Here's a look at five things we learned from Week 6 of the high school football season...
1. East Hall's offense is ready for its toughest test of the (regular) season
The Vikings (5-1, 2-0 Region 7-AAA) have rolled through every defense faced so far this season -- the lowest they've scored in a contest so far came in a 42-14 defeat of Lumpkin County; they've scored 60 or more twice. In fact, they have the No. 1 scoring offense in Class AAA -- by 70 total points -- thanks to a dual-threat quarterback, dynamic running back and big-play receivers (not to mention a consistent offensive line). It's even the second-highest scoring offense across all classifications -- and No. 1 Lee County has played two more games. Every facet is firing. And this week, East Hall will find out exactly where it stands amongst the elite of both Class AAA and the entire state when it takes on Greater Atlanta Christian in Norcross. It just so happens the Spartans (5-1, 2-0) possess the No. 2 scoring offense in Class AAA, as well as the No. 8 scoring defense. GAC has yielded just one touchdown in each of its first two 7-AAA contests of the campaign. The Spartans boast collegate-level talent throughout the lineup, including five-star defensive end Christopher Hinton, three-star defensive back Trey Morrison and three-star defensive tackle Nazir Sly. In other words, the Spartans are loaded. There again, so is East Hall. The Vikings boast the top passer in the state (QB Austin Parker already has close to 2,000 yards in just over half a season), a running back close to the top 50 in rushing yardage in Cambren Harrison (750 yards) and a receiver near the top 30 in yardage in Sedrion Morse (and several others with impressive totals). It will be interesting to see just where East Hall stands during Friday's test -- and we are in no way counting these Vikings out.
2. For Gainesville, Habersham Central the playoffs start this week
The Red Elephants and Raiders are a combined 2-8, each riding four-game losing skids -- but don't let the records fool you. Both teams are more than capable. Habersham has lost its four games by an average just over 2 points per game (no deficit by more than 4). Gainesville, meanwhile, has lost to four opponents that boast a combined record of 19-4 (two of which are ranked inside their respective top 6) -- and did so for much of that four-game skid without starting quarterback Tre Luttrell, who returned from a shoulder injury last week (after a month on the sidelines). The Region 8-AAAAAA schedule begins for both this week in a showdown at City Park. And with six teams vying for four postseason spots in 8-AAAAAA, both Elephants and Raiders might as well think of this week as the start of the postseason. At the very least this contest will do plenty to determine the playoff pedigree of each. Not only will the winner prove that it is over the doldrums of the non-region schedule and focused on the here and now, it will also give the victor a huge step up in the playoff race. With so few teams in the league every win is vital. And both teams enter this week needing a win in the worst way. It should be an interesting match-up that pits Habersham's high-flying offense (the fourth-ranked in Class AAAAAA) against a Gainesville defense that has impressed in each game. Meanwhile, the Red Elephants offense will look to get going against a Raiders defense that has also struggled this season. Get ready to see some emotion and conviction on display Friday in Gainesville.
3. Buford is going to be just fine
The Wolves came into Friday's Region 8-AAAAA opener having played just once in the entire month of September -- and that being a 33-27 home loss to a stellar South Pointe, S.C., team. Buford has experienced adversity in the past, but with a (partially) new coaching staff at the helm and the frustrating nature of the past month in the rearview, it would have been easy for these Wolves to start questioning themselves. Instead, they returned to their roots completely dismaintling a fired up region foe that hoped to make a statement, hammering Clarke Central 45-7 on Friday. The only statement made was that, yes, Buford is still Buford. Anyone drawing final conclusions based on the loss to an incredible South Pointe team is shortsighted indeed. Yes, Buford is still settling in under John Ford. But the Wolves are still an incredible team, whose only loss was to a similarly-outstanding program. And even with so little game time, they still have plenty of firepower to deal with the rigors of Region 8-AAAAA. And by the time the region schedule is complete it wouldn't surprise us to see that talent ready for yet another state championship game run.
4. Dawson County's offense starting to click again -- with several new faces
Prior to the 2017 campaign, the only sure thing (at least in our eyes) for the Dawson County offense lay at quarterback and coaching. Senior Coey Watson was a proven commodity, and the Tigers' staff had been impressive after Sid Maxwell took the reins in 2015. It was fairly safe to assume Dawson had talent elsewhere -- it's certainly ascending in Dawsonville these days -- but talent without experience is always a risky proposition. And we did not know which side of the risk/reward ledger the Tigers would fall on with so many new faces in starting positions. As the stats (and now the records) are showing, the changes are starting to have quite the positive effect. Running back Vaughn Clark (also pressed into service as quarterback when Watson suffered an early-season knee injury) is starting to develop into a dynamic playmaker, while receivers Ethan Cameron and Ryan Glass are coming into their own as perimeter and deep threats. And with Watson coming back into rude health, it looks like the Tigers are hitting their offensive stride at just the right time. They rolled to a decisive early lead in a 30-7 win over North Hall last week -- Dawson's first Region 7-AAA contest. And now comes a Union County team smarting from last week's shootout loss at East Hall. The Panthers are sure to test the Tigers defense (Union owns the third-highest scoring offense in Class AAA), but you can be sure Dawson's attack will do much the same for Union's defense.
5. Jefferson shows impressive backfield depth
It's one thing to dominate when everyone is healthy and firing, it's another to do so when leaders are out injured. And the Dragons showed on Friday that -- even when one of their bona fide stars is on the bench -- they will still be a force. Senior running back Colby Wood -- a four-year bell-cow for the Dragons -- sat out Jefferson's contest with Madison County last week (Jefferson's first Region 8-AAAA battle of the season), and they never missed a beat in a 49-0 shutout win. Three backs -- Justin Cole, Donsha Gaither and Colby Clark each took turns carrying the load and making an impact, while a stout line of scrimmage cleared the way. The Dragons have had plenty of talent over the past decade, but it is talented depth that has is now helping to mark them out as one of the unique programs in northeast Georgia (and, for that matter, the entire state).
WEEK 6 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES, SEPT. 29
Athens Academy 40, Riverside Military Academy 20
Athens Christian 34, Lakeview Academy 30
Buford 45, Clarke Central 7
Dawson County 30, North Hall 7
East Hall 62, Union County 42
Flowery Branch 35, Cedar Shoals 21
Greater Atlanta Christian 55, Fannin County 7
Hebron Christian Academy 29, Towns County 7
Jefferson 49, Madison County 0
Marist 39, Gainesville 14
Monroe Area 42, Jackson County 14
Morgan County 56, East Jackson 6
North Gwinnett 35, Mill Creek 21
Prince Avenue Christian 21, Commerce 6
Rabun County 45, Banks County 7
Walnut Grove 42, Johnson 0
Winder-Barrow 56, Apalachee 14
WEEK 7 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, OCT. 6
Buford at Johnson
Chestatee at West Hall
Commerce at Providence Christian
Dacula at Apalachee
Dawson County at Union County
Discovery at Mill Creek
East Hall at Greater Atlanta Christian
Habersham Central at Gainesville
Jackson County at Franklin County
Lumpkin County at North Hall
Monroe Area at East Jackson
North Forsyth at Forsyth Central
Prince Avenue Christian at Lakeview Academy
Putnam County at Rabun County
St. Pius at Stephens County
Walnut Grove at Flowery Branch
White County at Blessed Trinity
Winder-Barrow at Lanier
