The 2019 high school football season got underway Friday around the state and northeast Georgia with some monster showdowns to kick things off.
The biggest matchup in northeast Georgia and one of the premier games in the state had Class 5A No. 4-ranked Buford taking on unranked defending Class 7A state champion Milton in the annual Corky Kell Classic at Coolray Field, but Mother Nature had different plans. The game has been postponed. Date and time to be announced next week.
Gainesville redeemed itself from a 42-0 loss last year to Mary Persons and shocked Class 4A No. 8-ranked Bulldogs 27-21 at City Park Stadium.
On Saturday, Class 2A No. 8 Rabun County avenged a loss to Bremen in 2018 with a 34-13 victory over the Blue Devils at Paulson Stadium at Georgia Southern University. It also earned Jaybo Shaw his first win as head coach.
North Hall found a passing game with new starter Trey Sanders to walk away with a 34-14 win over arch-rival Chestatee in the Battle of Highway 60 at War Eagles Stadium. The Trojans' defense was riddled for 216 yards passing by Christian Charles but held the War Eagles to just 72 rushing yard.
Class A-Public No. 5-ranked Commerce pounded out 356 yards on the ground in taking a 48-17 win over West Hall at Spartans Field, while Oconee County edged Class 3A No. 9 Jefferson 21-20 at Memorial Stadium in a game that was weather delayed.
In other action around northeast Georgia, Flowery Branch did not let some late fall injuries derail its opener as the Falcons defense stymied East Hall in a 50-0 victory at Falcons Field. East Jackson rallied to beat Lumpkin County 25-22 on the road to give Cameron Pettus his first win as Eagles coach while also spoiling the opener for new Indians' coach Caleb Sorrells. The win for East Jackson matched its entire win total for 2018.
Cherokee Bluff's bid for its first-ever program win was snuffed out by Whitefield Academy in a 26-3 loss on the road.
Dawson County jumped out quickly in this one, 10-0, to see Habersham roar back to take the lead 13-10. But the youthful Tigers responded, scoring 17 unanswered points to take two-straight over the Raiders, 27-13 at Tiger Stadium. Johnson opened the Stan Luttrell-era with a 32-20 win over Oglethorpe County at Billy Ellis Memorial Stadium; Riverside lost to Christian Heritage 27-6. Lanier Christian Academy woes continued in its second game of the second with a 49-14 loss to Lafayette Academy.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23 SCORES
Milton vs. Buford, postponed (Corky Kell Classic, at Coolray Field)
Whitefield Academy 26, Cherokee Bluff 3
Commerce 48, West Hall 17
Flowery Branch 50, East Hall 0
East Jackson 25, Lumpkin County 22
Dawson County 27, Habersham Central 13
Jackson County 7, Banks County 0
Lafayette Academy 49, Lanier Christian Academy 14,
Hayesville, (N.C.) 35, Towns County 0
Gainesville 27, Mary Persons 21
North Hall 34, Chestatee 14
Johnson 32, Oglethorpe County 20
Christian Heritage 27, Riverside 6
Oconee County 21, Jefferson 20
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24
Rabun County 4, Bremen 13
