The streaks just keep growing for several Northeast Georgia area teams coming into Week 10 of the Georgia High School Association football season.
After last week’s pummeling of Banks County, Rabun County now has won 45 straight games in Region 8-2A, the longest such active streak in the state. According to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association (GHSFHA), that is now the 14th-longest in state history.
The Wildcats (7-1, 2-0 Region 8-2A) play host to Elbert County (3-3, 1-0 Region 8-2A) tonight. Rabun County can lock up a home playoff game with a win.
It’s been nine years since Buford has had to claim a region loss at home. The Wolves have won 29-straight region contests at Tom Riden Stadium since a forfeit to West Hall in 2012 for an ineligible player (a game they won 63-0 on the field).
It has been 68 games, going back to an 18-14 loss to Commerce in 2000 in Region 8-A, since the Wolves have lost a region game on the field, which now spans six classifications.
Buford (6-1, 3-0 Region 8-6A) plays host to Lanier (3-3, 2-1 Region 8-6A) tonight.
NO POINTS FOR YOU! Buford also has pitched three straight shutouts. If the Wolves shut out the Longhorns tonight, and their final two regular-season opponents (Winder-Barrow and Dacula), they could tie the program’s longest-ever shutout streak of six, set in 1945.
They have had two shutout streaks of five in their history, the last one of those in 1963.
IT’S BEEN A WHILE: While the record may not reflect it, East Jackson (2-5, 0-2 Region 8-3A) has been one of the most improved teams in 2021. And the Eagles are still very much alive to claim a playoff spot for the first time since their only playoff appearance in 2009.
That is the second-longest playoff drought in Northeast Georgia behind only Johnson (2004).
The Eagles have shaved nearly three touchdowns off their defensive numbers from 2020 (42 points/game to 25 ppg). Offensively, they feature a good offensive line and senior quarterback Tyler Crow (797 yards rushing).
They take on Franklin County (3-4, 0-2 Region 8-3A) tonight with a chance to pull into a tie for fourth place with either Stephens County or Hart County, who play each other tonight and are 1-1 in region play.
They control their fate as they close out the season against both Hart County and Stephens County. But it will take at least one upset win to break their drought.
IT’S BEEN A WHILE, PART 2: Speaking of streaks, Gainesville (4-3, 1-2 Region 6-7A) has not missed out on the playoffs since 1999, one of the longest-running streaks in the state.
The Red Elephants play a huge game tonight at West Forsyth (3-4, 1-2 Region 6-7A), with the playoff fate of both teams hanging in the balance.
A Red Elephants' loss would put their proud playoff streak in serious jeopardy.
The Warriors are the defending region champs and feature a bruising run game that has been Gainesville’s Achille’s Heel in 2021. The Red Elephants also may be without sophomore quarterback Baxter Wright, who was injured late in last week’s loss to South Forsyth. Wright is a game-time decision, GHS coach Heath Webb confirmed earlier today.
But no matter who wins this one, the loser will find themselves in sixth-place, still one game behind the fourth-place team with just two weeks to go.
Expect both teams to throw everything they have against the other to win this one.
A SECOND TIME FOR EVERYTHING: Towns County has only made one playoff appearance in its history (2017) and has never won a playoff game. The vastly improved Indians (4-3, 0-2 Region 8-A Public) could take a huge step this week for that second-ever playoff appearance.
They take on Greene County at home tonight in Hiawassee.
With Region 8-A Public split among three 2-0 teams and three 0-2 teams, the winner of this one has the quick upper hand to grab the fourth spot with two weeks left. The Indians could seal a playoff spot with a win tonight and a win over Social Circle next week.
The Tigers (3-4, 0-2 Region 8-A Public) have dropped six straight 8-A Public games, including to Towns County last year, and have lost 9 straight region games (7-A Public) going back to the 2019 season.
STAT LEADERS FROM WEEK 10: Three Northeast Georgia players lead their respective classifications in either rushing, passing, or receiving after Week 9 of the 2021 season.
Rabun County’s Gunner Stockton now leads Class 2A, and the entire state, in passing, after another huge week last week in a win over Banks County. Stockton has 2,661 yards on the season, overtaking Aaron Philo of Prince Avenue Christian, the Class A Private leader, who has 2,600 yards.
Chestatee’s Luke Bornhorst is third in Class 4A (1,666 yards), just 170 yards behind Holden Geriner of Benedictine (1,836 yards) for the classification lead and 99 yards behind Armar Gordon of Perry.
Logan Helcher of Union County is third in Class 2A (1,480 yards), just 51 yards behind Chip Cooper of Worth County for second.
Stockton’s teammate Jaden Gibson also leads Class 2A, and the entire state, in receiving with 1,202 yards.
Dawson County’s Bailey Dameron leads Class 3A and is third in the state overall with 888 yards.
Hunter Fouche of Chestatee is tied for 37th in the state with 588 receiving yards, which is just 111 yards behind Class 4A leader Za'Quan Bryan of Benedictine. Fouche is 4th in Class 4A.
Darius Cannon of White County is 4th in Class 3A with 583 yards and 39th overall. Collin Crowder of Towns County is 4th in Class A-Public and 51st overall with 550 yards.
Towns County’s Kyle Oakes is now second in Class A-Public in rushing with 1,066 yards. He is 14th overall in the state but just 28 yards behind Omari Arnold of Brooks County, who leads Class A Public after Week 9.
North Hall’s Kevin Rochester has climbed into the top 10 in the state overall in rushing with 1,101 -yards. He is still 2nd in Class 3A, but just 99 yards behind Hart County’s J.L. Lackey.
Cherokee Bluff’s Jayquan Smith is 22nd overall with 953 yards, which is good for 4th in Class 3A.
