For most area football teams the fine-tuning continues Friday night.
However, Regions 8-A, 8-AAAAA, and 6-AAAAAA offer some key region matchups in Week 3 that could have an early say, and create some early front-runners, for the playoffs.
In 8-AAAAA, Gainesville travels to Winder-Barrow and Lanier travels to Flowery Branch in two crucial region contests. Only the Falcons missed out on the playoffs off those four teams in 2014 and both Lanier and Winder-Barrow are coming off lopsided wins last week. The Gainesville at Winder-Barrow game can be heard live on AM 1240 ESPN Radio.
In 6-AAAAAA, North Forsyth is fresh off a big region win but now runs into a stout Northview team on the road. The Raiders offense looked good last week against Chattahoochee but will be put to the test by the Titans.
In 8-A, Lakeview Academy plays host to Towns County as both teams are looking for wins to try and get some early positioning in the Class A power rankings.
But none of those matchups will match the intensity of the Jefferson-Commerce yearly non-region showdown, this time at Tiger Stadium. Both teams have dominated in the early going with punishing ground games and stifling defenses. Something will have to give. To watch a video preview of the rivalry contest, click here.
(NOTE: Do to a last-minute change, we will carry the Lumpkin County at Johnson game live on 102.9 FM and not the Jefferson at Commerce game as originally stated.)
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 date
(Games listed in alphabetical order of visiting team)
BANKS COUNTY at EAST JACKSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Commerce
-- BANKS COUNTY (1-1, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Johnson 27-14 last week
-- EAST JACKSON (1-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAA): Bye last week, defeated Lakeview Academy 21-16 two weeks ago
-- NOTABLE: East Jackson leads series 4-3. Banks County won 43-0 in 2014. ... The Leopards have won two of the last three meetings. They are 3-0 in the series when scoring 42 or more points. They are 0-4 when scoring less than 42 points. ... Banks County rebounded from a rough season-opening loss to Commerce last week. The Leopards had trouble with Commerce’s option attack and face another test this week with the Eagles’ triple-option, led by Jr. QB Josh Adair, Jr. FB Titus Wakefield, Fr. HB Eli Walden, and So. HB Justin Saavedra and a solid offensive line. Banks gave 257 yards rushing to Johnson but stood fast at crucial times to keep them out of the end zone. ... Banks County also got its offense going against a good Johnson defense that held West Hall to just 106 total yards in Week 1. Jr. QB Griffin Goodwin, Sr. Trevae Cain, Sr. RB Logan Hubbard, and Jr. RB Demetrius Walker will need solid games once again for the Leopards.
FANNIN COUNTY at ARMUCHEE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Reservation, Rome
-- FANNIN COUNTY (1-1, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Murray County 22-10 last week
-- ARMUCHEE (1-2, 0-0 Region 7-AA): Defeated Coahulla Creek 14-7 last week
-- NOTABLE: Fannin County leads series 1-0. The Rebels won 35-0 in 2014 in first-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Last week’s win for the Indians snapped a nine-game losing streak. Offense has been an issue for Armuchee. The Indians have scored 20 points or less in 19 straight games. ... The Rebels offensive and defensive lines should be able to control the game to allow Jr. QB Brad Davis time to find Jr. WR Cooper and So. TE Cody Jacobs. ... Until last week the Indians defense had allowed 37 ppg over its previous nine contests. ... Fannin County is looking for its fourth 2-1 start over the past six seasons. The Rebels need to continue their momentum with rival Union County looming next week before opening region play with two consecutive road games.
GAINESVILLE at WINDER-BARROW
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: W. Clair Harris Stadium, Winder
-- RADIO: AM 1240
-- GAINESVILLE (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Off last week, lost 34-0 to Grayson two weeks ago
-- WINDER-BARROW (1-1, 1-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Apalachee 45-0 last week
-- NOTABLE: Gainesville leads series 27-5-1. The Red Elephants won 46-6 in 2014. ... Gainesville has won three straight in the series, which took a 19-year hiatus until both teams joined 8-AAAAA. The last Winder-Barrow win came in 1993, 21-6 in Winder. ... The Bulldoggs are 2-0-1 vs. Gainesville at home in their last four meetings in Winder. The last Red Elephants road victory in the series came in 1986, 19-14. ... Gainesville will have to find a way to slow down the Bulldoggs ground game. Winder’s CeCe Green has been just as dominant early in 2015 as he was in 2014. The senior tallied three TDs and over 100 yards rushing in just over a half last week. Noah Chapman added a TD run and Ryan Evans had an INT return for a TD for the Bulldoggs defense. ... The Red Elephants have had two weeks to work out the kinks after being roughed up by Grayson. Chris Byrd has a nice game with 77 yards rushing against the Rams but the Gainesville offense managed just 118 total yards. QB Messiah Dorsey and Tae Turner connected on a 36-yard pass but could get very little else going. ... Gainesville has not dropped a region opener since losing to Flowery Branch in 2007. The Bulldoggs have not started a region schedule 2-0 since 2003 when they were in 8-AAAA.
HABERSHAM CENTRAL at SOUTH FORSYTH
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: War Eagle Stadium, Cumming
-- HABERSHAM CENTRAL (0-2, 0-1 Region 6-AAAAAA): Lost 54-31 to Northview last week
-- SOUTH FORSYTH (2-0, 1-0 Region 6-AAAAAA): Defeated Centennial 21-6 last week
-- NOTABLE: South Forsyth leads series 1-0. The War Eagles won 49-7 in 2014 in first-ever meeting between the two schools. ... It is the third straight playoff team from 2014 for the Raiders to open the season. ... The Raiders new spread offense made big strides last week in putting up 31 points on the Titans, the third most they have allowed over their last 13 games. But the defense is still a work in pr0gress giving up 96 points in the first two games. ... South Forsyth offers a different challenge with a stifling defense that has allowed just 20 points in its first two games. The War Eagles also are looking for their second straight 2-0 start to the region to keep pace with Northview, Lambert, Alpharetta, and North Forsyth before those two teams meet next week.
HAPEVILLE CHARTER at RIVERSIDE MILITARY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Maginnis Field, Gainesville
-- HAPEVILLE (2-0, 0-0 Region 6-AA): Defeated Bremen 48-14 last week
-- RIVERSIDE MILITARY (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Off last week, lost 28-0 to Fellowship Christian two weeks ago.
-- NOTABLE: Hapeville Charter leads series 1-0. The Hornets won 15-14 in 2014 in first-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Eagles have had two weeks to continue their fall practice in essence. It was a tough opener against Fellowship, which has allowed just 7 points in its first two games. ... Hapeville’s offense looks like it is clicking on all cylinders already averaging 44.5 ppg in its first two games. That could be a problem for a RMA defense that allowed several big plays to Fellowship in the opener. ... The Eagles new power-I offense had some moments with Sean Allison going 9-of-16 passing for 62 yards and Kaseem Duke had 38 yards rushing on 11 carries. They will need to control the ball to keep the powerful Hornets offense off the field.
HERITAGE, RINGGOLD at DAWSON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tiger Stadium, Dawsonville
-- RADIO: northgeorgiasportslink.com
-- HERITAGE, RINGGOLD (1-1, 0-0 Region 7-AAAA): Defeated Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe 49-14 last week
-- DAWSON COUNTY (1-1, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Gilmer 23-9 last week
-- NOTABLE: Heritage leads series 1-0. The Generals won 10-6 in 2014 in first-ever meeting between the two schools. ... It is the second straight matchup with a 7-AAAA team for the Tigers, who showed marked improvement from Week 1. ... Dawson’s new spread attack looked sharp behind So. QB Coey Watson, who tossed a pair of TD passes. WR Tucker Maxwell caught both TD passes. The Tigers defense added a INT return for a touchdown from Andrew Golay late to seal the win. ... It will be a big test for the Dawson County defense. The Generals are just moments away from being 2-0 after dropping a heartbreaker late to Ringgold in their opener. They are averaging 41.5 ppg in the early going. ... The Tigers will need to continue the improvement with back-to-back road games to open 7-AAA play beginning next week against defending champ West Hall.
JEFFERSON at COMMERCE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tiger Stadium, Commerce
-- JEFFERSON (3-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAA): Defeated North Hall 35-0 last week
-- COMMERCE (2-0, 0-0 Region 8-A): Defeated Hebron Christian 35-0 last week
-- NOTABLE: Commerce leads series 42-22-5. Jefferson won 28-3 in 2014. ... The Dragons have won seven of the last eight, their best run since winning five straight from 1967-71. The Tigers won 12 straight before that from 1995-2006. ... This could be game of the year if both teams play to the level they have shown in the first three weeks of the season. Area residents should ignore what will surely sound like thunderclaps instead of pads and helmets slamming together. ... Both teams have produced devastating ground attacks. Jefferson is averaging just under 300 yards a game on the ground, led by So. Colby Wood, who already has 615 yards and 9 TDs on the season. Commerce has dominated its first two opponents outgaining them by nearly 500 yards (844-347) so far. Will Thomas leads the way with 248 yards and Cole Chancey has 146 yards. J'varius Wood (114 yards) gives them three weapons to try and defend. ... Defensively Commerce has yielded just 13 points (6.5 ppg) with one shutout and Jefferson has allowed just 24 points (8.0 ppg) with one shutout. Something will have to give before this one is over.
LANIER at FLOWERY BRANCH
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Falcons Field, Flowery Branch
-- LANIER (2-0, 1-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Ranked No. 7 in Class AAAAA, defeated Clarke Central 37-20 last week
-- FLOWERY BRANCH (1-1, 0-1 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost 35-0 to Loganville last week
-- NOTABLE: Lanier leads series 1-0. The Longhorns won 27-12 in 2014 in first-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Its a HUGE game for the Falcons, who cannot afford to go 0-2 in the region with Winder-Barrow, Clarke Central, Salem, and Gainesville still left on the schedule. ... The Falcons offense is in disarray after losing starting QB Nick Lance in the opener. They managed just 85 total yards last week against the Red Devils and now face one of the best defensive units in all of Georgia. Three turnovers hurt Flowery Branch last week as well leading to 21 points. ... Lanier’s first unit defense did not yield a first down last week until the fourth quarter and recorded a defensive TD as well. ... The Longhorns offense behind QB Tahj Tolbert and RBs Ashton Barnes, who recently committed to Air Force, and Marcella Baity and Marko Baity found some rhythm last week. ... The Falcons defense played well but got little help from the offense last week.
LUMPKIN COUNTY at JOHNSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Billy Ellis Memorial Stadium, Oakwood
-- RADIO: 102.9 FM
-- LUMPKIN COUNTY (0-2, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Lost 51-28 to Union County last week
-- JOHNSON (1-2, non-region schedule): Lost 27-14 to Banks County last week
-- NOTABLE: Lumpkin County leads series 4-1. The Indians won 14-3 in 2014. The two teams did not play for the first time until 2006 with Johnson taking the first meeting. Lumpkin County has won the last four going back to 2007. ... The key to this battle between two similar teams will be the play up front. Both teams like ball control and whichever team is able to generate long drives with points will have the advantage. ... The Indians last week ran into a hot Joseph Mancuso, who had 275 yards passing, 111 yards rushing, and generated six touchdowns for Union County (good enough to earn him Player of the Week honors). They will face a much different offense this week in the option-oriented attack of the Knights. Johnson had 257 yards rushing last week but had trouble finding the end zone. ... Lumpkin had the early lead against Union County would could not slow down Mancuso and the Panthers offense once they got rolling. The Indians got 122 yards rushing and 92 yards passing from quarterback Zach Matthews.
NORTH FORSYTH at NORTHVIEW
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Northview Stadium, Duluth
-- NORTH FORSYTH (1-1, 1-0 Region 6-AAAAAA): Defeated Chattahoochee 37-27 last week
-- NORTHVIEW (2-0, 1-0 Region 6-AAAAAA): Defeated Habersham Central 54-31 last week
-- NOTABLE: North Forsyth leads series 3-2. Northview won 49-0 in 2014. The Titans have won two straight in the series. ... North Forsyth got a huge validating win last week. The Raiders got the strong start to the region knowing they had Northview, South Forsyth, and Lambert -- all teams expected to challenge for playoff spots -- in consecutive weeks. ... Despite the final score, the Raiders defense was solid for three quarters. They held the Cougars to zero yards rushing in the first half and took a 30-8 lead into the fourth quarter before handing off to the reserves. ... Simon Holcomb paced the Raiders ground game with 132 yards and three touchdowns. ... A win for the Raiders would give them their best start since opening the 2013 season 4-0. However, they have not won back-to-back games since knocking off Johns Creek and South Forsyth in the final two regular season games of the 2013 season.
PEPPERELL at CHESTATEE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: War Eagle Stadium, Gainesville
-- PEPPERELL (1-1, 0-0 Region 5-AAA): Defeated Bowden 40-13 last week
-- CHESTATEE (0-2, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Lost 42-3 to West Hall last week
-- NOTABLE: Chestatee leads series 1-0. The War Eagles won 24-19 in 2014 in first-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Injuries have beset the War Eagles early and it has affected the offense. They lost starting QB Logan Cates in their opener and then leading rusher Jay Mays went down last week with a concussion. As a result, they had five fumbles, could manage just one field goal, and finished with just 86 total yards. They have scored just 13 points through two games after averaging 25 ppg over the final five games last season. ... You can be sure the Dragons will showing up with an attitude. They were Chestatee’s only win in 2014 and will be looking to avenge that. ... Chestatee is trying to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2003, its second year as a program.
RABUN COUNTY at JACKSON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Panthers Stadium, Jefferson
-- RABUN COUNTY (2-1, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Defeated Mt. Pisgah 35-10 last week
-- JACKSON COUNTY (2-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAA): Defeated White County 17-0 last week
-- NOTABLE: Rabun County leads series 7-4. The Wildcats won 34-21 in 2014. It was the first win for the Wildcats over Jackson County since 1995. ... The Panthers have opened the 2015 season almost as good as new coach Brandon Worley could have asked for. They are averaging 32.5 ppg game, beat Madison County in Week 1 for the first time in school history, already matched their entire win total for 2014, pitched their first shutout since 2010, and are 2-0 for the first time since 2010. ... The Wildcats, meanwhile, are rolling as well since a tough loss in their opener to Jefferson. They put up 77 points in the past two games and have yielded just 10 total points over their past six quarters. ... Jackson County has gotten balanced play from Sr. RB Malik Tuck, Sr. WR Chase Wester, and Jr. QB Caleb Matthews. ... The Panthers defense held White County to just 50 total yards last week They will have their hands full this week trying to stop Charlie Woerner and company.
SALEM at APALACHEE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: R. Harold Harrison Stadium, Winder
-- SALEM (2-0, 1-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Heritage, Conyers 33-7 last week
-- APALACHEE (0-2, 0-1 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost 45-0 to Winder-Barrow last week
-- NOTABLE: Apalachee leads the series 4-3. Salem won 35-6 in 2014. The Seminoles have won three of the last four meetings. ... This looks like a massive mismatch on paper. The Seminoles are among the highest scoring teams in the region (62 points, 31 ppg) while the Wildcats have yielded the most points (88 points, 44 ppg) in the region. ... Salem can’t afford an upset with Lanier, Winder-Barrow, and Loganville all tied atop the standings with them. The Wildcats would like nothing more than to begin their turnaround with a win at home. ... Apalachee is trying to avoid their fourth straight 0-3 start. The Seminoles are looking for their first 3-0 start since 2004 when they advanced to the Class AAAA semifinals.
STEPHENS COUNTY at BLUE RIDGE, (S.C.)
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Blue Ridge, S.C.
-- STEPHENS COUNTY (1-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Lost 34-30 to Elbert County last week
-- BLUE RIDGE, (S.C.) (1-1): Defeated Mann (S.C.) 27-18 on Monday (Sept. 7)
-- NOTABLE: Stephens County leads series 1-0. The Indians won 28-0 in 2014 in first-ever meeting between the two schools. ... It will be the second game in five days for the Fighting Tigers and fatigued could be a factor. ... The Indians took Class AAA No. 3 Elbert down to the wire last week but could not finish off the upset win. Their spread attack is taking shape averaging 32 ppg against two good defenses in Franklin County and Elbert. ... Blue Ridge has lost two straight at home but Stephens County has lost two straight on the road, including last week. The Indians, however, have had tremendous success over the years against teams from South Carolina going 33-9 overall.
TOWNS COUNTY at LAKEVIEW ACADEMY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Lakeview Stadium, Gainesville
-- TOWNS COUNTY (0-2, 0-0 Region 8-A): Lost 31-7 to Mount Vernon last week
-- LAKEVIEW ACADEMY (1-1, 0-0 Region 8-A): Defeated St. Francis 27-7 last week
-- NOTABLE: Lakeview Academy leads series 5-3. Towns County won 14-6 in 2014. The Indians have won two straight in the series. ... Last week’s win for the Lions snapped a four-game losing streak. They are now looking for their first 1-0 start to a region schedule. ... Lakeview is getting good production from its ball control spread attack averaging 20.5 ppg behind Sr. QB Thaddeus Webb and Sr. RB Avonte Gober. ... The Towns County defense has been tested against two good offenses allowing 33 ppg. The key matchup may be the Indians defense against the Lions new spread attack. Whichever unit wins that battle may be the difference. ... The Indians have scored just 14 total points while Lakeview is allowing just 14 ppg so far.
UNION COUNTY at ANDREWS, (N.C.)
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Wildcats Stadium, Andrews, N.C.
-- UNION COUNTY (2-0, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Defeated Lumpkin County 51-28 last week.
-- ANDREWS, (N.C.) (2-1): Lost 49-0 to Mitchell (N.C.) last week
-- NOTABLE: Union County leads the series 13-1-1. The Panthers won 49-20 in 2014. The Panthers have won three straight since the series renewed in 2012 after a 29-year hiatus. The Wildcats only win came in 1981. ... It will not be an easy task for Andrews. Union County QB Joseph Mancuso is coming off a six-touchdown performance. He had 275 yards passing and 111 yards rushing in the Panthers win over Lumpkin County. ... It’s the first off three straight road games for the Panthers, who will cap the trip against Social Circle to open region play. ... It was third shutout suffered by Andrews in its past seven games going back to the 2014 season.
WEST HALL at NORTH HALL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Brickyard, Gainesville
-- RADIO: AM 550
-- WEST HALL (2-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Chestatee 42-3 last week
-- NORTH HALL (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Lost 35-0 to Jefferson last week
-- NOTABLE: North Hall leads series 8-5. West Hall won 38-0 in 2014. The win for the Spartans snapped a seven-game losing streak in the series going back to 2002. ... The Spartans are averaging 33.5 ppg and have allowed just 12 total points. But there is room for improvement as they have scored just seven second half points in two games. The defense has been downright stingy, though, causing 10 fumbles and recovering seven in their first two games, which has led 49 points. ... The Trojans were the final team in northeast Georgia to open the season and faced a tall task in the Dragons last week giving up over 200 yards on the ground. They will have another tough task in trying to slow down the Spartans ground game, led by Kwon Williams and Tyquan Statham. ... It is the third of four straight Class AAAA opponents for the Spartans to prepare for their region schedule. ... The Trojans have little time to try and work out the kinks with a brutal first six games and no bye weeks during the season. They play host to Carrollton next week followed by Stephens County to open their region schedule and then North Oconee and Buford to follow.
WHITE COUNTY at PACE ACADEMY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Riverview Road Athletic Complex, Atlanta
-- RADIO: www.wrwh.com
-- WHITE COUNTY (0-2, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Lost 17-0 to Jackson County last week
-- PACE ACADEMY (3-0, 1-0 Region 6-AA): Defeated Landmark Christian 38-30 last week
-- NOTABLE: White County leads series 1-0. The Warriors won 31-17 in 2014 in first-ever meeting between the two schools. ... White County has struggled offensively scoring just six points in its first two games. The Warriors managed just 50 yards against Jackson County last week. ... Defensively they have held two good offenses to just 30 points. But the Knights will offer another challenge averaging 32 ppg, including a 24-0 shutout of Lovett in their opener. ... White County also is trying to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2003.
