Week 2 notebook: Which regions are just BAD (as in a beast) in Georgia? 1 in NEGa can lay early claim

Week 1 was mostly successful for our Northeast Georgia area programs.

Area teams went 7-8 against outside competition but there were several big matchups between area teams and across classifications.

So, which regions, at least after the opening, were the toughest to beat in our area and the state? We take a look at how our area regions matched in their own classifications.

Also, several defenses showed they are ready for Prime Time after some outstanding performances last week.

And, Bruce Miller got his first win as a coach since 2017 with Lanier Christian. But how are some of his disciples doing around the area and state?

Here is our Week 2 notebook on Friday Game Night:

(Also, check our Week 2 game previews.)

WHO'S BAD?: With non-region games dominating the schedule, as they usually do in the first half of any season, one Northeast Georgia region is already showing it will be a beast for outside opponents.

Region 8-4A, which houses No. 1 Jefferson, No. 7 Flowery Branch, East Hall, and Chestatee, went 3-1 in the opening week of the season, the best of any Class 4A region. The Dragons knocked off No. 1 Rabun County, the Falcons beat Class 5A No. 8 St. Pius on the road, Madison County beat Class 6A Habersham Central, and the only loss was by North Oconee, which fell in a tough battle with Class 3A 2020 state runner-up Oconee County.

Two other regions that contain area schools also were the best in their classification. Region 8-A Public also went 3-1 in the opening week with No. 7 Commerce taking down Class 2A Banks County and Towns County getting a win as well. Region 8-3A, with East Jackson, was 5-1, the best of any region in the state in any classification. The Eagles, however, were the lone loss in a tight game with West Hall.

Region 6-7A, with Gainesville and North Forsyth, went 4-3, with the Red Elephants falling to Johns Creek and the Raiders beating Alcovy. Region 8-6A, with Buford and Habersham Central, also went 4-3 with the No. 1 Wolves rallying to beat Class 7A No. 3 North Cobb and the Raiders dropping a close game to Madison County.

Region 7-3A, with seven area teams, went 3-4, with two of the losses to Region 8-3A teams. Cherokee Bluff, North Hall and West Hall all got wins, with Dawson County, Lumpkin County, White County, and newcomer, East Forsyth, all dropping their openers.

Regions 8-5A and 8-2A had rough beginnings as both went 0-4 in Week 1. However, 8-2A faced perhaps one of the toughest opening weeks of any region. No. 1 Rabun County lost to fellow No. 1 Jefferson, Banks County lost a close game to Class A Public No. 7 Commerce, and Elbert lost to a loaded Hart County team.

In Region 8-5A, Johnson was the only area team to play -- Jackson County opens this week -- and all four losses were by large margins as the region teams were outscored 128-24 as a group.

The schedules don’t get much easier this week for most of the area teams, but tough competition early can also lead to being prepared once region schedules get underway.

YOUNG DEFENSES GROWING UP: A pair of defenses in 2020 took big strides last week to show they are ready for breakout campaigns in 2021.

The North Hall defense returned nearly its entire starting unit from 2020. The Trojans got better as the season went on, but in a 23-14 win over Class 5A Paulding, they held the Patriots to just 15 yards rushing on 16 carries.

They have an interesting matchup this week with a Stephens County team that put up more than 300 yards last week in a 34-20 win over fellow 7-3A team White County. 

The Flowery Branch defense proved that their growth over the last half of 2020 is paying off. The Falcons, after getting hit with two quick scores by St. Pius, shut down the Golden Lions over the final three quarters, holding them to just 212 total yards and under 100 in the second half.

But other defensive units showed they may be ready to step forward as well. 

Another defense that showed its mettle last week was Rabun County, despite a loss to Jefferson. The Wildcats did give up 350 yards rushing to the powerful Dragons rushing attack, but they held the Dragons scoreless in the second half and forced two turnovers.

Banks County’s defense held an always-potent Commerce offense to just 146 yards on the ground after the third play of the game, a 71 yard TD sprint by Dreylan Martin. The Leopards lost just 10-0 in a series where the Tigers have averaged a 35-13 win over the last 10 meetings.

DEEP ROOTS: The Bruce Miller coaching tree has sprouted many branches over the years. While the teacher is back as a head coach himself at Lanier Christian after serving as a consultant for the past three seasons, two former assistants also are still leading programs around the state.

Former Gainesville assistant Mike Malone is one of the latest proteges to take over a program. Malone is the head coach now at Chattahoochee, who takes on Gainesville this week in Alpharetta.

Malone is in his third season with the Cougars and is 5-15 as he tries to rebuild that program.

Michael Perry -- one of Miller’s assistants during the Blake Sims and Deshaun Watson years -- is now at Union County, his third head coaching job since leaving the Red Elephants. Perry is 21-21 overall as a head coach. He spent two seasons at Centennial (15-8, two playoff appearances) and then two seasons at East Hall (6-12). The Panthers opened their season last week with a loss to Fannin County.

Todd Wofford spent 10 years at Central Gwinnett (2010-19) compiling a 46-61 record but led the Black Knight to five playoff appearances. Jim Pavao, also an assistant during the Sims and Watson years as the defensive coordinator, spent four years at Fannin County where he went 12-28. John Thompson led Berkmar for two seasons (2008-09).

We’ll be keeping an eye on things.