RIVERSIDE (1-2, 0-1 Region 8-AA): Lost to Washington-Wilkes 50-14 last week.
-- HISTORY: Oglethorpe County won 31-12 last year and leads the series 6-1. . .A win for the Eagles would give them their first 2-2 start since 2009. . .The Patriots have struggled allowing 31 ppg while scoring just 24 total points on the season. . .Coach Gary Downs and his staff are getting things headed in the right direction for the Eagles. Since dropping their first six games last year, the Eagles have gone 3-4 since.

SALEM at FLOWERY BRANCH
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Falcon Field, Flowery Branch
-- SALEM (2-2, 1-1 Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Winder-Barrow 60-37 last week.
-- FLOWERY BRANCH (2-2, 2-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Loganville 48-14 last week.
-- HISTORY: Flowery Branch won 35-18 last year and leads the series 3-0 . . .The Falcons are on a similar to last year when they dropped their first two games and then reeled off eight straight wins to end the season. They have won two straight this year after losing the first two games this season. . .Salem is just one play from being 3-1 and undefeated in region play. The Seminoles' only region loss was in overtime. . .Salem is yielding just 18.5 ppg but the offense is the key. In their two wins they are averaging 43 ppg. In their two losses they are averaging just 7.o ppg. . .Flowery Branch has found its offense the last two weeks. The Falcons have scored 87 points the past two games.

SOCIAL CIRCLE at RABUN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Frank Snyder Stadium, Tiger
-- SOCIAL CIRCLE (0-3, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Lost to Harlem 38-6 last week.
-- RABUN (3-0, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Defeated Commerce 28-0 last week.
-- HISTORY: Rabun County won 49-23 last year in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. . .The Wildcats are off to their best start since beginning the 1998 season 9-0. They have been outstanding on both sides of the ball as the offense is averaging 46 ppg and has scored over 50 twice in three games. The defense has allowed just 20 total points. . .The Redskins have been the exact opposite and are in the midst of a 19-game losing streak. They are allowing 42 ppg and scoring just 18 total points. They have lost 18 straight road games going back to the 2009 season

STEPHENS COUNTY at CHESTATEE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: War Eagle Stadium, Gainesville
-- RADIO: 102.9 FM
-- STEPHENS (3-1, 1-0 Region 8-AAAA): Defeated Walnut Grove 41-20 last week.
-- CHESTATEE (2-1, 1-0 Region 8-AAAA): Defeated Eastside 33-23 last week.
-- HISTORY: Chestatee won 24-20 last year. Stephens County leads the series 3-1. . .The War Eagles played their most complete game of the season last week scoring more points against Eastside than they had in their two previous games combined. . . Offense is the key for Stephens County. In the Indians three wins they have scored 111 points. In their one loss they scored just seven. . .The Chestatee defense, which is allowing 23.3 ppg, will once again be tested by a quick Stephens County team. . . It's a critical game for both teams. The winner will be tied with either Lanier or Monroe Area atop the region standings as the top four undefeated teams are playing each other tonight.

UNION COUNTY at WASHINGTON-WILKES
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tiger Field, Washington
-- UNION (2-1, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Bye last week after defeating Andrews, N.C., 34-6 last week.
-- WASHINGTON-WILKES (4-0, 1-0 Region 8-AA): Defeated Riverside Military 50-14 last week. The Tigers are ranked No. 5 in Class AA.
-- HISTORY: Washington-Wilkes won 36-0 last year in the first meeting between the schools since 1966. The Tigers lead the series 2-0. . .The Tigers have been chewing up their opponents scoring more than 44 points a game so far. Union County has allowed 21 ppg but has not seen an offense as big and quick as Washington-Wilkes. . .It is the third straight road game for the Panthers, who will play four of their final six games at home.

WALNUT GROVE at LUMPKIN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Burial Grounds, Dahlonega
-- WALNUT GROVE (1-3, 0-1 Region 8-AAAA): Lost to Stephens County 41-20 last week.
-- LUMPKIN (0-4, 0-1 Region 8-AAAA): Lost to Monroe Area 49-3 last week.
-- HISTORY: Lumpkin County won 13-12 last year in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. . .It has been a tough start for the Indians, who have played one of the toughest opening schedules in the area. They have allowed 39 ppg and scored just 37 total points so far. . .The Warriors haven't fared much better defensively allowing 36.2 ppg. But they have averaged 17.5 ppg.

WEST HALL at FANNIN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Rebel Stadium, Blue Ridge
-- WEST HALL (3-1, 1-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Banks County 48-13 last week.
-- FANNIN (1-3, 0-1 Region 7-AAA): Lost to Murphy, N.C., 65-35 last week.
-- HISTORY: Fannin County won 31-8 last year and leads the series 3-2. . .The Spartans are one of the surprise teams in the area so far having already matched their win total from all of last year. They have done it with a brusing ground attack that has produced more than 36 points a game so far. The defense last week yielded just three first downs, two coming on long touchdown plays. . .The Rebels defense has been porous allowing 42.5 ppg this season. . .A victory for West Hall would give the Spartans their best start since opening the 2002 season with seven straight wins.

WHITE COUNTY at EAST HALL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Valhalla, Rabbittown
-- RADIO: 550 AM
-- WHITE (3-1, 1-0 Region 7-AAA): Lost to Blessed Trinity 30-0 last week.
-- EAST HALL (3-1, 0-1 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Johnson 54-14 last week.
-- HISTORY: White County won 41-12 last year and has won four straight over the Vikings. East Hall leads the series 23-18. . .A win for the Vikings would give them their best start since 2005 and their first four-game win streak since 2005. . .The East Hall offense has been as explosive as any in the area averaging 57 ppg during its three-game win streak. The back-to-back 50-point-plus games is a first in school history. . .It's a crucial game for White County with region games against Buford and North Hall following on the schedule. . .The Warriors had been rolling on offense averaging 38.6 ppg until last week.
© Copyright 2024 AccessWDUN.com
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.