It may be the lightest schedule of the season with just 14 high school football games set for northeast Georgia, but Friday (and Saturday) night certainly won't lack for punch with some monster showdowns on tap.
Buford's matchup with South Pointe (S.C.) may not have any playoff implications, but it pits two of the South's biggest powers against each other at Tom Riden Stadium. The Stallions (3-0) are ranked No. 1 in the Palmetto State and are also ranked No. 28 in MaxPreps and No. 8 in the USA Today national polls. The Wolves (2-0), meanwhile, are ranked No. 2 in Class AAAAA in Georgia and 95th overall in MaxPreps.
Class AAAA No. 5 Jefferson will play host to Flowery Branch and former coach Ben Hall at Memorial Stadium. The Dragons (2-1) are coming off a bye week after a gut-wrenching loss to Thomson while the undefeated Falcons (3-0) are the biggest suprise of the season already matching last year's entire win total. It also will showcase two of the area's best running backs in Jefferson's Colby Wood and the Falcons' Malik Damons.
Meanwhile, Class AAAAAA No. 9 Winder-Barrow (3-0) is ranked for the first time in years and will put its unbeaten streak on the line against a winless Loganville (0-3) squad that has won 13 of the 15 all-time meetings against the Bulldoggs.
Hurricane Irma forced the cancellation of one game when the East Jackson-Glynn Academy contest had to be called off after the Red Terrors were not able to get out of a ravaged Glynn County. The game was initially set for kickoff in Brunswick only to be moved to Commerce before finally being called off all together.
The Stephens County at Habersham Central rivalry showdown also had to be moved to a Saturday kickoff.
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. 15
(Games listed in alphabetical order of visiting team)
ANDREWS (N.C.) at FANNIN COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Rebel Stadium, Blue Ridge
-- ANDREWS (N.C.) (1-3, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Lost 42-14 to Union County last week
-- FANNIN COUNTY (1-2, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Lost 31-7 to Chestatee last week
-- NOTABLE: Fannin County leads series 2-0. The Rebels won 42-0 in 2016. ... After a solid 42-0 season-opening win over Gilmer, the Rebels have struggled on both sides of the ball. The have been outscored 62-7 over their past two games. ... But the Wildcats have struggled on defense allowing 32 ppg while scoring just 14.5 ppg so far. ... A win for the Rebels would match their entire total for 2016. ... Fannin’s spread attack will to Jr. QB Tyler Norton and Sr. receivers Dawson King and Luke Cowart, who have combined for 3 TD catches so far.
APALACHEE at WALNUT GROVE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Warriors Stadium, Walnut Grove
-- APALACHEE (1-2, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAAA): Defeated Discovery 29-28 last week
-- WALNUT GROVE (0-3, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Lost 38-7 to Monroe Area last week
-- NOTABLE: Apalachee leads series 1-0. The Wildcats won 14-13 in 2016. ... The Wildcats begin a three-game road trip with a chance to equal 2016’s win total in the first month of the season. RB Lorenzo Stephenson had a career-game with 4 TDs and a game-winning 2-point try last week scoring 26 of the Wildcats’ 29 points. ... A victory would give Apalachee its best start since opening 5-1 in 2010. ... The Warriors have really struggled sitting in the bottom 11 in AAAAA in both scoring (35, 11.7 ppg) and points allowed (116, 38.7 ppg). ... The Wildcats have allowed the 8th-most points (110, 36.7 ppg) in AAAAAA.
BANKS COUNTY at UNION COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Mike Colwell Memorial Stadium, Blairsville
-- BANKS COUNTY (1-2, 0-0 Region 8-AA): Bye last week; defeated Johnson 47-6 two weeks ago
-- UNION COUNTY (3-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Andrews, (N.C.) 42-14
-- NOTABLE: Union County leads series 20-18. The Panthers won 42-28 in 2016. ... The teams have split the last four meetings but Banks County has won 7 of the last 10 going back to 2003. ... Banks County has won the last three meetings in Blairsville. The Panthers are just 11-8 vs. the Leopards all-time at Mike Colwell Memorial Stadium. ... But this will be a tough matchup for the Leopards defense against Union County QB Cole Wright (36-61, 493 yards, 6 TD, 1 INT passing; 19-316, 6 TD rushing) and the Panthers spread attack. Seven different players have caught TD passes and nine players have scored offensive touchdowns so far for Union County. ... The Panthers are the second-highest scoring team in Class AAA (158, 52.7 ppg) while the Leopards have yielded 23 ppg on defense. ... The Leopards offense, which sported several new parts coming into 2017, is starting to come around. Sr. QB Trevor Thomas (21-44, 433 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT passing) is improving each week to go with the ground game led by Sr. RB Clayton Dykhouse (51-295 yards, 4 TD rush; 9 rec., 144 yards, 1 TD). Sr. WR Blake Segars is a big-play threat with just 8 receptions for 217 yards (27.1 ypc) and 3 TDs in just two games of work. ... Union County is 4th-best in scoring defense (35, 11.6 ppg) in Class AAA.
EAST HALL at JACKSON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Panthers Stadium, Jefferson
-- EAST HALL (2-1, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Defeated Johnson 60-7 last week
-- JACKSON COUNTY (3-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAA): Lost 31-21 to West Hall last week
-- NOTABLE: East Hall leads series 7-4. The Vikings won 38-22 in 2016. ... The Panthers had won three straight in the series until last season’s loss. ... It will be Jackson County’s turn to see if it can stop the highest-scoring team in Class AAA. The Vikings have scored 174 points (58 ppg) all against higher-classification opponents. The Panthers defense, however, has only allowed 61 points (15.2 ppg) and 14 of West Hall’s points came on a INT return for a touchdown and then a short field after another Jackson County turnover. ... The Vikings have not started a season 3-1 since 2013 while Jackson County is off to its best start since 2009. ... The Panthers ground game behind Sr. Noah Venable (753 yards, 7 TD, 4 100-yard games) may be the key. They will need to grind out long drives to keep the explosive Vikings offense off the field.
FLOWERY BRANCH at JEFFERSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Memorial Stadium, Jefferson
-- RADIO: 102.9 FM
-- FLOWERY BRANCH (3-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Defeated Stephens County 31-6 last week
-- JEFFERSON (2-1, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Ranked No. 5 in Class AAAA, bye last week; lost 20-14 to Class AAAA No. 2-ranked Thomson two weeks ago
-- NOTABLE: Jefferson leads series 1-0. The Dragons won 33-0 in 2016 in Flowery Branch. ... The storylines abound in this one. Flowery Branch is coached by Ben Hall, who left the Dragons after the 2016 season. Former Hall assistant, and former Habersham Central coach Gene Cathcart, is now in charge in Jefferson. ... The Falcons may be the biggest surprise of the season so far already matching their win total from all of 2016 and have been dominating in the process. ... Two of the best RBs in the area will be featured in Jefferson’s Colby Wood (31 car., 328 yards, 6 TD) and the Falcons’ Malik Damons (68 car., 458 yards, 7 TD). ... Flowery Branch is tied for 6th in scoring (112, 37.3 ppg) in AAAAA and is averaging over 365 yards a game while the Dragons defense is allowing just 11 ppg, good for 5th-best in AAAA, with 4 turnovers and surrendering less than 200 yards a game to opposing offenses. ... The Flowery Branch defense leads AAAAA in scoring defense (13, 4.3 ppg) and has a whopping 32 TFL, including 12 sacks, and generated 5 turnovers in three games. The Dragons are averaging 35.7 ppg. ... Flowery Branch has not started a season 4-0 since 2011. Jefferson has not started a season 2-2 since 2010.
LANIER at LAMBERT
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Lambert Stadium, Cumming
-- LANIER (1-2, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAAA): Lost 22-7 to Class AAAAAA No. 5 Northside-Warner Robins
-- LAMBERT (1-2, 0-0 Region 5-AAAAAAA): Defeated Cherokee 28-0 last week
-- NOTABLE: Lanier leads series 3-0. Lanier won 35-28 in 2016. ... Lanier, which began varsity play in 2013, has never started a season worse than 2-2 ... Lanier used last year’s win over Lambert to ignite a 5-game winning streak. But, Lanier will need to find some offense. Lanier scored on the first play of the game last week when Zach Calzada connected with Chris Lockett on a 60-yard TD pass. They could generate little else against the powerful Eagles. ... Lambert did get its first win of the season last week but it came against a winless Warriors team (0-4) that has scored just 6 points in 2017 and yielded 136 points (34 ppg). ... A usually potent Lanier ground game is averaging just 118 yards a game with Jr. L.a Harper (28 car., 136 yards, 1TD) leading the way. ... Lockett is a big-play receiver averaging 22.7 yards a catch (6 rec., 136 yards, 1 TD) on the season. ... The Lanier defense is yielding 21 ppg after allowing just 16.9 ppg i 2016.
LUMPKIN COUNTY at CHESTATEE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: War Eagle Stadium, Gainesville
-- RADIO: northgeorgiasportslink.com
-- LUMPKIN COUNTY (0-3, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Lost 28-7 to Madison County last week
-- CHESTATEE (2-2, 0-0 Region 7-AAAA): Defeated Fannin County 31-7 last week
-- NOTABLE: Chestatee leads series 7-2. The War Eagles won 38-33 in 2016. ... Chestatee has won three straight in the series. The last Lumpkin County came in 2011, 41-18 in Dahlonega. ... The Indians have struggled early on implementing new systems on both sides of the ball. Their new spread attack scored on its first possessions of the season against White County but has generated just two touchdowns in 11 quarters since. The Indians also have allowed the 4th-most points (129, 43 ppg) in AAA. ... The key for the War Eagles so far has been more about their defense than their high-flying offense. In their two wins, they have allowed just 19 points (9.5 ppg). In their two losses, they have surrendered 102 points (51 ppg). The offense is still averaging 29.2 ppg despite managing just 7 in a loss to Flowery Branch. ... Lumpkin County has lost 9 straight road games going back to 2015. The Indians are trying to avoid their first 0-4 start since 2013.
NORTH FORSYTH at PICKENS
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Dragon Stadium, Jasper
-- NORTH FORSYTH (2-1, 0-0 Region 5-AAAAAAA): Bye last week; defeated Loganville 24-17 two weeks ago
-- PICKENS (2-1, 0-0 Region 6-AAAA): Defeated North Hall 42-35 last week
-- NOTABLE: North Forsyth leads series 4-3. The Raiders won 35-31 in 2016. ... The Raiders are just a late field goal from being undefeated and their best start since 2013. ... The Dragons offense has been explosive going back to the last half of last season. They currently are 5th in AAAA in scoring average at 41.7 ppg and have averaged 38 ppg over their past 8 games. Sr. QB Jacob Brumby (55-of-87, 780 yards, 8 TD, 3 INT; 35 car., 136 yards), Jr. WR Zach Goss (23 rec., 427 7 TD) and Jr. RB Robert Davis (30 car., 354 yards, 4 TD) lead a group that is averaging 544 yards of offense a game. ... The Raiders defense, however, is yielding just 17.7 ppg. ... The North Forsyth has been consistent scoring 28, 28, and 24 points in its first three games behind Sr. QB Ben Bales (48-of-80, 735 yards, 9 TD, 2 INT) who has a trio of WRs -- Nick Dalmolin, Cedric Touchstone, Tristan and Howard -- who have collected 32 receptions for 669 yards and 7 TDs as a group.
SOUTH POINTE (S.C.) at BUFORD
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tom Riden Stadium, Buford
-- RADIO: WDUN AM 550
-- SOUTH POINTE (S.C.) (3-0): Ranked No. 1 in Class AAAA in South Carolina, bye last week; defeated Rock Hill (S.C.) 45-9 two weeks ago
-- BUFORD (2-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAA): Ranked No. 2 in Class AAAAA, bye last two weeks; defeated Melbourne (Fla.) 34-17 on Aug. 25
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... It is not the first time the Wolves have taken on a national power. Buford played Alabama power Jeff Davis out of Montgomery in 2016, traveled to Timberview out of Mansfield, Tex., in 2008, and traveled to Grove City (Ohio) in 2007. ... It is the fourth consecutive season the Wolves have played an out-of-state teams and they are 9-0 all-time against out-of-state opponents. ... But, this will be the Wolves' toughest challenge on that front. South Pointe is led by QB Derion Kendrick (Clemson commit), DE Eli Adams (Virginia Tech) and K B.T. Potter (Clemson). Buford is led RBs Anthony Grant (24 car., 160 yards, 2 TDs) a Tennessee-commit, and Christian Turner (23 car., 254 yards, 3 TDs) a Michigan-commit. Fr. QB Aaron McLaughlin (23-of-43, 270 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT) could be the X-factor for the Wolves.
TOWNS COUNTY at RIVERSIDE MILITARY ACADEMY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Maginnis Field, Gainesville
-- TOWNS COUNTY (1-2, 0-2 Region 8-A): Lost 28-0 to Class A No. 2-ranked Prince Avenue last week
-- RIVERSIDE MILITARY ACADEMY (0-3, 0-3 Region 8-A): Lost 16-13 to George Walton last week
-- NOTABLE: Towns County leads series 11-8. The Indians won 13-6 in 2016 as the series resumed for the first time since 2001. The Eagles last win came in 2001, 49-20 at home. ... Both teams need a victory to get back into playoff race in the power rankings. The Indians had a tough opening schedule with George Walton and No. 2 Prince Avenue, who are a combined 6-0 so far. Offense was the key scoring just 7 total points in the past games. ... Riverside has been close under new coach Nick Garrett the last two weeks losing by a pair of field goals. The defense was tough yielding just 33 points in losses to Providence Christian and George Walton but the offense is scoring just 13.3 ppg.
WEST HALL at DAWSON COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tiger Stadium, Dawsonville
-- RADIO: northgeorgiasportslink.com
-- WEST HALL (3-1, 0-0 Region 7-AAAA): Defeated Jackson County 31-21 last week
-- DAWSON COUNTY (2-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Ranked No. 7 in Class AAA, bye last week; defeated Chattooga 29-14 two weeks ago
-- NOTABLE: West Hall leads series 5-3. The Spartans won 30-23 in overtime in 2016. The teams have split the last two meetings but West Hall has won 3 of the 5 meetings since the series resumed in 2012. ... Last year’s game was an instant classic with the Spartans using a goalline stand to stop Dawson County star QB Coey Watson at the 1 in overtime. ... This has the makings of another classic. Both teams have been stellar defensively. ... Since a 20-0 loss to Gainesville in their opener, the Spartans have allowed just 28 points (9.3 ppg) during their 3-game win streak and generated two defensive scores. They are in the top 10 in scoring defense (12.0 ppg) in Class AAAA. ... Dawson County is tied for second in Class AAA (7.0 ppg) in scoring defense with seven players recording 10 or more tackles, paced by Sr. Nate Umberger with 27 tackles. As a unit they have posted 18 TFL with 9 sacks. ... Watson could be the key. He is averaging over 200 all-purpose yards a game and the Spartans will need to find a way to slow him down.
WHITE COUNTY at NORTH HALL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Brickyard, Gainesville
-- RADIO: www.wrwh.com
-- WHITE COUNTY (3-1, 0-0 Region 7-AAAA): Lost 49-26 to Class AA No. 5 Rabun County last week
-- NORTH HALL (0-3, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Lost 42-35 to Pickens last week
-- NOTABLE: Series is tied 22-22. White County won 24-23 in overtime in 2016 It was the Warriors only win of the 2016 season. ... The Warriors have won 3 of the last 4 in a series that goes back to 1960. North Hall had won 16 straight from 1988 to 2009. ... The Warriors have been one of the biggest of the season so far already tripling their win total from all of 2016. They ran into a Wildcats team last week that is expected to challenge for the Class AA state title. But, the Warriors trailed just 28-26 until Rabun used a 21-point outburst in a 5-minute stretch in the fourth quarter. ... A young North Hall team has been battling injuries but saw improvement last week despite the loss. They led 28-7 before the Dragons exploded in the second half against a smaller Trojans defense. ... White County is looking for its best start since 2013 (4-1).
WINDER-BARROW at LOGANVILLE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Red Devil Stadium, Loganville
-- WINDER-BARROW (3-0, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAAA): Ranked No. 9 in Class AAAAAA, bye last week; defeated Northview 38-14 two weeks ago
-- LOGANVILLE (0-3, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAAA): Lost 21-3 to Eastside last week
-- NOTABLE: Loganville leads series 13-2. The Red Devils won in 2016. ... It is a relatively new rivalry with all 15 meetings coming since 2000. The last Winder win was in 2014, 46-7 in Winder. The Bulldoggs are 1-6 all-time at Red Devil Stadium. ... Winder’s offense, which is tied for 5th in AAAAAA in scoring (120 points, 40 ppg) is getting the balance coach Heath Webb wants. The passing game is averaging 218 yards a game behind Sr. QB Brock Landis (42-of-76, 608 yards, 7 RD, 1 INT) while the ground game is churning out 177 yards a game behind Jr. Jamar Mack (54 car., 249 yards, 2 TD) and Sr. Sterling Sumpter (25-141, 2 TD). Seven different receivers have caught TD passes, led Sr. Jaidon Turner (12-188, 2 TD). ... The Red Devils troubles are on offense where they are averaging just 160 total yards a game and tied for 8th-fewest in AAAAA (34, 11.3 ppg) after averaging 30 ppg in 2016. ... Loganville has not started a season 0-3 since 2001 and the last 0-4 start was in 1997.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR Sept. 16
(Games listed in alphabetical order of visiting team)
STEPHENS COUNTY at HABERSHAM CENTRAL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Raider Stadium, Mt. Airy
-- RADIO: WCON 99.3 FM
-- STEPHENS COUNTY (1-2, 0-0 Region 8-AAAA): Lost 31-6 to Flowery Branch last week
-- HABERSHAM CENTRAL (1-2, 0-0 Region 8-AAAAAA): Lost 46-45 to Franklin County last week
-- NOTABLE: Stephens County leads series 28-11-1. The Indians won 27-7 in 2016. ... Stephens County has won 12 straight in the series. The last Habersham victory came in 1996, 16-10 in Mt. Airy. ... It has been a bitter rivalry over the years and this year’s intriguing storyline is that Raiders’ starting QB A.J. Curry was a starting WR for Stephens County in 2016 before moving. ... The Raiders’ two losses have been by a total of 4 points. ... The Indians schedule has been tough. Their losses came to Rabun County and Flowery Branch, who are a combined 6-0, and Stephens scored just 12 total points. The Indians are averaging just 220 yards a game on offense. The Indians defense also yielded 59 points in the losses. The Raiders offense will present another huge challenge. ... Habersham is 2nd in AAAAAA in points scored (138) and No. 1 in scoring average (46 ppg) behind Curry and Co. ... However, the Raiders defense has been porous yielding the 4th-most points (125, 41.7 ppg) and allowed 46 last week to a Lions team that had not scored a single point all season and lost 28-0 to Stephens County on Aug. 25.
