Eye-opening results offset a handful of predictable finishes on the opening night of high school football around northeast Georgia on Friday.
West Hall pushed Gainesville to the limit, but the Red Elephants held on to claim the inaugural Orenstein Kickoff Classic in Oakwood, 20-10 – but that wasn’t the only Hall County showdown on display, and Chestatee also gave an impressive account of itself before falling to old rival North Hall 35-28 at The Brickyard. The War Eagles, under new head coach Shaun Conley, pushed the Trojans to the end but could not find a way past a determined Trojans team in their search for their first victory since 2014.
(NOTE: Visit our Friday Game Night page for full game stories and video highlights from contests throughout northeast Georgia.)
But perhaps the biggest celebrations came on two “mountain” tops.
Habersham Central notched a 45-13 win over East Hall in Mt. Airy to claim its first season-opener since 2011 in style. The win already equals the Raiders season win total from 2015 – while one more victory would yield Habersham’s highest single-season win total since 2011.
Meanwhile, North Forsyth overcame an opening kickoff return for a touchdown to batter Sequoyah 34-14 in Coal Mountain. It was the first victory for the Raiders under new coach Robert Craft after going 2-8 last season.
In the mountains of North Carolina, Towns County notched its first season opening win since 2008 and first win over Hayesville, N.C., since 2009, 33-14.
Jackson County also got its season off to a winning start, taking a 21-16 win off Banks County in a battle of two programs that narrowly missed the state playoffs in 2015.
Jefferson certainly left no doubt, crushing Discovery 48-0 in its opene, as running back Colby Wood put up 191 total yards and three touchdowns. Lanier also cruised in its opener, 34-13 over Northview.
Elsewhere, Roswell proved too explosive in the end for Buford, pulling away from a 7-7 first quarter scoreline to notch a 24-7 victory in the Kell Classic. The Wolves will take a week off before playing host to Bishop Timons of Buffalo, N.Y.
White County also battled the elements and tough Franklin County squad before falling 26-7 in Carnesville.
Winder-Barrow fell in its opener to old rival and former region foe Clarke Central, 31-0, while East Jackson could not get its first victory under new head coach Christian Hunnicutt in a 17-7 loss to Hebron Christian.
WEEK ZERO AREA PREP FOOTBALL SCORES, Aug. 19
Clarke Central 31, Winder-Barrow 0
Habersham Central 45, East Hall 13
Hebron Christian Academy 17, East Jackson 7
Fannin County 17, Gilmer 14
Franklin County 26, White County 7
Gainesville 20, West Hall 10
Jackson County 21, Banks County 16
Jefferson 48, Discovery 0
Lanier 34, Northview 13
North Forsyth 34, Sequoyah 14
North Hall 35, Chestatee 28
Roswell 24, Buford 7
Social Circle 19, Johnson 14
Towns County 33, Hayesville, N.C. 14
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE:
Mill Creek vs. Colquitt County (Georgia Dome), 5:45 p.m.
North Gwinnett vs. Brookwood (Georgia Dome), 11:45 a.m.
NEXT WEEK:
Aug. 26
Alpharetta at Gainesville
Banks County at Commerce
Chestatee at East Hall
Forsyth Central at Dawson County
Gilmer at Union County
Lakeview Academy at East Jackson
Lanier at South Gwinnett
Madison County at Jackson County
Milton at North Gwinnett
North Forsyth at Johns Creek
North Hall at Flowery Branch
Prince Avenue Christian at Riverside Military Academy
Rabun County at Mt. Pisgah Christian
River Ridge at Apalachee
Riverwood at Jefferson
Stephens County at Franklin County
Stephenson at Mill Creek
Walnut Grove at Winder-Barrow
West Hall at Johnson
White County at Lumpkin County
