Despite some of the area’s bigger names like Buford, Gainesville, and Jefferson taking the week off, there is no lack for some huge, and intriguing, matchups on tap Friday night.
None may be bigger than when Class AAAAAAA No. 9 North Gwinnett plays host to No. 6 Norcross in Suwanee [click here for a preview of the two rivals showdown.] The Bulldogs missed out on the playoffs last year for the first time since 2003 and are looking to regain some swagger that had them among the elites in the state’s largest classification.
Our AccessWDUN Game of the Week [click here for a preview of the matchup] has Franklin County traveling to Mt. Airy to take on Habersham Central, which is rejoining the conversation as one of the area’s top teams with its first 2-0 start since 1990. The Raiders used a big fourth quarter rally last week to get by White County and Raider Stadium is sure to be rocking as they try to stay perfect and match their entire win total for the past four seasons.
But those aren’t the only matchups that should keep fans enthralled Friday night. Flowery Branch heads to Stephens County in a battle of spread offenses. Class AAAAAAA No. 1 Mill Creek travels to Archer in a rematch of last year’s state quarterfinals that saw the Hawks shutout one of the top offenses in the state.
Lanier has a huge challenge traveling to Class AAAAAA No. 1 Northside-Warner Robins after a week off to shake off its first-ever shutout loss to Class AAAAAA sixth-ranked South Gwinnett.
North Hall will try to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2013 playing host to a tough Pickens team at The Brickyard.
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 Sept. 9
(Games listed in alphabetical order of visiting team)
APALACHEE at DISCOVERY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Titans Stadium, Lawrenceville
-- APALACHEE (0-1-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAAA): Tied Union Grove 22-22 last week
-- DISCOVERY (0-3, 0-0 Region 6-AAAAAAA): Lost 28-7 to Pinecrest Academy last week
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Wildcats nearly ended their 12-game losing streak but a late rally by Union Grove spoiled it. ... Apalachee can build some momentum this week against the first-year Titans before beginning a three-game home stand next week. ... The Titans have allowed 39.3 ppg on defense while the Wildcats are averaging just 18 ppg on offense. ... Including Discovery, Apalachee’s next three opponents are a combined 1-6 so far.
CHESTATEE at FANNIN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Rebel Stadium, Blue Ridge
-- RADIO: 102.9 FM
-- CHESTATEE (1-2, 0-0 Region 7-AAAA): Lost 41-13 to Flowery Branch last week
-- FANNIN COUNTY (1-1, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Lost 49-30 to Ringgold last week
-- NOTABLE: Fannin County leads series 3-1. The two teams have not met since 2005. Chestatee won the last meeting 17-8. ... Both teams are coming off tough losses after wins in their previous games. The War Eagles are still building after coaching changes and ran into a buzzsaw last week in the Falcons. ... Fannin County ran into a Ringgold offense that is averaging over 37 ppg. ... Chestatee’s Nick Lyles had his third 100-yard rushing game of the season last week but the War Eagles offense was held to a season-low 173 total yards. Chestatee did outscore the Falcons 13-6 in the second half after falling behind 35-0. ... The Rebels offense behind QB Brad Davis has scored 24 or more points in 10 of their last 12 games.
COMMERCE at LAKEVIEW ACADEMY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Jack Horner Stadium, Gainesville
-- COMMERCE (2-0, 1-0 Region 8-A): Ranked No. 3 in Class A Public; defeated Hebron Christian 49-15 last week
-- LAKEVIEW ACADEMY (0-2, 0-1 Region 8-A): Lost 54-14 to Athens Academy last week
-- NOTABLE: Commerce leads series 4-0. The Tigers won 38-3 in Gainesville in 2015. ... The Tigers offense is already in midseason form scoring 92 points (46 ppg) in their first two contests. New QB Lane Sorrow has stepped in for the graduated Caleb Brooks nicely but is getting plenty of help from RBs Will Thomas and Cole Chancey. ... The Lions will have to find a way to slow that trio down, however, they have allowed 92 points (46 ppg) in their first two games. ... Lakeview also is still unveiling a new spread attack that has been slow to start scoring just 20 points total. They have a tough schedule with their first six opponents a combined 10-3 so far.
EAST JACKSON at OGLETHORPE COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Patriot Stadium, Lexington
-- EAST JACKSON (1-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAA): Bye last week; defeated Lakeview Academy 38-7 two weeks ago
-- OGLETHORPE COUNTY (0-1, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Lost 36-32 to Temple last week
-- NOTABLE: East Jackson leads series 3-1. First meeting since 2011, a 30-0 Oglethorpe County win. ... The Eagles are looking for their first back-to-back wins since 2011. They have played well defensively allowing just 23 points (11.5 ppg) in their first two games after yielding 44 pgg in 2015. ... The 32 points for the Patriots was the most they’ve scored since scoring 50 in a loss to Greene County in 2012. They averaged just 14 ppg in 2015.
FLOWERY BRANCH at STEPHENS COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Reservation, Toccoa
-- RADIO: WDUN AM 550
-- FLOWERY BRANCH (1-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Chestatee 41-13 last week
-- STEPHENS COUNTY (1-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Lost 24-10 to Rabun County last week
-- NOTABLE: Flowery Branch leads series 2-1. The Falcons have won the last two meetings but it is the first meeting between the schools since 2009. ... The two teams have had reverse beginnings to the 2016 season. The Falcons dropped a heartbreaker to North Hall in its opener (21-20) but rebounded with a dominating win last week. The Indians crushed Franklin County in its opener (61-20) but was stymied by a good Rabun County defense last week. ... The question for both teams is which team will show up. Both teams feature some dynamic playmakers. ... Stephens junior QB Jackson Bell had a big game vs. Franklin County but was held in check by Rabun. Bell has three excellent receivers in A.J. Howard, A.J. Curry, and Malik Feaster. ... Falcons’ QB Nick Lance had a solid last week and junior WR Malik Drayton is one of the more dangerous players in northeast Georgia. Drayton has a 100-yard game rushing and a 100-yard game receiving already for Flowery Branch. ... Whichever team can make the most stops will have the advantage.
FRANKLIN COUNTY at HABERSHAM CENTRAL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Raider Stadium, Mt. Airy
-- RADIO: WCON 99.3
-- FRANKLIN COUNTY (1-1, 0-1 Region 8-AAA): Bye last week; lost 61-20 to Stephens County two weeks ago
-- HABERSHAM CENTRAL (2-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAAA): Defeated White County 29-23 last week
-- NOTABLE: Habersham Central leads series 15-3. The two teams have not met since 2001, a 56-8 Raiders win. ... The two teams met every year from 1972 to 1987 but have played just twice since then. ... The Raiders are 2-0 for the first time since 1990 and appear ready to turn the corner in Benji Harrison’s second season. The two wins already are as many as they had in the three previous seasons combined. ... Offensively Habersham has been paced by QB Cole Wilbanks and RB Michael Babers. But the defense has been the biggest improvement early. It’s a small sample size but after two games they have yielded just 18 ppg. They gave up 39.7 ppg in 2015. ... A third straight win also would be their longest streak since closing out the 2008 season with three consecutive victories. ... Franklin County has a tough stretch. It’s next three opponents, including the Raiders, are 6-1 combined to start the season. The key will be which defense will show up, the one that allowed just 7 points to a primarily running attack in White County, or the 61 they gave up to Stephens County’s spread attack, which is similar to Habersham’s.
JOHNSON at EAST HALL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: East Hall Stadium, Rabbittown
-- JOHNSON (0-3, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost 54-35 to Banks County last week
-- EAST HALL (0-2, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Bye last week; lost 23-21 to Chestatee in a lightning-shortened game two weeks ago
-- NOTABLE: Johnson leads series 22-15-1. The Vikings won 24-14 in 2015. East Hall has won three straight and 4 of the last 5 but the two teams have split the last 12 meetings going back to 2002. ... History suggests that you should expect just about anything when these two get together. And expect both teams to pull out all the stops to get a win and try to regain momentum as they near region play. ... The Knights offense finally going last week but the defense also struggled with a wide-open Banks County attack. The Vikings also offer a spread attack and the Knights will need to find a way to slow them down. ... East Hall has had defensive issues of its own allowing 68 points in 6-plus quarters (11.1 points per quarter) of action. The Johnson offense was balanced with 204 yards rushing and 192 through the air behind QB Sam Corbett.
LANIER at NORTHSIDE-WARNER ROBINS
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: McConnell-Talbert Stadium, Warner Robins
-- LANIER (1-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAAA): Bye last week; lost 17-0 to South Gwinnett two weeks ago
-- NORTHSIDE, WARNER ROBINS (3-0, 0-0 Region 1-AAAAAA): Ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAAA; defeated Westside-Macon 28-14 last week
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Longhorns have had a turbulent off-week with the with loss of two starters after their arrest earlier this week and now will take on an Eagles squad that is one of the premier programs in the state in any classification. .. Northside is as tough as there is at home posting a 31-2 record at McConnell-Talbert since 2012. ... Lanier suffered its first-ever shutout against South Gwinnett but the offense is replacing several key starters from graduation. Now, the Longhorns will be without leading rusher Marcko Baity. ... Northside has yielded just 17 points in three games (5.6 ppg) so far in 2016, which leads Class AAAAAA. But, the Lanier defense will also have a huge challenge against an Eagles offense that has scored 132 points (44 ppg) which also leads Class AAAAAA. ... Lanier’s road loss to the Comets snapped a 12-game road winning streak.
LUMPKIN COUNTY at MADISON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Red Raider Stadium, Danielsville
-- LUMPKIN COUNTY (1-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): defeated Jackson County 26-13 last week
-- MADISON COUNTY (2-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Defeated Elbert County 17-15 last week
-- NOTABLE: Series tied 1-1. Each team has won at home with Lumpkin winning in 2012 and Madison winning in 2013. ... The Indians had to wait an extra week to get their season going after their opener was canceled due to lightning but they made the most of it. Zach Matthews led a stout ground game (261 yards) with 194 yards rushing and 3 TDs. Wesley Wells also had two field goals, including a 47-yarder, for Lumpkin. ... Special teams played a big role for the Red Raiders last week as well as stopping the Blue Devils twice inside the red zone to preserve the win. ... Madison County is looking for its first 3-0 start since 2006, which was also the last time the Red Raiders made the playoffs. ... The Indians are looking for their first 2-0 start since 2011.
MILL CREEK at ARCHER
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Archer Stadium, Lawrenceville
-- MILL CREEK (3-0 0-0 Region 6-AAAAAAA): Ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAAAA; defeated Dacula 30-0 last week
-- ARCHER (1-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAAAA): Bye last week; defeated Peachtree Ridge 20-19 two weeks ago
-- NOTABLE: Mill Creek leads series 1-0. The Hawks won 23-0 in the 2015 quarterfinals. ... It’s a rematch of the playoff series from last but with both teams having graduated several key players from that contest. However, the Tigers are now led by RB Keegan Strickland, who had 174 yards rushing and 1 TD in the win over Peachtree Ridge. ... The Mill Creek offense was expected to be potent with 9 returning starters but it’s been the play of a revamped defense that is once-again drawing attention. CB Jonathan Gipson, DB Jamar Hall, and LB Ayoola Ogun-Semore have anchored the unit that held Colquitt County to just one field goal in the first half and given up just 7 points total in their last two games. ...The Hawks would love to close out their non-region schedule with a win and then a bye week to prepare for their region opener against rival Collins Hill in two weeks.
NORCROSS at NORTH GWINNETT
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tom Robinson Memorial Stadium, Suwanee
-- NORCROSS (2-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAAAAAA): Ranked No. 6 in Class AAAAAAA; bye last week; defeated Collins Hill 17-14 two weeks ago
-- NORTH GWINNETT (2-1, 0-0 Region 6-AAAAAAA): Ranked No. 9 in Class AAAAAAA; defeated Hillgrove 42-24 last week
-- NOTABLE: Norcross leads series 14-8. The Blue Devils won 38-10 in 2015. Norcross has won three straight and 4 of the last 5 meetings. ... The two arch-rivals are not in the same region for the first time since 1995. ... Primarily a team that likes to run the ball, Norcross QB Baron Radcliff has thrown for 384 yards so far. ... North Gwinnett QB Cade Fortin has thrown for 661 yards and 7 TDs. He had 2 INTs in the Bulldogs loss to Brookwood and none in their two victories. ... WR L.J. Fisher has 4 TD catches so far for North Gwinnett. ... A young Bulldogs team is looking for a signature win to show they are back in the conversation among the elites in the top classification.
PICKENS at NORTH HALL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Brickyard, Gainesville
-- PICKENS (1-1, 0-0 Region 6-AAAA): Lost 18-10 to Pepperell last week
-- NORTH HALL (2-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Bye last week; defeated Flowery Branch 21-20 two weeks ago
-- NOTABLE: North Hall leads series 16-7. The first meeting since 2009 and the Trojans have won four straight and 8 of the last 9 going back to 1987. ... North Hall has had two weeks to settle down after winning a thriller over its Hall County rivals. Kyle Bacus also has had two weeks to rest his bruised ribs, which did not slow him down in a 222-yard performance against the Falcons. ... The Dragons defense has been tough allowing just 37 points (18.5 ppg) against the Class AAAAAA Cougars team and a Pepperell team that averaged 31 ppg last year. ... The Trojans has been more of a bend-but-don’t-break unit so far holding off a pair of late rallies in the first two games. They will have their hands full against a Dragons offense that put up 49 on a AAAAAA defense.
PRINCE AVENUE CHRISTIAN at TOWNS COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Frank McClure Stadium, Hiawassee
-- PRINCE AVENUE CHRISTIAN (3-0, 2-0 Region 8-A): Ranked No. 3 in Class A Private; defeated Athens Christian 7-0 in overtime last week
-- TOWNS COUNTY (1-1, 0-1 Region 8-A): Lost 21-6 to George Walton last week
-- NOTABLE: Prince Avenue leads series 4-0. The Wolverines won 42-14 in 2015. ... The Indians put up a competitive fight last week in their region opener for new coach John Cornett but they still are having trouble scoring in region contests. They have averaged just 9.1 ppg since the 2014 season scoring 7 points or less 11 times with six shutouts in that span. Prince Avenue, a semifinalists in 2015, will be another tough defense. They have yielded just 14 points with two shutouts already. ... The Indians next six opponents are a combined 11-4 so far in 2016.
RIVERSIDE MILITARY at GEORGE WALTON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Monroe
-- RIVERSIDE MILITARY (1-1, 1-1 Region 8-A): Defeated Providence Christian 27-24 last
-- GEORGE WALTON (2-0, 1-0 Region 8-A): Defeated Towns County 21-6 last week
-- NOTABLE: George Walton leads series 5-3. The Bulldogs won the last meeting 42-6 in 2011 in Monroe. ... The Eagles, behind a huge game from Isaac Teasley, rallied for their first win last week. Teasley had a pair of passing TDs, 1 rushing TD, and ran a kickoff back for a touchdown as well. They will need another effort like that against a Bulldogs defense that has allowed just 13 points. Riverside also is looking for its first back-to-back wins since 2013. ... George Walton behind a solid ground game is averaging 33.5 ppg so far and the Eagles defense has yielded 58 points (29 ppg) in its first two games. The Bulldogs got 5 rushing TDs and also forced 5 turnovers with two defensive touchdowns in a win over Social Circle.
UNION COUNTY at ANDREWS (N.C.)
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Wildcat Stadium, Andrews, N.C.
-- UNION COUNTY (2-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Hayesville, (N.C.) 61-7 last week
-- ANDREWS (N.C.) (1-2): Lost 34-7 to Mitchell (Bakersville, N.C.) last week
-- NOTABLE: Union County leads the series 14-1-1. The Panthers won 35-6 in 2015. The two teams are meeting for the fifth straight season after taking a 30-year hiatus. The only Andrews victory in the series came in 1981 (21-6) in Blairsville. The two teams tied 6-6 in 1969. ... Last week’s win for the Panthers was the largest margin of victory over Hayesville, and the 61 points set a school record for Union and was the most ever scored by either team in a series that goes back to 1957. ... The Panthers defense has yielded just 23 points on the season and gave up just 147 total yards vs. Hayesville and forced 5 turnovers. Union QBs Cole Wright and Pierson Allison combined for 166 yards passing to 8 different receivers.
WEST HALL at JACKSON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Panther Stadium, Jefferson
-- WEST HALL (2-1, 0-0 Region 7-AAAA): Defeated Washington-Wilkes 10-0 last week
-- JACKSON COUNTY (1-2, 0-0 Region 8-AAA): Lost 26-13 to Lumpkin County last week
-- NOTABLE: Series is tied 5-5. First meeting between the two teams since 1999. West Hall won that game 33-7 in Oakwood. ... The Spartans have won two straight while the Panthers have dropped their last two games, but both losses came to teams that are undefeated. ... Neither team has lit up the scoreboard this year with the Spartans averaging 20.6 and the Panthers averaging just 15 ppg. ... The West Hall defense has gotten better with each game allowing 20, 14, and then shutting out the Tigers last week. ... The Panthers will have to find a way to get their offense going behind QB Caleb Matthews and WR Zane Corley. ... West Hall RB Tyrese Osborne had his third straight 100-yard game for the Spartans last week. ... The Spartans are 4-1 in their last five road games, with the only loss coming to Calhoun in the 2015 playoffs. They are 2-0 on the road in 2016.
WHITE COUNTY at RABUN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Frank Snyder Stadium, Tiger
-- RADIO: www.wrwh.com
-- WHITE COUNTY (0-2, 0-0 Region 7-AAAA): Lost 29-23 to Habersham Central last week
-- RABUN COUNTY (1-0, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Ranked No. 3 in Class AA; defeated Stephens County 24-10 last week
-- NOTABLE: Rabun County leads series 24-10. It is the first meeting between the teams since 2001, a 17-14 White County win. The schools met 32 times between 1958 and 1997 but just twice since then. ... The Wildcats were another team that had to wait an extra week to get started but looked in midseason form against a solid Stephens County team last week. One week after the Indians scored 61 against Franklin County, the Wildcats held them to one touchdown and just 181 total yards. Rabun County erased a 7-0 Stephens County lead and then scored the final 14 points in the fourth quarter. ... The Warriors let a 23-14 lead last week slip away in the final four minutes. They have allowed 55 points in their two losses and they allowed 352 yards to the Raiders last week. They are trying to avoid their second straight 0-3 start to a season.
