WEEK 0: Quality over quantity highlights opening weekend

By Jeff Hart Sports Reporter

Posted 7:28PM on Friday, August 22, 2014

JEFFERSON -- What the official, unofficial opening weekend of high school football lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality. There are only seven games involving local and area teams Friday and Saturday nights in what is Week 0, but two contests may be as good as fans will be able to see all season. Class AAAA No. 1-ranked and defending Class AAA champion Buford will play host to defending Class AAA Florida state champ Trinity Christian Academy Saturday night in a game put together and broadcast live by ESPN (ESPN 2). The two teams combined have 10 committed FBS players and several others waiting to decide. Kickoff is slated for 9 p.m. At the same time, North Gwinnett, fresh off a 2013 Class AAAAAA state runner-up season, will travel to McEachern to take on the preseason No. 1-ranked Indians in the Corky Kell Classic. It also is a rematch of last year's semifinal game won by the Bulldogs, That game will be televised by Fox Sports South with kickoff scheduled for 8:45 p.m. Also, Jefferson will play host to Rabun County in a rematch of one of last seasons best games. The Dragons beat Rabun County in a overtime thriller in a key Region 8-AA game. Jefferson has since moved up to Class AAA and the Wildcats feature one of the area's best players in Charlie Woerner so expect another slugfest at Memorial Stadium. 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 <a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/s15-football-central.php">Friday Game Night</a> 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 <a href="https://twitter.com/">@FridayGameNight</a> HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR Aug. 22-23 HEBRON CHRISTIAN at EAST JACKSON -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday -- WHERE: East Jackson Stadium, Commerce -- HEBRON CHRISTIAN (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-A): The Lions lost their final eight games in 2013. -- EAST JACKSON (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAA): The Eagles were just 2-8 in 2013 but finished last year on a strong note with a win over Oconee County. -- HISTORY: First-ever meeting between the two schools. JOHNSON at MADISON COUNTY -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday -- WHERE: Red Raider Stadium, Danielsville -- JOHNSON (0-0, non-region schedule): The young Knights improved as the year went on in 2013 losing their final four games by just a touchdown or less. They return 13 of 22 starters. -- MADISON COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): The Red Raiders were 3-3 and in the midst of the playoff race in 2013 before losing three of their final four games. -- HISTORY: Madison County leads the series 3-1, but the two teams have not met since 1993, a 48-39 Red Raiders win. Johnson's lone win in the series came in 1988. LUMPKIN COUNTY at MODEL -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday -- WHERE: Blue Devil Stadium, Rome -- LUMPKIN COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): The Indians are on their third coach in three years and dropped down to AAA but finished 2013 on a high note with a win over Stephens County. They are switching to a veer option attack in 2014 and a deep offensive line should make them very competitive in a new region. -- MODEL (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-AA): The Blue Devils advanced to the first round of the AA playoffs in 2013 but lost their final three games of the season. -- HISTORY: First-ever meeting between the two schools. RABUN COUNTY at JEFFERSON -- WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday -- WHERE: Memorial Stadium, Jefferson -- RABUN COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-AA): The Wildcats are coming off back-to-back state playoff seasons for the first time in school history. -- JEFFERSON (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAA): The Dragons advanced to the Class AA quarterfinals in 2013 but moved up to AAA this season. -- HISTORY: The Dragons lead the series 18-3 and have won 15 straight. The last Rabun County win came in 1955. However, it has been one of the better matchups the past two seasons with Jefferson winning 26-20 in overtime last year in a key Region 8-AA showdown. Expect another competitive game as both teams look for a quick start to the season. TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Fla.) at BUFORD -- WHEN: 9 p.m. Saturday -- WHERE: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford -- RADIO/TV: ESPN 2 -- TRINITY CHRISTIAN (0-0): The Conquerers, out of Jacksonville, won the 2013 Florida Class AAA championship. -- BUFORD (0-0, Region 8-AAAA): The Wolves went 15-0 in 2013, winning the Class AAA championship. Buford is ranked No. 1 in Class AAAA in the preseason. -- HISTORY: First-ever meeting between the two schools. Buford has put together a very tough non-region schedule with Class AAAAAA teams Berkmar and McEachern, ranked No. 7 in the nation in some polls, looming over the next two weeks. MILL CREEK vs. COLQUITT COUNTY -- WHEN: 11:45 a.m. Saturday -- WHERE: Cantrell Stadium, McEachern High School, Powder Springs (Corky Kell Classic) -- RADIO/TV: Fox Sports South -- MILL CREEK (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAAAAA): The Hawks led Class AAAAAA in scoring in 2013 and return seven starters to that unit, led by QB Daniel David, and a more experienced defense should make them one of the up-and-coming teams this season. -- COLQUITT COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 1-AAAAAA): The Packers are coming off a trip to the state semifinals in 2013 before losing to eventual state champion Norcross. They beat Grayson 21-6 in last year's Corky Kell Classic. -- HISTORY: Colquitt leads series 1-0, beating the Hawks 27-14 in the 2010 quarterfinals. NORTH GWINNETT at McEACHERN -- WHEN: 8:45 p.m. Saturday -- WHERE: Cantrell Stadium, Powder Springs (Corky Kell Classic) -- RADIO/TV: Fox Sports South -- NORTH GWINNETT (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAAAAA): The Bulldogs advanced to the AAAAAA state title game last season before falling to Norcross in the championship game. The Bulldogs are rebuilding having lost their entire offensive line and their top four skilled players on offense. -- McEACHERN (0-0, 0-0 Region 4-AAAAAA): The Indians advanced to the AAAAAA semifinals before losing to North Gwinnett. The Indians in some publications have been rated as high as No. 7 in the nation. -- HISTORY: Series tied 1-1. McEachern beat North Gwinnett 26-17 in the 2011 Corky Kell Classic.

Jeff Hart Sports Reporter