Here's a look at five things we learned from Week 1 of the 2018 high school football season...
1. West Hall has plenty of fight -- and is making strides each week
Coming off a season-opening loss at Commerce, it was hard to judge just how good the Spartans might be. The Tigers are a stout program, but -- in all honesty -- we wondered how West Hall would respond to the setback after losing coach Tony Lotti. And that is NO disrespect to coach Krofton Montgomery. We have been nothing but impressed by the way that he handled taking over the Spartans this offseason. Still Lotti was a powerful force that helped turn West Hall from an also-ran into a playoff program during his time, and we figured their responsive would be instructive. Well, the proof was in Friday's response. Not only did West Hall bounce back from a season-opening loss, it did so in the home stadium of its biggest rival against a Johnson team riding a wave of momentum. West Hall dominated from start to finish in a 41-8 win at The Dungeon and showed that any discussions of its demise as a stout program are not only premature but ridiculous.
2. Habersham has learned how to win the close ones too
Habersham Central football coaches, players and fans saw Friday's scenario all too often during the 2017 season -- as the Raiders found themselves involved in yet another shootout, this time with Madison County. Last season Habersham dropped almost all of those battles by the narrowest of margins, losing six games by a combined 18 points. And certainly Habersham knew it faced another battle to the end last week -- only this time the Raiders turned the tables. Trailing 21-13 with 2:05 remaining in first half, Habersham went on 22-7 run and then held on for the win. And this after a close loss to Dawson County in the season opener. We knew Raiders would turn all those near-misses into tangible success at some point. And it appears that is happening now. With the kind of firepower they possess, something big could be brewing in Mt. Airy.
3. There is plenty to build on at Gainesville
Speaking of brewing, there are plenty of ingredients for success at Gainesville. And this week, the Red Elephants showed their fans that they are taking big steps forward. Following a tough, 42-0 loss at Mary Persons to start the season, Gainesville led for much of the night against North Forsyth before, ultimately, falling 24-21 at City Park. Yes, the setback hurt -- all losses do -- there was enough shown during the contest, however, to lend optimism to the rest of the campaign. First off there was the ground game, which is to be a staple of the offense under Heath Webb. Led by Quintavious Hayes' 193 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 23 carries, Gainesville showed it can pound the rock. Then there was the leaps taken by quarterback Walt Dixon, as he completed 11 of 17 passes for 148 yards and a score -- including a 65-yard touchdown strike to Justice Johnson -- in his second ever start. If the Red Elephants continue the ascent they showed from Week Zero to Week One, there will be plenty of cheering at City Park come November.
4. North Hall offense may get publicity, but defense is pretty stout too
The Trojans are starting to make statements just two games into the season, and while their offense generates many of the headlines and media, it is North Hall's defense that is perhaps just as impressive. Case in point was Friday's 35-0 defeat of a solid Jackson County program. North Hall led just 14-0 at the half against the Panthers' own stout defense. But that edge was plenty thanks to North Hall's defense, which kept Jackson County in neutral throughout before the Trojans finally pulled out of sight in the second half. For the game North Hall held the Panthers to just 2 of 11 on third down and 1 of 2 on fourth down for the game. Jackson County, after piling up over 200 yards to open the season with a win over Banks County managed just 46 yards on 36 carries (1.27 yards per carry) on the ground against the Trojans. The Panthers finished with 87 total yards and lost two turnovers. All that experience makes the offense run like a well-oiled machine, but North Hall's veteran line-up is also making for one impressive defense too.
5. The quarterback position is going to be just fine in northeast Georgia
Last season we ran a series on the quarterback position in northeast Georgia and how it was perhaps as stocked with talent as it had ever been. Most of the players we highlighted graduated in last spring, however, and we wondered how the newcomers at the position would handle things. Turns out just fine, thanks. There may still be some wrinkles to iron out and some growing to do, but the early signs are encouraging indeed. Just look around the area: White County sophomore J Ben Haynes (16 of 23 for 266 yards and two scores on Friday night), Habersham Central senior Tre Luttrell (14 of 25 for 272 yards and 4 touchdowns and 62 yards rushing on Friday), Union County's Pierson Allison (24 of 32 for 232 yards as well as rushing for a score on Friday), North Hall senior David Seavey (18-yard TD run and a 43-yard TD pass on Friday), West Hall senior Quentin Smith (8 of 14 for 149 yards and three touchdowns while adding seven rushes for 47 yards on Friday), Gainesville junior Walt Dixon (11 of 17 passes for 148 yards and a score on Friday), Rabun County freshman Gunner Stockton (257 yards passing, 4 TDs last week), Johnson senior Sam Corbett and Dawson County senior SeVaughn Clark, who is impressing after converting from running back last season, are all showing that they can either carry a team or be a bright spot -- and there are plenty more QBs ready and capable of stepping up over the coming weeks.
AUG. 24 SCORES FOR AREA TEAMS
Buford 58, Jonesboro 7
Commerce 38, Athens Christian 0
Denmark 43, Cherokee Bluff 0
Dawson County 59, Chestatee 0
Franklin County 17, Banks County 0
Habersham Central 45, Madison County 35
North Forsyth 24, Gainesville 21
North Hall 35, Jackson County 0
Rabun County 52, North Murray 42
Riverside Military 27, Kings Ridge 3
Strong Rock Christian 33, Lakeview Academy 21
Union County 35, East Hall 6
White County 40, Lumpkin County 7
West Hall 41, Johnson 8
AUG. 31 PREP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR AREA TEAMS
Cherokee at North Hall
Cherokee Bluff at Johnson
Clarke Central at Flowery Branch
Deerfield Beach, Fla. at Buford
East Hall at Woodland, Cartersville
East Jackson at Oglethorpe County
Habersham Central at White County
Hart County at Commerce
Jackson County at Lumpkin County
Jefferson at West Hall
Lakeview Academy at Georgia Force
Lambert at Gainesville
Riverside Military at Christian Heritage -- make-up game after weather suspension on Aug. 17
Union County at Towns County
