Must-see doesn’t just apply to television or the movie theaters. If you are a high school football fan, there are more than enough upcoming games around the northeast Georgia area during the 2019 season to keep even the most ardent fans satisfied.
Buford, Gainesville, Jefferson, Flowery Branch, just to name a few, all have some crucial and potential season-defining contests on tap that could help shape the 2019 campaign.
Here is a list that we think could be some of the top games and most highly-anticipated showdowns throughout northeast Georgia. A few will even grab the attention of the entire state.
Buford vs. Milton (Week 1, Coolray Field - Lawrenceville)
Buford has become accustomed to early-season titanic showdowns and gets started with a bang again with a short trip down Highway 20 to Coolray Field in Lawrenceville. The Wolves will take on the defending Class 7A state champions in the annual Corky Kell Classic to open the season. The Wolves are under new management with first-year head coach Bryant Appling and also will be replacing most of their offensive personnel from 2018. The Eagles will be replacing much of their firepower as well as Georgia Tech-signee Jordan Yates (quarterback) and Clemson-signee Jordan Charleston (safety) have moved on. But despite roster and coaching turnover, both teams will no doubt be expected to make championship runs and this early-season clash could give us a look at what these new-look powerhouses will have to offer in 2019.
Gainesville vs. Jefferson (Week 5)
It will be the fourth consecutive season two of northeast Georgia’s blueblood programs have met after having never met on the gridiron until 2016. The series, however, has been one-sided with Jefferson winning each of the first three meetings by an average of 21 points. But the 2019 version could be the most compelling so far as the Red Elephants may be ahead of schedule under second-year coach Heath Webb and the Dragons, after suffering a slew of injuries last year, should be more experienced and just as talented.
North Hall vs White County (Week 5)
For 20 years this rivalry game was dominated by the Trojans, who went 16-0 against the Warriors from 1988 to 2009. Since then, it has developed into one the area’s most hotly-contested games each season. White County owns a 5-4 edge since snapping that long losing streak in 2010. In those nine games, three were decided by a touchdown or less and in three others, the winner pulled away late in the fourth quarter. The Trojans rallied from an early 12-0 deficit last year for a thrilling 27-20 victory but they will be without running back Daniel Jackson and quarterback David Seavy, who engineered the comeback. They will, however, return a load of talent on defense and the lines of scrimmage. White County lost several talented guys as well but will return quarterback J. Ben Haynes, who could be poised for a breakout season.
Buford vs. Archer (Week 6)
Due to Buford being one of the smallest schools in Gwinnett County, the Wolves have rarely matched up with many of Gwinnett’s heavy-hitters. That makes matchups like this one almost must-see football. This will be the second straight year the two behemoths have met with Archer winning last year’s game in Lawrenceville, 48-24, after pulling away in the second half. Now the Tigers will have to come to a packed and raucous Tom Riden Stadium. It will be the first time Buford has hosted a Gwinnett County school since 2015 when they routed Berkmar 77-0. And it could prove to be Buford’s toughest test of the regular season. Archer reached the Class 7A Semifinals last year and returns plenty of talent, including senior quarterback Carter Peevy.
Flowery Branch vs. Gainesville (Week 6)
It is the Falcons’ longest-running rivalry (14 games) and last year’s 28-19 Branch win was closer than the score indicated. It also was the first win over Gainesville since 2012. Both teams should be even better in 2019 and depending on how much the Red Elephants have improved during the opening weeks of the season could tell what fans at Falcons Field will get. The Falcons were looking like a state title contender in 2018 until injuries decimated their second half of the season and they bring back many of those pieces along with a ton of younger, more experienced players. They could once again be a major player in Class 4A. Gainesville suffered through its worst season in 20 years last year but also saw a slew of underclassmen get valuable grass time. Both teams will possess outstanding line play on both sides and this one could come down to which one of those groups can take control.
Gainesville vs. Habersham Central (Week 8)
The Red Elephants and Raiders will both want this one badly. The 2018 showdown in Mt. Airy – a 49-32 shootout win for the Raiders – decided the No. 3 seed in Region 8-6A. With an improved region across the board in 2019, this one could be for even higher stakes or just for playoff survival in general. The Raiders’ win last year was their first over Gainesville since 2000. The last time the two teams played in City Park; it was a nail-biter with Gainesville winning on a field goal (30-27) as time expired.
Flowery Branch at Blessed Trinity (Week 9)
This game in 2018 both established the Falcons as a conversation piece among teams to consider as a player for the Class 4A state title. It also set the stage for a heartbreaking end to the season as injuries suffered in a thrilling but gut-wrenching 21-20 overtime loss to the Titans took their ultimate toll. A silver lining, however, also emerged for the Falcons as a boatload of underclassmen were left to fill the voids over the final half of the season. The valuable field experience for those players could make this a key game, not just for Region 7-4A, but also for Class 4A in general. The two-time defending state champion Titans lost several key pieces from their title teams while the Falcons, because of the added experience from last year, have added some crucial elements. If the Branch can duplicate last year’s near-miss in a game it controlled most of the way, and come away with the road upset, the Falcons may get that statement victory they were inches away from in 2018.
Dawson County vs. G.A.C. (Week 10)
The Tigers will be introducing several new key weapons on offense in 2019 as they try to replace more than 2,200 rushing yards out of the backfield. Hopefully, by the time they get to Week 10, they will have found the right ingredients for their spread attack. They will need everything they can muster against a Spartans team that has had a stranglehold on Region 7-3A since joining the region in 2016. Dawson County came close to knocking the Spartans off the top of the mountain in a tough 23-20 loss in Norcross in 2018. This year the Tigers will get them at Tiger Stadium. GAC once again looks to be one of the premier teams in Class 3A. A Tigers win could then mean not only a power shift in Region 7, but it could also signal that Dawson County is ready to compete for a championship. It could then set the stage for two weeks later.
North Hall vs. Dawson County (Week 12)
There is little doubt that this matchup will have major playoff ramifications. The only question is whether the winner of this regular-season finale will capture a region championship, a home playoff game, or one of Region 7-3A’s final playoff seeds. The Tigers, as mentioned above, could set themselves up for a region title with a win two weeks before heading to The Brickyard. However, the Trojans also expect to have a say and last year’s contest went down to the wire in a 17-10 Dawson win in overtime. Both teams will tend to rely on a heavy ground game once again. The region title and/or playoffs could come down to the guys in the trenches. Just the way the purists like it.
Union County vs. Rabun County (Week 12)
This has been the defining rivalry of the north Georgia mountains for decades and it was last year’s defining game in Region 8-2A. The Wildcats eventually blew open a close game en route to a 56-28 win in Tiger that secured their fifth straight region championship. And the region crown could likely belong once again to whichever team plays the sweetest mountain music in Week 12. The Wildcats have built themselves into one of the elite programs in Class 2A. The Panthers are one major win from showing they may be ready to join the conversation. It will feature two of the area’s best quarterbacks in Union’s Pierson Allison and Rabun’s Gunner Stockton and plenty of speedy, capable receivers. Both defenses were tested last year. Expect more of the same in 2019 with big plays ultimately deciding it.
Honorable Mentions:
Rabun County vs. Bremen (Week 1, Georgia Southern)
-- A neutral-site rematch of last year’s season opener could provide an early look at two of Class 2A’s elite teams.
Habersham Central at White County (Week 3)
-- This recently sparked series has provided some of the most entertaining games each of the last three seasons.
Elbert County at Union County (Week 7)
-- In their first meeting last season, the Panthers pulled off a 29-28 win over Elbert to remain in the hunt for the Region 8-2A title. This season, the expectations are much of the same. The winner of this contest will remain in contention for the top spot in the region.
Commerce at Riverside Military (Week 11)
-- This game was part of Riverside Military’s incredible late-season push in 2018 and could once again play a big part in deciding Region 8-A’s North subregion. The Eagles upset the Tigers for the first time ever in 2018 and you know the Tigers will have revenge on their minds.
