Another summer gone and with that brings the start of the high school football season -- finally.
Things will kick off around the area and state with just a handful of games, but what matchups they are, especially for some northeast Georgia programs.
Defending Class AAAA state champion Buford plays host to Eastern Christian (Md.) in battle of college prospect factories. The two teams combined have nearly three dozen players currently on college rosters.
Rabun County will play host to Jefferson in what has become one of the best “rivalries” in the area over the past four seasons. The two teams battled for the Region 8-AA title twice before the Dragons moved up to Class AAA. That has not stopped the intensity, however. The Wildcats feature Georgia-commit Charlie Woerner and this could be their best chance to end a 16-game losing streak to Jefferson dating back to 1955.
The other monster matchup of the weekend will be North Gwinnett taking on defending Class AAAAAA state champion and preseason No. 1 Colquitt County Saturday afternoon in the Corky Kell Classic at the Georgia Dome. The Bulldogs won the last matchup between the two powerhouses in 2012 but in 2015 the Bulldogs have just eight (8) players returning with starting experience.
Johnson and Lumpkin County will also open the season at home with both looking for solid starts against quality opposition.
Defending Region 8-AAAAA champion Lanier, which features arguably the state’s No. 1 prospect in defensive end Derrick Brown, will look to run their regular season win streak to 14 straight. the Longhorns have won 14 of their last 16 games overall since the middle of the 2013 season.
NOTE: For a look at all of the night's contests involving area teams, simply scroll down. And be sure to check back with AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night 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
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR Week Zero
FRIDAY’S GAMES
EAST JACKSON at HEBRON CHRISTIAN
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Dacula
-- HEBRON CHRISTIAN (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-A): Season-opener; 5-5 in 2014
-- EAST JACKSON (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAA): Season-opener, 1-9 in 2014
-- NOTABLE: Hebron leads series 1-0. The Lions won 35-15 in 2014. ... Hebron has won two straight season openers and two straight home openers as well. ... East Jackson is 2-2 in its last four season openers. ... The Eagles should be much improved on both sides of the ball in 2015. They averaged just 7.1 ppg last year. They allowed 40.6 ppg on defense. ... The Lions lost three games by five points or less in 2014 and return an experienced group. ... Hebron was 3-2 at home last year while the Eagles were 0-5 on the road in 2014.
EAST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Md.) at BUFORD
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford
-- EAST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Md.) (0-0): Season-opener, 3-9 in 2014.
-- BUFORD (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Season-opener, 15-0, Region 8-AAAA champs, Class AAAA state champions in 2014.
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting. ... The Wolves are working on a 40-game win streak. Their last loss, not counting two forfeits, was to Gainesville at home in 2012. ... The Honey Badgers were 0-5 in 2014 in out-of-state road games. ... Buford has won 16 straight season openers. The last loss to open the season was in 1998, a 30-6 loss to Lincoln County in Lincolnton. ... Both teams have been recent factories for college-level talent. The Honey Badgers have 18 former players at the collegiate ranks while Buford had 15 signed last season alone. ... It should be a contrast of styles. Eastern Christian employs a spread attack with a QB that is considered a possible Division I talent. The Honey Badgers also have a huge OL that averages 328 pounds. ... The Wolves, of course, will use their patented pro style attack to try and pound the ball. Defensively Buford has not allowed more than 20 points in a game over its last 34 games (27 by Cedar Grove in the 1st round of the 2012 playoffs).
JEFFERSON at RABUN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Frank Snyder Stadium, Tiger
-- JEFFERSON (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAA): Season-opener, 12-1 in 2014, reached Class AAA quarterfinals
-- RABUN COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Season-opener, 9-3 in 2014, reached Class AA 2nd round
-- NOTABLE: Jefferson leads series 19-3. The Dragons have won 16 straight over the Wildcats going back to 1972. Jefferson won 50-14 in 2014. The last Rabun County win in the series was in 1955. ... If ever there was a time the Wildcats could break that streak, this may be the year. They return 14 starters and 20 seniors and get to play at home. Rabun also will have the best player on the field in Georgia-commit Charlie Woerner. ... The Wildcats are 13-2 at home over their last 15 games at Frank Snyder Stadium. ... The Dragons are replacing starters at QB and WR but offer a talented stable of RBs to go with a nearly-intact offensive line. ... Jefferson is 15-3 on the road since 2012. ... The Dragons also are 6-1 in their last seven season openers. The Wildcats are 3-1 in their last four season openers. The only loss in that span to Jefferson last season.
LAMBERT at LANIER
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Longhorns Stadium, Sugar Hill
-- LAMBERT (0-0, 0-0 Region 6-AAAAAA): Season-opener, 7-4 in 2014, reached Class AAAAAA 1st round
-- LANIER (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Season-opener, 10-1 and Region 8-AAAAA champs in 2014, reached Class AAAAA 1st round
-- NOTABLE: Lanier only meeting between two schools, 27-14 in 2014. ... Both teams are looking to build off solid seasons a year ago. Lanier needs a quick start with three of its first five region games on the road, including at Flowery Branch and Gainesville. ... Lanier will have the best player on the field in DE Derrick Brown, who was a one-man wrecking crew last season.The key for Lanier will be controlling the ball on offense in its spread attack behind QB Tahj Tolbert and RB back Ashton Barnes. ... Lambert’s key skill players are young with Jr. QB Richie Kenny and So. RB Ken Dicks leading the way. Kenny threw a INT that was returned 100-yards in a scrimmage last week vs. Grayson. ... An experienced and talented Lanier defense should be able to set the tone early.
MADISON COUNTY at JOHNSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Billy Ellis Memorial Stadium, Oakwood
-- MADISON COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Season-opener, 5-5 in 2014
-- JOHNSON (0-0, non-region): Season-opener, 2-8 in 2014
-- NOTABLE: Madison County leads series 4-1. The Raiders won 31-3 last year in first meeting since 1993. ... Madison County was close last year with all four region losses to the playoff teams that made the playoffs but went 0-3 over its final games to get knocked out of the race. ... The Knights expect to be much better and more competitive in 2015 after two injury-riddled seasons. Depth has always been an issue but with 70 players on the roster -- the most in a decade or more -- they will have the ability to develop players. The lost two games by four points or less last season. ... Johnson should have a strong rushing attack with four returning OL and a deep backfield. ... The Raiders allowed 20 or more points in eight of their 10 games last season and were susceptible to strong rushing attacks.
MODEL at LUMPKIN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Burial Grounds, Dahlonega
-- MODEL (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-A): Season-opener, 9-3 in 2014, reached Class AA 2nd round
-- LUMPKIN COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Season-opener, 5-6 in 2014, reached Class AAA 1st round
-- NOTABLE: Model won only meeting 15-8 in 2014. ... The Indians get a test right out of the gate with the Blue Devils. It as one of three losses in 2014 by a touchdown or less. ... Lumpkin had one of the best ground attacks in northeast Georgia behind QB Zach Matthews, who returns. It was a tough defensive game last season and the Indians will put a new 3-5 scheme on display by former North Gwinnett DC Matt Mayes. ... It should be a challenging opening month for the Indians with tough road games Union County and Johnson to follow.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
MILL CREEK vs. BROOKWOOD
-- WHEN: 11:45 a.m.
-- WHERE: Georgia Dome, Atlanta (Corky Kell Classic)
-- MILL CREEK (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAAAAA): Season-opener, 7-4 in 2014, reached Class AAAAAA 1st round
-- BROOKWOOD (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAAA): Season-opener, 2-8 in 2014
-- NOTABLE: Mill Creek leads series 2-1. Hawks won 44-10 in 2013. All three meetings came within a 364-day period. ... The Hawks have plenty of questions with the graduation of Daniel David and Jonathan Hawkins to one of the most productive ground attacks in the state. Their top returning rusher from 2014, Daniel LeConte, had just 128 yards on 14 carries. ... Defensively Mill Creek should be stout again with seven returning starters that allowed just 18.9 ppg in an offensive-minded region. ... Brookwood suffered through its worst season since 1988 and first season with fewer than five (5) wins in that span. Defense was the problem for the Broncos yielding 33.5 ppg last season.
NORTH GWINNETT vs. COLQUITT COUNTY
-- WHEN: 5:45 p.m.
-- WHERE: Georgia Dome, Atlanta (Corky Kell Classic)
-- NORTH GWINNETT (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAAAAA): Season-opener, 8-3 in 2014, reached Class AAAAAA 1st round
-- COLQUITT COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 1-AAAAAA): Season-opener, 15-0 in 2014, Class AAAAAA state champions
-- NOTABLE: Series tied 1-1, North Gwinnett won 16-14 in 2012 in last meeting. ... It is the sixth straight season in the Kell Classic for the Bulldogs. The are 4-1 in Kell Classic games. ... The somewhat rebuilding Bulldogs certainly have their hands full in this one. They return just eight (8) players with starting experience from last season and face the Class AAAAAA preseason No. 1 Packers, who are making their 4th straight Kell Classic appearance. They are 2-1 in the Classic. ... North Gwinnett does have one of the top players in the state in Sr. WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, who figures to get a lot of touches. So. QB Cade Fortin has big shoes to fill from John Urzua but expect the Bulldogs to stay true to their up-tempo spread attack. ... The Packers are led by QB Chase Parrish and WRs Kiel Pollard and WR Ty Lee, who had big roles in their title run in 2014.
