Here's a look at five things we learned from Week 5 of high school football...
1. Dykehouse can do it all for Leopards
Banks County made its way almost 90 miles south on Friday on the heels of a lopsided loss at Union County. The Leopards also knew they were entering Region 8-AA play without a known quantity at quarterback after both starter and back-up went down to injury. The Leopards had Clayton Dykehouse, however, and that proved quite a difference. The senior running back, pressed into the quarterback role, took ownership of the Banks County offense, rushing for 225 yards and also passing for a 50-yard touchdown to fire the Leopards back from a 14-0 halftime deficit and take a big step forward as the playoff race got underway. Banks County knew that Dykehouse would be a key for its offense this season -- and he was most definitely the rock that the Leopards built their response on on Friday, and you can be sure that Banks will continue to do so.
2. Commerce ready for prime time
The Tigers have quietly put together quite the early season. Not only is Commerce 4-0 (3-0 in Region 8-A), it is currently second in the GHSA Class A Public power ratings (14.78 points, just behind No. 1 1 Mt. Zion-Carroll at 14.92), owns the 17th-highest scoring offense in all of Class A and has allowed just 60 points combined -- a number of those scores coming late after the Tigers built sizable leads. Commerce has already shown it can win tight games against good teams, edging a strong Hebron Christian 29-26 (Hebron has allowed just 29 points in its other three games combined). But this week brings one of the two ultimate tests in Region 8-A, as No. 2-ranked Prince Avenue Christian pays a visit to Ray Lamb Stadium. The Wolverines battled through George Walton Academy on Friday, 28-14, and survived Athens Christian, 30-24. Now, we know there is no such thing as a transative property in high school football -- match-ups, injuries and the unpredictability of high school athletes mean that truly anything can happen on any given Friday -- BUT Commerce is coming off a comfortable, 35-0 defeat of Athens Christian. It was a win that showed that a young Tigers offense is continuing to grow, and with a defense that was already solid, this team looks like it is in a very good place as it gets set for its biggest test so far.
3. North Gwinnett has a grit that will serve the Bulldogs well
Considering the injuries that have begun to pile up for North Gwinnett -- not to mention the quality of the opponent -- it would have been very easy for the Bulldogs to fold up on Friday night. Trailing a strong Mountain View team 14-12 in the fourth quarter, however, the Bulldogs dug deep and responded with two unanswered touchdowns to seal a key win. After losing starting quarterback Cade Fortin earlier this season, the Bulldogs watched rising star running back Tyler Goodson leave Friday's game through injury. New North Gwinnett coach Bill Stewart talked about instilling a toughness in his program this preseason, and the Bulldogs displayed that with impressive results. Sophomore Devin Crosby stepped in to fill the breach created by Goodson's absence, and North Gwinnett rolled its way to a win that could prove huge in the meat-grinder Region 6-AAAAAAA schedule. It also set the Bulldogs up for a huge showdown this week with Mill Creek -- a program Stewart helped mold into a back-to-back state semifinalist as defensive coordinator. Whatever happens the rest of the way, you can bet these 'Dogs will continue to fight.
4. East Hall's defense is coming into focus
The Vikings may well have the most explosive offense in the state -- it's certainly the highest scoring at 261 points (38 more than No. 2 Cedar Grove, which has played one more game). But we wondered if that offense might end up chasing its tail for much of the season after the East Hall defense yielded 72 points in a season-opening loss. But the Vikings have come on leaps and bounds since. And while they have yielded 156 total this season -- they are giving up 21 points per game since that opening week shootout against Habersham Central. The Vikings have displayed much improved technique and fundamentals as the season has advanced -- not only that, they are starting to make plays. Just look at Friday's win for example. East Hall forced three turnovers on downs against Lumpkin County, including a goal line stand, and also ripped one ball away and returned it for a touchdown to help swing the momentum early on. With the offense East Hall boasts, if its defense can keep making plays, they are in for very big things in Region 7-AAA.
5. Lakeview's chance to make a statement is now
The Lions were painfully close to making the state playoffs last season -- mere percentage points. And Lakeview has shown continued improvement and promise this season behind an offense that features quarterback Alec Bornhorst, receiver KJ Millwood and running back Dillon Knepp. The Lions stormed to their first region win last week, 35-14 over a similarly improved Providence Christian. Yet if the program is to make the proverbial leap forward and grab the playoff bull by the horns, the opportunity to do so is now. Lakeview travels to Athens Christian this week, and a win on the road against an established program would make a statement and show just how far this program has come.
WEEK 5 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES, SEPT. 22
Athens Academy 53, Towns County 13
Banks County 35, Monticello 21
Chestatee 41, Habersham Central 37
Commerce 35, Athens Christian 0
East Hall 42, Lumpkin County 14
Flowery Branch 54, Johnson 6
Greater Atlanta Christian 47, Union County 7
Hebron Christian Academy 48, Riverside Military Academy 7
Jefferson 33, Gainesville 3
Lakeview Academy 35, Providence Christian 14
Lanier 36, St. Pius 33
Mill Creek 45, Collins Hill 13
Monroe Area 42, Apalachee 0
North Gwinnett 27, Mountain View 14
North Hall 13, Fannin County 0
Rabun County 49, West Hall 8
Stephens County 33, Hart County 21
White County 45, Dawson County 42
Winder-Barrow 17, North Oconee 14
Woodstock 49, North Forsyth 17
WEEK 6 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, SEPT. 29
Apalachee at Winder-Barrow
Clarke Central at Buford
Flowery Branch at Cedar Shoals
Gainesville at Marist
Greater Atlanta Christian at Fannin County
Jackson County at Monroe Area
Johnson at Walnut Grove
Lakeview Academy at Athens Christian
Madison County at Jefferson
Mill Creek at North Gwinnett
Morgan County at East Jackson
North Hall at Dawson County
Prince Avenue Christian at Commerce
Rabun County at Banks County
Riverside Military Academy at Athens Academy
Towns County at Hebron Christian Academy
Union County at East Hall
