Game of the Week: Chestatee's resurgence adds more meaning to battle with North Hall

The last time Chestatee went into the annual arch-rival battle against North Hall with a better record was a decade ago. 

The date to be exact was Sept. 30, 2011 -- the War Eagles were 3-2, while the Trojans were 1-3. North Hall won its second straight game of the season that year with a 48-7 win over the War Eagles. As the two teams prepare to meet for the 20th time in the series, the War Eagles post the better record at 2-1. North Hall is 1-2. 

But does that really mean anything in a series the Trojans have dominated, winning 17 of 19? Of course, both coaches could care less about the so-called useless stat. The players, however, this game is huge. 

"It's a pretty big game because all of us seniors have never lost to Chestatee and we would like to keep it that way," North Hall senior lineman Austin Copper said. 

"It's huge, we've been getting ready for this game since winter," Chestatee senior receiver/defensive back Drew Knickel said. 

The game is set to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lynn Cottrell Stadium at The Brickyard and can be heard live on FM 102.9 WDUN. 

"It's big to our kids," Chestatee coach Shaun Conley said. "It means something to our kids because were so close in proximity, they go to church together, they hang out together, those types of things. So it's a pretty big game for us."  

The War Eagles have turned a lot of heads in the football world over the last two weeks, holding off Union County for their first win in 11 tries, then obliterating cross-county rival West Hall, 42-7, last week. 

Conley is pleased with the start and gives all the credit to his players' attitudes.

"It's our kids," he said. "Those guys' identity is just to play hard and good things will happen. Those guys are leaving it all out there. We got hit with COVID Week 2, and we thought at the time it was a curse a little bit, but it ended up almost being a blessing for us in the fact if we just play hard, good things will happen."

Quarterback Luke Bornhorst and company racked up almost 500 yards of offense against West Hall last week, with the senior signal-caller passing for 344 of those yards and five touchdowns. Jason Granados and Elijah Pruitt carried the load on the ground, combing for 133 total yards. Granados added a touchdown. Hunter Fouche and Hunter Gowin ended the night with more than 100 yards receiving. 

"We're pretty balanced run-pass wise," Conley said. "If we can do that, we're tough to defend, if we can execute. Again, that's the key for us is to execute. We've been able to execute and good things happened. Against, West Hall we did things really, really well."

North Hall, however, has struggled over the last two games, playing arguably two of the top-tier programs in Class 3A -- Stephens and Hart counties -- both losses. 

The Trojans were never in the game against Stephens County -- a 42-0 loss -- but followed the next week against Hart County with a more passionate effort almost upsetting the Bulldogs. Hart County pulled ahead with a 13-point fourth quarter to win it 48-37. The Trojans worked on themselves in the off Week 4. 

North Hall coach David Bishop said his team had a different mindset going into Hart County.

"We preached all week long to go out and play passionate and inspired football," Bishop said. "And that's what they did."

The Trojans have the ability to light up the scoreboard with the infamous wing-T offense, led by quarterback Bradford Puryear and running back Kevin Rochester. The duo led the Trojans against Hart County with a combined 136 yards on the ground. Rochester tossed in three touchdowns. Austin Atha also had an impressive night with 79 yards on 10 carries and two scores. 

"One of the things that we do see is they play physical and run to the football," Bishop said about the Chestatee's defense. "And they don't miss near as many tackles as they have in the past. So, we're going to have to be happy at four yards a clip and just continue to move the sticks series after series with them."

Defensively, the Trojans will be forced to slow down Bornhorst and the explosive Chestatee offense -- averaging 34.7 points per game and 41 points per game over the last two.  

"The one thing we saw that Bornhorst does really well is when the plays break down ... I think that's when he's at his best," Bishop said. "I think they do a tremendous job ad-libbing when he's on the run, so we've got to limit those opportunities."

As for the War Eagles, Conley knows his defense will be tested the most since Cherokee Bluff. North Hall's wing-T requires a lot of discipline on the defensive side to stop. 

"We have to play assignment football because they've got all the misdirection and attack different spots with one play," Conley said. "So we've got to be very disciplined, do our jobs and play with a lot of heart."

As for the War Eagles' offense, Conley said they're not going to change much of anything. 

"Our biggest key is going to be execution. We're really not going to change anything; we're just going to do what we do," Conley said. "We feel like if we can execute, hopefully, we can move the ball a little bit on them."