Gainesville, Buford, North Hall, and Cherokee Bluff all remained unbeaten in region play after taking big wins on Friday night.
The Red Elephants moved to 4-2 overall, 2-0 in Region 6-7A after rallying to beat Lambert 42-35 win at City Park Stadium. The win kept them tied atop the region standings.
Buford pulled away in the second half to beat Habersham Central 44-7 in Region 8-6A in a battle of two of the area's best ground attacks. Buford improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the region while Habersham fell to 3-3 and 1-1 with the loss.
The Bears, meanwhile, kept their magical season going with a 35-7 bludgeoning of West Hall in Region 7-3A action on the road. Cherokee Bluff (6-0, 2-0 Region 7-3A) scored the final 28 points. The Spartans fell to 2-4 and 0-2 in the region.
In other Region 7-3A action, White County, playing without standout quarterback J. Ben Haynes, dropped a heartbreaker to rival North Hall in Cleveland. The Trojans' Luke Brown kicked a 17-yard field goal in overtime for a 34-31 win. The Warriors (4-2, 0-2 Region 7-3A) dropped two games out of first place with the loss while the Trojans' (3-3, 2-0 Region 7-3A) stayed tied with Cherokee Bluff atop the region standings. Lumpkin County fell to 0-5, 0-1 in region play after a 62-7 loss to Gilmer (3-2, 1-1 Region 7-3A) in its Region 7-3A opener.
Commerce opened its Region 8-A Public schedule with a solid 35-0 win over Greene County at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers (5-1, 1-0 Region 8-A Public) churned out over 250 yards rushing. Lakeview Academy was supposed to open region play in Region 6-A Private but was forced to forfeit against fourth-ranked Fellowship Christian after a late-week round of COVID hit the team.
Johnson's troubles continued in a 56-7 loss to Walnut Grove in Region 8-5A and East Jackson, playing its second straight top three-ranked team, was beaten by Class 3A No. 3 Oconee County 36-14 in both teams' Region 8-3A opener.
Class 2A No. 3 Rabun County, meanwhile, took down its biggest opponent ever in terms of classifications with a 63-17 rout over Class 6A Pope in Marietta behind another big game from junior quarterback and South Carolina-commit Gunnar Stockton.
You can check AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night page for game stories and video highlights.
OCTOBER 16 SCORES
Buford 44, Habersham Central 7*
Cherokee Bluff 35, West Hall 7*
Commerce 35, Greene County 0*
Fellowship Christian 13, Lakeview Academy 0* -- forfeit
North Oconee 44, Chestatee 0*
Oconee County 36, East Jackson 14*
Gainesville 42, Lambert 35*
Gilmer 62, Lumpkin County 7*
Rabun County 63, Pope 17
North Hall 34, White County 31 OT*
Walnut Grove 56, Johnson 7*
East Hall at Jefferson* -- canceled
Lincoln County at Towns County* -- canceled
Loganville at Jackson County* -- moved to Oct. 30
OCTOBER 23 SCHEDULE
Cedar Shoals at Jefferson*
Commerce at Towns County*
Gilmer at Dawson County*
Habersham Central at Dacula*
Johnson at Jackson County*
King’s Ridge at Lakeview Academy*
Lumpkin County at North Hall*
Monroe Area at East Jackson*
North Oconee at Flowery Branch*
Rabun County at St. Anne Pacelli
Union County at Banks County*
OCTOBER 24 SCHEDULE
Chestatee at East Hall, 3 p.m.*
(* -- denotes region game)
