Here’s a look at five things we learned from Week 3 of the high school football season...
1. 2015 North Hall is miles improved over 2014 North Hall
After getting blanked in their season opener while putting up just 55 yards of offense, we wondered, how would the Trojans fare the rest of the way in 2015? North Hall’s response in game two spoke volumes. The Trojans dominated a previously irresistible West Hall offense, stuffing the Spartans for minus-5 yards rushing. Meanwhile, North Hall’s offense looked like its wing-T attack of the previous decade, rushing for 208 yards. There’s an old axiom -- you could call it a cliche, but that doesn’t do it justice -- that teams make their biggest improvement from game one to game two. North Hall didn’t just improve, it made a quantum leap, and that has to have its coaching staff, players and fans excited about what could be. If the Trojans continue playing like they did on Friday, they will not only make big strides in the win column, they will most assuredly find themselves in the playoff race.
2. Gainesville’s offense is going to be just fine
After a disappointing season-opener, and then a week off to let it sink in, the Red Elephants needed Friday’s game -- and win over Winder-Barrow -- in the worst way. But it wasn’t just the victory that proved salve for Gainesville, it was how its offense -- and most specifically quarterback -- performed. Senior signal caller Messiah Dorsey showed he is indeed ready to be the man for Gainesville, flashing big-play ability and using his legs and his arm to great effect. Battling against one of the best players in northeast Georgia in Bulldoggs running back Cece Green, who rushed for a jaw-dropping 343 yards, Gainesville needed every ounce of Dorsey’s ability. It should be fun watching Dorsey’s continued development, and imagine how dangerous he will become. After all, it was just his second start at quarterback.
3. This weekend’s battle in the mountains should be stout
Union County is 3-0; Fannin County is 2-1 -- and both will learn a lot more about themselves this week when they battle in Blue Ridge. Both teams feature playmakers, as the Panthers will bring senior quarterback Joseph Mancuso in for a showdown with the Rebels’ junior signal caller Brad Davis. Jim Pavao looks to have Fannin County stable and on the rise, while Union County is brimming with confidence after winning 9 games last season. It is a non-region contest, but both teams will know that this face off will do much once they begin postseason jockeying in the coming weeks.
4. Some area teams with gut check moments coming
Some area teams took some tough losses on Friday. It’s football; it happens. What is key is how those programs respond. We’re interested to see how a few teams fare this coming week, including Winder-Barrow and Flowery Branch in Region 8-AAAAA play. Both teams absorbed region defeats on Friday and both know that they cannot afford many more ‘Ls’ if they want to stay in the playoff race. The Bulldoggs (1-1 in 8-AAAAA) will look to bounce back against a 3-0 Loganville program team this week, while the Falcons (0-2 in 8-AAAAA) can kick their league campaign into gear at Heritage (0-2). It will also bear watching how West Hall responds to its first setback of the campaign after a stuttering performance at North Hall. The Spartans (2-1) play host to North Oconee (0-2) this week in their final non-region game of the season.
5. Habersham is finding its offensive feet
At the moment the Raiders can take some solace in it, as Habersham (0-3) looks like it’s starting to find its rhythm in coach Benji Harrison’s spread attack. The Raiders have scored 35 and 31 points in its last two contests after managing just 14 in their season opener. If Habersham can start clamping down on defense -- the Raiders are allowing an average of 50.3 points per game -- success in the win column is just around the corner.
WEEK 3 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES, SEPT. 11
Banks County 41, East Jackson 14
Gainesville 40, Winder-Barrow 26
Hapeville Charter 42, Riverside Military 3
Heritage, Catoosa 27, Dawson County 22
Jefferson 34, Commerce 10
Lanier 3, Flowery Branch 0
Lumpkin County 38, Johnson 20
North Hall 24, West Hall 10
Northview 26, North Forsyth 9
Pace Academy 16, White County 14
Pepperell 43, Chestatee 22
Rabun County 21, Jackson County 0
Salem 41, Apalachee 3
Stephens County 21, Blue Ridge (S.C.) 0
South Forsyth 55, Habersham Central 35
Towns County 25, Lakeview Academy 21
Union County 35, Andrews (N.C.) 6
WEEK 4 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, SEPT. 18
Apalachee at Gainesville
Banks County at North Cobb Christian
Buford at White County
Carrollton at North Hall
Commerce at Athens Academy
Duluth at Mill Creek
East Hall at Jackson County
Flowery Branch at Heritage, Conyers
Franklin County at East Jackson
Habersham Central at West Forsyth
Johnson at Pickens
Lakeview Academy at Hebron Christian
Lanier at Cedar Shoals
North Gwinnett at Collins Hill
North Oconee at West Hall
Our Lady of Mercy at Lumpkin County
Rabun County at Riverside Military
South Forsyth at North Forsyth
Towns County at Hebron Christian
Union County at Fannin County
Winder-Barrow at Loganville
