One historic showdown lived up to its billing, yet there were also several lopsided finishes on Friday night, as Week 5 of high school football action played out around northeast Georgia.
(NOTE: Visit our Friday Game Night page for game stories and video highlights from contests throughout northeast Georgia. Click here for a complete list of state scores.)
Jefferson held on to an early lead, thwarting a furious Gainesville rally, as the Dragons held on for a 31-28 victory in Jefferson in the first ever meeting between the two regional powerhouses.
There was also a thrilling start to Region 7-AAA play for Lumpkin County, as the Indians notched a 30-27 defeat of East Hall in Dahlonega to claim their first region victory under coach Shane Williamson. North Hall also got its 7-AAA campaign off to a winning start, taking out Fannin County 28-9 in Blue Ridge. Union County could not pull off a big upset, however, as Greater Atlanta Christian posted a 35-12 victory to hand the Panthers their first loss of 2016.
Region 6-AAAAAAA also saw Mill Creek and North Gwinnett roll to convincing wins, the Hawks hammering Collins Hill 43-7, and the Bulldogs drilling Mountain View 38-14.
Flowery Branch also bounced back from a tough loss to Jefferson with a convincing, 46-7 win over Johnson to open its Region 8-AAAAA campaign.
Elsewhere, Banks County pulled off its late comeback, edging Monticello 29-22 in the Leopards' Region 8-AA opener. And Apalachee also rolled to its second straight victory, fending off Monroe Area 10-7 to build momentum for a showdown with cross-town rival Winder-Barrow. And in Region 8-A, Commerce could not find a way past Athens Christian, falling 21-14 for its first setback of the campaign.
That sums up the close finishes from Friday -- though there were plenty of eye-opening results.
Rabun County kept its season rolling in Oakwood, taking care of West Hall 34-10; the Wildcats are now 3-0. Meanwhile, Habersham Central moved to 4-1, running away from Chestatee 40-14 in Gainesville.
In another notable outcome, Dawson County blanked White County 46-0, as the Tigers stormed back from last week's defeat to West Hall. Stephens County also defeated Hart County 23-6. Lakeview Academy also notched its first win, 31-14 over Providence Christian.
Winder-Barrow and Lanier also shut out opponents, the Bulldoggs blanking North Oconee 38-0, while the Longhorns ripped off their second straight win, shutting out St. Pius 26-0.
WEEK 5 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES, Sept. 23
Apalachee 10, Monroe Area 7
Athens Academy 38, Towns County 14
Athens Christian 21, Commerce 14
Banks County 29, Monticello 22
Buford 48, International School of Broward, Fla. 8
Dawson County 46, White County 0
Flowery Branch 46, Johnson 7
Greater Atlanta Christian 35, Union County 12
Habersham Central 40, Chestatee 14
Hebron Christian Academy 31, Riverside Military Academy 14
Jefferson 31, Gainesville 28
Lakeview Academy 31, Providence Christian 14
Lanier 26, St. Pius X 0
Lumpkin County 30, East Hall 27
Mill Creek 43, Collins Hill 7
North Gwinnett 38, Mountain View 14
North Hall 28, Fannin County 9
Rabun County 34, West Hall 10
Stephens County 23, Hart County 6
Winder-Barrow 38, North Oconee 0
Woodstock 35, North Forsyth 3
