With Cartersville’s loss to Calhoun last week in Region 7-5A, the Purple Hurricane’s 62-game winning streak in region games came to an end. That was the longest active streak in the state and the fifth-longest all-time.
That leaves a Northeast Georgia program with the longest current region win streak in the state: Rabun County.
The Wildcats, now in Region 8-A Division 1, have won 47 straight region games -- all in Region 8-2A -- going back to 2013. Their last region loss was on Oct. 18, 2013 to Washington-Wilkes, 52-7, the second of two consecutive Region 8-2A losses in Lee Shaw’s second year as head coach.
Since then, the Wildcats captured eight straight 8-2A region titles. They are not scheduled to open their Region 8-A Division 1 schedule until next week on the road against old 8-2A foe Elbert County, which moved down with them in the reclassification. They are 6-0 all-time against the Blue Devils.
As for other Northeast Georgia-area programs, Buford has the next longest streak at 13. The Wolves’ last region loss was to Clarke Central, 31-28, in the 2019 regular season finale in Region 8-5A.
Streak busters! Last week, three teams were looking to break all-time winless streaks against their opponents. Two of them did just that.
Gainesville had never beaten Lanier in six previous meetings. The Red Elephants shellacked the Longhorns, 42-14, in Sugar Hill for their first-ever win in the series.
Jackson County had never beaten Habersham Central in eight previous meetings. The Panthers manhandled the Raiders, 38-13, in Hoschton.
However, Lumpkin County’s all-time winless streak against Wesleyan is now at five after the Indians dropped their first game of the 2022 campaign, 28-14, in Norcross. Four turnovers were the difference.
THE LINES
As always, there are more than a few interesting lines this week involving Northeast Georgia area teams.
No way! Really?
Flowery Branch is a 3-point favorite over Winder-Barrow on the road. In any other season this would not cause many to blink an eye. But as things stand right now, in 2022, it definitely makes us go “Really?”
The Falcons have been banged up most of the season and it has shown during a four-game losing streak, their longest since 2016. Branch is 1-2 on the road and giving up 33 points/game away from home. They are averaging just 16.6 ppg on offense.
On the surface, we can maybe, almost, sort of see why Branch is favored as the Bulldoggs come in riding their own three-game win streak. Program reputations could also be in play.
However, all three of Winder-Barrow’s losses have been on the road and the Bulldoggs are 3-0 at home this season and outscored their opponents 104-9 in those games.
The points are not the issue, just the fact that a struggling road team against a team that is much different playing at home is favored. Interesting to say the least.
Shocking line of the week
The King’s Academy is a 2-point favorite over high-flying Lanier Christian. It’s going to take a few minutes to just get past that sentence.
The Lightning lead GAPPS in scoring at a whopping 58.3 ppg clip. They have not scored less than 44 in any game this season.
As above, we can maybe, almost, sort of see why the Knights are favored. They are at home and allowing just 14.8 ppg on defense.
For the sake of argument, let’s say the Lightning are held to 14 points, this stat next does not bode well for King’s Academy in any event. When the Knights have allowed more than 7 points, they are 0-3.
“Danger, Will Robinson!”
I’ll bet all my Alabama keepsakes the Lightning score more than 7. Plus, LCA is only giving up 12.1 ppg on defense.
Really, really, really curious to know how they came up with this one.
Scattered, smothered...and will COVER!
In this part of this new segment we’ll look at some of the more interesting games involving area teams and look at who we think will be almost certain picks to cover the point-spread.
We went just 1-2 in our COVER picks last week -- we blame Hurricane Ian -- but are still a respectable 5-2 overall for the season.
This week may have been the most challenging to find sure-fire COVER games, whether you took the points or the favorite. Remaining at least .500 is the goal this week. Here goes...
Lanier Christian (+2) on the road vs. The King's Academy: I could almost pull the entire section from above as to why to take the Lightning and points.
But I’ll add some new reasons. LCA freshman QB CJ Britt, who leads GAPPS in passing with 1,018 yards, 19 TD, and no INTs so far. Sophomore RB Zeke Clanton, who is 2nd in rushing with 672 yards and 11 TD, and then there is a slew of receivers. They are averaging 169 yards/game passing and 179 yards/game rushing.
The Lightning will win outright so take the points for them to COVER!
Fellowship Christian (-17) at East Jackson: We won last week with the Eagles so why not go to that well again. However, this time they’re taking on a Paladins program that has won 44 games, not counting this season, with four trips or better to the state quarterfinals over the past four years.
The key matchup will be the East Jackson offense vs. the Paladins defense. The Eagles have exploded for 161 points (40.25 ppg) during a 4-game win streak. But the Paladins defense gave up just 21 to a powerful Rabun County offense last week and have allowed just 15.5 ppg over their last two games.
The Eagles will not have an easy time. Also, the Paladins have not lost back-to-back regular season games since 2017. We would love to see the Eagles pull off the upset but we’re going to take Fellowship to COVER.
Cherokee Bluff (+8) at East Forsyth: This could be the best game of the night in the area. Both teams possess tremendous defenses.
The Broncos lead Class 4A in defense (24 points, 4.8 ppg) and their only loss was 7-6 to Walnut Grove on a missed PAT and blocked field goal at the end of the game. The Bears have allowed just 18.5 ppg over their past four games.
Look for another low scoring game at Half-Mile High Stadium. It could come down to the final possession, which means one possession will not be enough. If so, of course take the 8 points. Bears will COVER.
Wesleyan (-1) at White County: Wesleyan was a banged up team until last week. The Warriors still are. Before the season began this was considered one of the key games to decide the Region 7-3A title. But as things stand now, both teams come in with one region loss and need this one to stay in the title hunt. White County had been undefeated at home until getting shut out by Dawson County last week as the injuries at several key positions were too much to overcome.
It could be more of the same this week. The Warriors still are not 100 percent healthy and thin in spots. The Wolves looked like the team many expected, knocking off previously-unbeaten Lumpkin County last week.
The Wolves should win this one so with just one skinny point, we’re going to give the point and take Wesleyan to COVER.
AREA TOP PERFORMERS: Rabun County senior wide receiver Jaden Gibson’s 9 catches for 178 yards and 2 TD last week against a pretty good Fellowship Christian defense now puts him just 349 yards from Stan Rome’s all-time state record of 4,477 yards. He still leads the entire state in receiving with 958 yards overall
Gibson’s teammate, senior quarterback Keegan Stover, remains second overall in the state in passing with 1,796 yards. He is just 64 yards behind state leader Tate Morris of McIntosh (Class 5A) who has 1,860 yards.
On the rushing list, Banks County’s Andrew Shockley remained 4th in Class 2A with 980 yards after a solid outing last week. He is tied for 14th overall in the state. Commerce’s Jaiden Daniels has climbed to 22nd overall and has moved up to 4th in Class A D1 with 883 yards.
