Week 2 of high school football in Northeast Georgia had a little bit of everything. From overtime shootouts to defensive slugfests, with some last-second thrillers thrown in for good measure.
Here are five things we learned last Friday:
1. Knights snap rivalry streak, look ready for more
There are some wins that feel like more than simply another tally mark in the win column. Johnson's 30-27 win over rival West Hall in the Battle of Oakwood Friday night was one of those wins. The Knights (2-0) had not only lost six straight to the Spartans, but had not been competitive on the scoreboard in that span, losing those six games by an average of 33.6 points. The win also avenged Johnson's only non-region loss of 2018, a campaign that started 4-1 before ending on a five-game losing streak. It was an early signature win for the Stan Luttrell era at a program that hasn't made the postseason since 2004. While the Knights are no closer to a playoff spot than they were before Friday's game, the upset shows Johnson could be ready to compete with more talented teams than in years past. Senior kicker Steven Flores, who made the game-winning 37-yard field goal as time expired, perhaps said it best after the game: "(Our class) has never beaten West Hall and we accomplished it. Anything can change."
2. Kickers can be heroes too
Week 2 was a good reminder not to underestimate the importance of the kicking game. If you're not convinced, ask Johnson or Dawson County. Steven Flores' previously mentioned kick won the game for the Knights, while Dawson County's Caleb Bonesteel knocked in a 23-yard field goal in overtime to beat Chestatee 45-42 in a shootout that saw the Tigers (2-0) trail by two touchdowns multiple times. Not only did both kicks come on the road, but both were under a tremendous amount of pressure. A Flores miss would have sent Johnson to overtime against a red-hot West Hall offense, while a Bonesteel miss would have meant a second overtime period for a Dawson County defense that had just managed to finally stop a Chestatee offense that had racked up 42 points and nearly 500 yards of total offense in the game. In nearby Gwinnett County, Dacula used a field goal with just seconds remaining to stun rival Mill Creek. Kickers can be weapons and they can also be heroes.
3. North Hall defense looks dominant, and it came in handy Friday
As the North Hall offense continues to look for its stride, the Trojans' defense appears happy to maintain the team's winning ways. The unit shut out Jackson County for a 16-0 win in the Brickyard Friday night to help North Hall to its second straight 2-0 start. The Trojans' defense outscored the Panthers' offense by themselves thanks to a safety in the game's final minutes. The play punctuated a dominating night that included two interceptions, a fourth down stop and holding Jackson County to only 48 yards rushing on 27 attempts. The performance allowed North Hall's offense to play keep-away. The Trojans racked up more than 300 yards on the ground, but could only find the end zone twice, a pair of long touchdowns by J.T. Fair in the second quarter. If the North Hall defense continues to play the way it did Friday, their offense will have an easy time winning games.
4. Appling starts head coaching career on a high note
First-year Buford head coach Bryant Appling talked in the offseason about getting the Wolves back to the basics. Unfortunately, there was very little that was basic about the way the season began. Buford's football season was scheduled to start on a baseball diamond against Milton at Coolray Field in the Corky Kell Classic in Week 1. That game was postponed due to heavy rain. Instead, Appling's head coaching debut came in Week 2 and it came in the form of a 41-0 rout of Jonesboro at Tom Riden Stadium. Six different Wolves found the end zone in a dismantling reminiscent of so many wins under Appling's mentors Dexter Wood and Jess Simpson. Buford will now get its chance to test its mettle against defending Class 7A champion Milton on the road in Week 3. If the team's opener was any indication, the Wolves appear ready.
5. Union County picks up where it left off
Another team to open its season in Week 2 was Union County, albeit by scheduling rather than circumstance. The Panthers wasted no time Friday reasserting themselves as one of the top contenders in Region 8-2A with a 49-8 win at East Hall. The offense that scored 40 points per game in 2018 raced to a 28-0 first half lead while the defense didn't allow any points from the Vikings until the fourth quarter. Union County will need all of that firepower throughout the year if they want to once again compete for the 8-2A crown. Rival Rabun County has cruised to an impressive 2-0 start and Elbert County and Banks County both picked up their first wins Friday night as well. The Panthers will get two more chances to warm themselves up in non-region play before their region opener against Monticello on September 20.
