Streak-busters, rivalry showdowns, and region openers highlighted an entertaining night of high school football Friday around northeast Georgia and the state.
Top billing was Habersham Central's 27-21win over arch-rival Stephens County at Raider Stadium. It was the first win for the Raiders over the Indians since 1996 and snapped a nightmarish 14-game losing streak.
North Hall and White renewed their annual slugfest at The Brickyard with the Warriors pulling off a 34-31 thrilling win over the Trojans. The win gave White County a 24-23 edge in the long-running series.
The newly-created Jefferson-Gainesville showdown once again had the Dragons coming away with a 41-7 blowout win over the Red Elephants at City Park Stadium. It was all Jefferson to remain unbeaten in the short four-year-old series.
And Rabun County, Union County, and Banks County all opened Region 8-2A play with big wins at home. The Wildcats routed Putnam County 55-8; the Panthers flew past Monticello 53-21, and the Leopards rolled to an easy win over Social Circle for a 45-7 victory.
(See below for all the scores of northeast Georgia area teams from Friday night's action and a look at next week's schedule.)
SCORES FOR FRIDAY SEPT. 20
Banks County 45, Social Circle 7*
Buford 42, Newton 14
Commerce 46, Providence Christian 9
Denmark 38, Dawson County 24
Fannin County 34, Chestatee 30
George Walton 46, Towns County 13
Habersham Central 27, Stephens County 21
Jefferson 41, Gainesville 7
Johnson 56, Cross Keys 0
The King's Academy 41, Lanier Christian Academy 0
Madison County 35, East Jackson 7
White County 34, North Hall 31
Rabun County 55, Putnam County 8*
Union County 53, Monticello 21*
SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY SEPT. 27
Archer at Buford
Banks County at Oglethorpe County*
Blessed Trinity at West Hall*
Cherokee Bluff at North Hall*
Chestatee at Denmark*
Dawson County at Lumpkin County*
Gainesville at Flowery Branch
Greater Atlanta Christian at East Hall*
Jackson County at Hart County*
Jefferson at East Jackson*
Lakeview Academy at George Walton Academy
Lanier Christian Academy at Central Academy
Madison County at Commerce
Rabun County at Monticello*
Riverside Military at Prince Avenue Christian
Towns County at Athens Academy
Union County at Putnam County*
White County at Marist*
(* -- denotes region game)
