Here's a look at five things we learned from Week 2 of the high school football season...
1. Buford is most definitely still Buford
We have a certain sense of deja vu here, as a lot of people wondered what it meant when the Wolves fell to a ranked team from the top classification in the state last season. Buford responded to that loss to McEachern by reaching the state title game, and, while we're not guaranteeing another title shot this year, we believe the Wolves are right back in the hunt despite their season-opening loss to Roswell (another ranked team from the top classification). Buford proved that on Friday in a dominating win over a talented Bishop Timons from New York. The Wolves did it in typical fashion, stoning the visitors on defense and churning out the rushing yards on offense. Buford yielded just 104 total yards -- 19 on the ground -- and put up 271 rush yards of its own. Anthony Grant had a huge night, rushing for 177 yards and 3 touchdowns, averaging 14.8 yards per carry. The Wolves will face two more out-of-state foes before beginning region play, and if Buford continues to improve game-by-game... Well, you know how this story usually ends, as Buford begins to put things together for the postseason.
2. Despite losing strong senior classes and all-timers, Rabun, Union still know how to win
They are two old rivals that share a lot in common, and each have made it clear over the last few seasons that winning football is part of the mountains. Sadly, the Wildcats-Panthers rivalry is currently on hold, as they have shifted to different classifications. But there is nothing sad about the way Rabun and Union have begun the 2016 season. The Wildcats are 1-0 after an impressive 24-10 win over a Stephens County team coming off a dominating defeat of Franklin County -- and Rabun was up 21-14 on Mt. Pisgah Christian in Week 1 when the game was called due to weather. Meanwhile, Union County is 2-0 with victories over Gilmer and Hayesville, N.C. -- in which the Panthers set a program record for points scored in a game. Each team faced big question marks coming into the season after graduating stellar senior classes that included players that will never be forgotten in Tiger and Blairsville. Charlie Woerner made his University of Georgia debut on Saturday in the Georgia Dome, and Joseph Mancuso is now at Richmond University. But their alma maters are already showing that they know how and are more than capable of continuing the winning ways that each standout helped secure. And with players like quarterback Bailey Fisher (Rabun) and running back Bo Lynch (Union) still on hand, you can expect that winning to continue for some time.
3. Mill Creek wears the No. 1 well
The Hawks climbed to No. 1 in the Class AAAAAAA rankings last week -- and reacted like a program more than used to such a lofty perch. Mill Creek faced fierce rival Dacula last week -- a team ranked in Class AAAAAA -- and handled the Falcons. Dacula managed just 37 yards rushing against a Hawks defense that entered the campaign with plenty of new faces in starting positions. Meanwhile, the Mill Creek offense is continuing to impress via a multi-pronged attack. Joe Thomas led the way in the ground game, rushing for 49 yards on 10 carries and split time with plenty of other capable backs uncluding Anthony Presto and Uriah Leverett. And quarterback Cameron Turley is providing the steady, guiding hand, tossing two touchdowns. There are plenty more tests along the way, but these Hawks look capable of handling plenty -- both on the physical and psychological side.
4. Zach Matthews is back in his comfort zone for Lumpkin
And that's a great thing for the Indians. Matthews was a beast as a sophomore, rushing for 1,444 yards and 20 TDs to help lead Lumpkin County into the state playoffs. But he struggled to make the same impact last season, as the Indians slid to a 2-8 record. As he showed on Friday, however, he's ready to get back to dominating, rushing 29 times for 194 yards and three touchdowns, as Lumpkin pushed past Jackson County 26-13 and earn the first victory for coach Shane Williamson in Dahlonega. A bruiser with big-play capability, Matthews is undoubtedly a key player for the Indians. And if he can continue that kind of play it will likely mean an impressive senior season for both individual and team. Williamson identified the running back as a key player in the preseason, and you can bet Lumpkin will try and make the most of him.
5. Flowery Branch has the ingredients to scare any defense
The Falcons torched an improving Chestatee in a 41-13 win, going for big plays on the ground and through the air while putting up 386 yards. And if what we saw on Friday is any indication of what's to come, the Branch will be very hard to slow this season. We already knew Malik Drayton was lightning in a bottle. But quarterback Nick Lance, receiver Jalin Strown and running back Malik Damons proved that the Falcons have both balance and depth. Lance's healthy return -- he missed almost all of last season through injury -- must surely be a huge piece of the puzzle. He certainly impressed on Friday, completing 12 of 15 passes for 249 yards and three scores, all to Strown, who finished with 130 yards on 5 receptions. Meanwhile, Drayton had 63 yards rushing and 2 TDs, as well as 107 yards receiving, and Damons had 74 yards rushing and a score on just five carries. That's a lot of weapons, and it should be fun watching the Falcons brandish them the rest of the way in 2016.
WEEK 2 SCORES, Sept. 2
Apalachee 22, Union Grove 22
Athens Academy 54, Lakeview Academy 14
Banks County 54, Johnson 35
Buford 49, Bishop Timon (Buffalo, N.Y.) 6
Commerce 49, Hebron Christian Academy 15
Dawson County 30, Chattooga 8
Flowery Branch 41, Chestatee 13
Gainesville 21, Clarke Central 14
George Walton Academy 21, Towns County 6
Habersham Central 29, White County 23
Lumpkin County 26, Jackson County 10
Mill Creek 30, Dacula 0
North Forsyth 31, Loganville 24
North Gwinnett 42, Hillgrove 24
Riverside Military Academy 27, Providence Christian 24
Rabun County 24, Stephens County 10
Ringgold 49, Fannin County 30
Thomson 42, Jefferson 20
Union County 61, Hayesville (N.C.) 7
West Hall 10, Washington-Wilkes 0
Winder-Barrow 35, Northview 20
WEEK 3 SCHEDULE, Sept. 9
Andrews, N.C. at Union County
Apalachee at Discovery
Chestatee at Fannin County
Commerce at Lakeview Academy
East Jackson at Oglethorpe County
Flowery Branch at Stephens County
Franklin County at Habersham Central
Johnson at East Hall
Lanier at Northside, Warner Robins (McConnell Talbott Stadium)
Lumpkin County at Madison County
Mill Creek at Archer
Norcross at North Gwinnett
Pickens at North Hall
Prince Avenue Christian at Towns County
Riverside Military Academy at George Walton Academy
West Hall at Jackson County
White County at Rabun County
