Dust off your stadium seats and grab that foam "No. 1" finger. It's FINALLY time for the official start of the 2018 high school football season.
And northeast Georgia area teams open with a bang on Friday -- and Saturday -- from Statesboro to Forsyth to Atlanta and points in between.
There are several titanic battles on tap in the season openers, including a pair of semifinalists in Buford and Tucker squaring off in the annual Corky Kell Classic at Georgia State Stadium. Rabun County will do battle with Bremen at Paulson Stadium at Georgia Southern in a game that carries a lot of personal significance for the Wildcats and the Shaw family (both head coach Lee Shaw and offensive coordinator Jaybo Shaw).
Those are just a couple of the headliners, but then there is Gainesville opening a season for the first time since 2001 without Bruce Miller at the helm. The Red Elephants, under new coach Heath Webb, face a brutal opener against 2016-17 Class 4A semifinalist Mary Persons, which is 23-3 at Dan Pitts Stadum since 2015.
There are also arch-rival matchups as Chestatee travels to North Hall in the battle for Highway 60 and Towns County, fresh off its first-ever playoff season in 2017, takes on Hayesville (N.C.), the Indians' second-oldest rival, trying to build on last year's historic campaign.
And then there is Hall County's newest program, Cherokee Bluff, which opens its inaugural campaign on Saturday against Whitefield Academy, a playoff team from 2017.
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 AUG. 17
(Games listed in alphabetical order of visiting team)
BUFORD vs. TUCKER (Corky Kell Classic)
-- WHEN: 5:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Georgia State Stadium
-- BUFORD (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-5A): Season opener; finished 11-2, Class 5A semifinalist in 2017
-- TUCKER (0-0, 0-0 Region 4-6A): Season opener; finished 12-2, Class 6A semifinalist in 2017
-- NOTABLE: Tucker leads series 3-2-1. First meeting since 1955, a 7-0 Wolves victory. ... It’s been over 60 years since the two programs have met, but they picked a tremendous time to renew the series. Both programs are two of Georgia’s behemoths over the past 15-plus years with nine combined state titles (Buford has 8 of them) and five other combined runner-up finishes since 2001. ... This should be a slugfest on both sides of the ball no matter who has the ball. It will feature more than a dozen legitimate Division I prospects. ... The key matchup could be Buford’s offense, which features three D-I linemen in front of a talented and deep RB corps, against a Tucker defense that allowed just 140 points last season and returns several key players on that unit.
CHESTATEE at NORTH HALL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: The Brickyard, Gainesville
-- RADIO: 102.9 FM
-- CHESTATEE (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-4A): Season opener; finished 4-6 in 2017
-- NORTH HALL (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-3A): Season opener; finished 4-7, lost in first round of Class 3A playoffs in 2017
-- NOTABLE: North Hall leads series 14-2. Chestatee won 42-12 in 2017. ... The win for the War Eagles last season snapped an 11-game losing streak in the series, but that came with Storm Yarbrough and Nick Lyles at the top of the offense, both of whom have graduated. ... Dynamic sophomore dual-threat QB Christian Charles took over late in the season for Yarbrough and is ready to step in and be an immediate impact. Who will fill Lyles, shoes, however, and give Charles some help will be a key focus early in the season. Charles has a pair of WR in Sr. Bryson Nowlin and Jr. Seth Pressley he can go to but balance is the key for the War Eagles spread attack. ... The Trojans, meanwhile, return 7 on a defense that held Gainesville’s spread offense to just one score in last week’s scrimmage, and that came with just 3 seconds left in the game. ... The North Hall offense also is expected to be even more potent in 2018. The Trojans are expected to employ a few more RPO wrinkles to take advantage of QB David Seavy and a bevy of RB/WR that can interchange, including Daniel Jackson, Drew Faulkner, and Luke Volle. ... North Hall has won 6 straight at home vs. its arch-rivals. The Trojans only home loss in the series came in 2005, a 17-10 setback.
DAWSON COUNTY at HABERSHAM CENTRAL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Raider Stadium, Mt. Airy
-- RADIO: WCON 99.3 FM; nogasportslink.com
-- DAWSON COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-3A): Season opener; finished 8-4, lost 2nd round of Class 3A playoffs in 2017
-- HABERSHAM CENTRAL (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-6A): Season opener; finished 2-8 in 2017
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Both are looking for big things and 2018 and quick starts to the season so someone is going to go home disappointed. ... Expect an offensive shootout as both teams employ typically high-flying spread attacks. However, the Tigers are expected to switch more to a power-rushing attack behind uber-talented dual-threat Sr. QB SeVaughn Clark and an experienced and deep offensive line. ... The Raiders, who dropped their eight losses in 2017 by just a combined 37 points (six by 4 points or less), have reloaded behind transfer Sr. QB Tre Luttrell and a plethora of playmakers like Sr. WRs Donovan Curry and Tarin Westbrook, Sr. RBs Tracey Lowery and Jackson Clouatre, and Jr. RB Arian Curry. ... The Tigers have won their last two season openers but are just 1-3 in their last four road games. ... The Raiders, however, went 0-5 at Raider Stadium in 2017.
FLOWERY BRANCH at EAST HALL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: East Hall Stadium, Rabbittown
-- RADIO: WDUN AM 550
-- FLOWERY BRANCH (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-5A): Season opener; finished 9-3, lost 2nd round of Class 5A playoffs in 2017
-- EAST HALL (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-3A): Season opener; finished 7-5, lost 2nd round of Class 3A playoffs in 2017
-- NOTABLE: Flowery Branch leads series 4-2. First meeting between the two schools since 2009. Falcons won 69-16 in 2009. ... The Branch has won four straight in the series. The last East Hall victory was in 2003 (33-14) in the Falcons second season as a program. ... An interesting opening for both teams, who are coming off their best playoff showings in years. ... The Falcons return a solid group up front and plenty of talented skilled personnel, including QB Elijah Gainey and WR Jalin Strown, who made up one of the best combos in the area in 2017. They will have one of the area’s best secondaries as well despite being under their third defensive coordinator in three seasons. ... The Vikings will still run a spread offense that produced the state’s most prolific passing attack in 2017. But gone is QB Austin Parker. They will instead use the formation to spread defenses behind an experienced and talented offensive line in front bruising RB Cambren Harrison (280-pounds) who had more than 1,800 yards from scrimmage in 2017. ... It should be a barometer game for both teams, who will be looking to see how the new changes fit and to prepare for brutal region schedules down the line.
GAINESVILLE at MARY PERSONS
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Dan Pitts Stadium, Forsyth
-- RADIO: WGGA 94.5 FM
-- GAINESVILLE (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-6A): Season opener; finished 4-7, lost 1st round of Class 6A playoffs in 2017
-- MARY PERSONS (0-0, 0-0 Region 2-4A): Season opener; finished 11-3, Class 4A semifinalist in 2017
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Even though it will not be at Bobby Gruhn Field, a lot of eyes will be on the Red Elephants, who will begin the Heath Webb era on the road. Webb probably would have preferred a little lighter opener, however, as the Bulldogs are coming off their second consecutive Class 4A semifinal appearance, and they have produced three straight 11-win seasons. ... Gainesville will be sporting a new offense and a new defense, and Webb and his staff will certainly learn quickly just how far their team has come since spring and summer. The Red Elephants did not look particularly good in their scrimmage against North Hall last week, getting their only score in a 21-7 loss in the final 3 seconds of the contest. The defense played well in the first half shutting out the Trojans and producing one turnover... Mary Persons is 23-3 at home since the 2015 season. Gainesville is just 1-7 in its last 8 road games since the end of the 2016 season (def. Winder-Barrow 38-16 in 2017).
JACKSON COUNTY at BANKS COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Leopard Stadium, Homer
-- JACKSON COUNTY (0-0, 00 Region 8-3A): Season opener; finished 5-6, lost 1st round of Class 3A playoffs in 2017
-- BANKS COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-2A): finished 5-6, lost 1st round of Class 2A playoffs in 2017
-- NOTABLE: Banks County leads series 14-10. Jackson County won 21-17 in Jefferson in 2017 and has won two straight over the Leopards. ... It has been an on-again, off-again series but the two teams have split the last four meetings, the last six meetings, the last eight meetings, the last 10 meetings and the last 14 meetings going back to 1992. ... Five of the last seven meetings have been decided by 5 points or less and two by just 1 point. ... The Panthers will be bringing one of the area’s best projected defensive front-7s -- Sr. NG Justin Key, Sr. OLB Rayshun Dorsey, Sr. LB Elijah Pierce, Sr. LB Nate Vincent, Sr. CB Len Hilbert, Jr. CB Rodney Booker, So. DT Andrew King, Sr. DT Pete Parker -- into the opener and it will be an interesting matchup as the Leopards, under new coach Jay Reid, will switch offenses from the pro-style attack to a wing-T under former North Hall offensive coordinator Kerry Kidd led by Sr. RBs Terrance Walker and Jacob Lehotsky, and Jr. QB Sawyer Pace and Jr. RB Sean Hall. ... In fact, with North Hall and Lumpkin County to follow, the Panthers will open the season against two straight wing-T offenses and a wishbone attack, virtually unheard of in today’s era of spread offenses. ... After Jackson County, the Leopards will continue to have opportunities to start strong with four straight contests against teams with a combined record of 7-32 in 2017.
JEFFERSON at OCONEE COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Warrior Stadium, Watkinsville
-- JEFFERSON (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-3A): Season opener; finished 10-3, lost in quarterfinals of Class 4A playoffs in 2017
-- OCONEE COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-4A): Season opener; finished 5-6, lost 1st round of Class 4A playoffs in 2017
-- NOTABLE: Jefferson leads series 12-8. The Dragons won 28-21 in 2017 and have won two straight and 3 of the last 4 overall. ... The series took a 27-year hiatus before resuming in 2014 as both teams were region foes first in 8-3A and then in 8-4A the last two seasons. ... It is the first of two road games to open the season for Jefferson, which is putting the finishing touches on changes and improvements to Memorial Stadium. ... Oconee has been tough on the Dragons in Watkinsville winning 5 of the last 6 at Warrior Stadium going back to 1979. However, Jefferson did bag a 31-7 road victory over the Warriors in 2016. ... The Dragons also are expected to roll out a new-look spread-like attack in 2018 as they try to take advantage of one of the best receiving groups certainly in north Georgia if not the entire state, led by Sr. TE Garmon Randolph and Sr. WR Zac Corbin. But they can still bring the power game with Sr. linemen J.T. Middleton (UNC-Charlotte commit), Logan Whidby, Ryan Godfrey, and Randolph.
JOHNSON at OGLETHORPE COUNTY
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Patriots Stadium, Lexington
-- JOHNSON (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-5A): Season opener; finished 0-10 in 2017
-- OGLETHORPE COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-2A): Season opener; finished 1-9 in 2017
-- NOTABLE: Johnson leads series 2-0. The Knights won 34-8 in 2013 and 36-21 in 2012. ... It is an interesting opener for both teams but something will have to give. The Knights are riding a program-worst 24-game losing streak going back to 2015. Meanwhile, the Patriots are just 2-22 over that same span and if not for a last-second victory in last season’s finale Oglethorpe would be riding a 22-game losing streak. Johnson also has not notched a road victory since beating Riverside in 2014 (17 straight road losses) while the Patriots have lost 15 straight at home. ... But, the Knights return 19 starters from last season, including their entire offensive line and Sr. QB Sam Corbett, who is one of the hidden gems in the area. They also have a pair of DT in Jrs. Dimetrio Landaverde and Vashon Johnson, who are poised for breakout seasons. ... Johnson has built experience and developed talent over the last two seasons and coach Jason Roquemore stated during preseason camp that they are ready to get things turned around quickly. ... Look for the Knights to use their size up front to pound the ball in their power running spread attack. A bigger Johnson DL also should be able to contain a Patriots offense that is not expected to be much better than the one that produced just 98 total points (9.8 ppg) in 2017. Do that and the Knights should be able to put the nightmare losing streak behind them.
LUMPKIN COUNTY at EAST JACKSON
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Eagles Stadium, Commerce
-- RADIO: nogasportslink.com
-- LUMPKIN COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-3A): Season opener; finished 1-9 in 2017
-- EAST JACKSON (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-3A): Season opener; finished 1-8 in 2017
-- NOTABLE: First -ever meeting between the two schools. ... Both teams took a step back in 2017 after 2016 campaigns that had them competing for playoff spots. The Indians, after a one-year flirtation with the spread offense, is going back to their roots breaking out the wishbone. Sr. RB Luke Smith could be poised for a breakout campaign and Jr. QB Tucker Kirk can also bring an element of timely passing after spending time in the Gainesville system. ... The Eagles bring a spread attack that has some weapons in 2018. Sr. RB Caleb Adair, who had a solid season in 2017, So. WR R.J. White, and Jr. QB Hunter Hardwick, who was slated as the starter in 2017 before suffering an injury, should make up an effective trio. ... East Jackson has dropped four straight and 5 of its last 6 season openers. The Indians are also are just 1-5 in their last 6 season openers and have not won a season opener on the road since 2007 (35-24 over Pickens). ... But something will have to give. Lumpkin was 1-5 on the road and East Jackson was just 1-4 at home in 2017.
RIVERSIDE MILITARY at CHRISTIAN HERITAGE
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Dalton
-- RIVERSIDE MILITARY (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-A): Season opener; finished 2-8 in 2017
-- CHRISTIAN HERITAGE (0-0, 0-0 Region 6-A): Season opener; 2-8 in 2017
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... The Eagles are expecting big things in 2018 and they have an opportunity for a quick start against a pair of Region 6-A teams that were a combined 4-16 in 2017 (they have King’s Ridge next week at home). After a year to mature and learn the system under second-year coach Nick Garrett, Sr. WR Khalid Duke and dual threat QB Isaac Teasley should make for a devastating combo. ... The Lions gave up 377 points (37.7 ppg) the most of any team in 6-A in 2017, and if they have not addressed that issue the Eagles should have plenty of opportunities to score. ... Riverside’s last road win to open a season came in 2014 in a 20-10 triumph over Fellowship Christian.
TOWNS COUNTY at HAYESVILLE, N.C.
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Hayesville, N.C.
-- TOWNS COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-A): Season opener; finished 5-6, lost 1st round of Class A Public playoffs in 2017
-- HAYESVILLE, N.C. (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-2A): Season opener; finished 3-9, lost 1st round of N.C. Class A playoffs in 2017
-- NOTABLE: Hayesville leads series 20-3. Towns County won 38-21 in 2017. ... While it has been a lopsided series, the Indians have won the last two meetings, including a 33-14 victory in 2016 in Hayesville, their first-ever victory on the other side of the border in the series. ... Towns County had its best road campaign in 2017 with two wins since also notching two road victories in 2013. They won three road contests in 2008, their best-ever season mark. ... The Indians should be able to get that quick start with 10 returning starters on offense, including all five offensive linemen, a veteran quarterback in Trent Bradshaw, 6-foot-4 receiver in Will Travis, and talented North Carolina transfer Alan Gillis. ... A win in the opener would give the Indians three straight season-opening wins, the best stretch in program history. They could use it with three of their next four opponents -- Union County, George Walton, Athens Academy -- going a combined 26-9 in 2017.
WEST HALL at COMMERCE
-- WHEN: 8 p.m.
-- WHERE: Tiger Stadium, Commerce
-- WEST HALL (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-4A): Season opener; finished 5-6, lost 1st round of the Class 4A playoffs in 2017
-- COMMERCE (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-A): Season opener; finished 8-3, lost 1st round of the Class A Public playoffs in 2017
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... Both teams are coming off playoff seasons that ended earlier than they wanted. Both teams also are looking for quick starts to the season. ... Commerce has a tough 8-A road opener the following week against Athens Christian and would like to build some momentum. ... The Spartans may have the toughest schedule in the state with seven playoff teams from 2017, another in Johnson (next week) that is expected to have its best team in six years, and a brand new Denmark team that is expected to have at least 5A numbers playing Class 4A. They need some early wins to help new coach Krofton Montgomery get things going in easily the toughest region in Class 4A. ... It will be tough against a Tigers squad that feels it also has something to prove after an uncharacteristic early exit in the playoffs (they had made the second round or better each of the previous three seasons). ... Commerce offers a challenge for everyone with their patented wishbone attack behind experienced Jr. QB Nate Ray, and Sr. RBs Dylan Deaton, Nick Patrick, DaJuan Wood, and Caleb Mason. But the Spartans can counter with a talented secondary that can push forward in the run defense. ... The Spartans are morphing their offense into more of a hybrid spread to take advantage of moving some pieces around. Quentin Smith with be the full-time starter as Michael Thompson moves to RB and hould complement speedy Sr. WRs Devin Williams and Jeremiah Prather and So. WR Rodrigo Lopez.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR Aug. 18
(Games listed in alphabetical order of visiting team)
WHITEFIELD ACADEMY at CHEROKEE BLUFF
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Bears Stadium, Flowery Branch
-- RADIO: WDUN AM 550
-- WHITEFIELD ACADEMY (0-0, 0-0 Region 6-A): Season opener; finished 8-4, lost 2nd round of Class A Private playoffs in 2017
-- CHEROKEE BLUFF (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-3A): Season opener and first-ever game in program history
-- NOTABLE: First-ever meeting between the two schools. ... It will the first-ever game for the Bluff as it opens it inaugural season. Emotions should be high as this game caps a “Day of Sports” at the school after cross country, volleyball, and softball all play on the same day. ... The Bluff will not have an easy game in 2018 and the opener is testament to that. Whitefield is the first of six playoff teams from 2017, including Class A Private state runner-up Athens Academy and Class 3A state semifinalist Greater Atlanta Christian. ... The Bears will be young across the board and the Wolfpack brings an experienced group that is looking for a quick start. However, Whitefield has state semifinalist Prince Avenue at home the following week and the Bears could catch them looking ahead.
RABUN COUNTY vs. BREMEN (at Georgia Southern)
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Paulson Stadium (Georgia Southern), Statesboro
-- RABUN COUNTY (0-0, 0-0 Region 8-2A): Season opener; finished 14-1, Class 2A state runner-up in 2017
-- BREMEN (0-0, 0-0 Region 5-2A): Season opener; finished 9-2, lost 1st round of Class 3A playoffs in 2017
-- NOTABLE: Rabun County leads series 1-0. The Wildcats beat the Blue Devils 49-14 in the first round of the 2015 Class 2A payoffs in Tiger. ... As mentioned in our ‘30 games preview’ earlier in the week, this one has a TON of storylines for a non-region battle -- Bremen head coach David Russell is the grandson of former Georgia Southern coaching legend Erk Russell. His father, Jay Russell, was the coach at Rabun County when current Wildcats coach Lee Shaw was an assistant in his early days of coaching -- Jaybo Shaw, Rabun County offensive coordinator, and Rob Stockton, Rabun County defensive coordinator, both played at Georgia Southern. Jaybo Shaw was the quarterback for the Eagles (2011) and now Stockton’s son, Gunner, a freshman quarterback, is expected to make his first-ever varsity start for the Wildcats. ... On the field, Rabun County fans will get their first true look at the Gunner Stockton-era as the freshman tries to follow in the ginormous shoes left to fill by the graduated Bailey Fisher. But they still have Austin Young, who is poised for a huge breakout season on both offense and defense, and Jr. WR Braxton Hicks, Sr. RB Brison Beck, Sr. TE Austin Sosebee, and Jr. WR Dawson Lathan. ... The Blue Devils' two losses in 2017 were to Lovett (Sweet 16) and eventual 3A state champion Calhoun so they are no stranger to top-notch competition. They gave up 80 points in those two games and just 111 (12.3 ppg) against everyone else.
