Week 1 of the 2022 campaign has already begun for the Northeast Georgia area as Cherokee Bluff kicked off the season on Wednesday, dropping its opener to Kell, 38-23, in the Corky Kell Classic.
Now, 23 of the other 25 teams in the AccessWDUN coverage area will open their seasons either tonight or on Friday. North Forsyth and Lanier Christian are up next.
The Raiders take on North Atlanta in the Corky Kell Classic on Thursday. Kickoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. at West Forsyth High School.
The Lightning, who moved up to the GAPPS 11-man league this season, travel to Douglasville to take on Harvester Christian Academy on Thursday with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
There are several intriguing matchups in the opening week, including some of the area's best rivalries being renewed. But none will be bigger than when Buford, ranked No. 11 nationally by MaxPreps and No. 1 in Class 7A in the first preseason poll, takes on Alabama defending Class 7A state champion Thompson, which is ranked 14th in the nation by MaxPreps.
The two titan programs will square off in the Freedom Bowl on Friday at Milton with a 5:30 p.m. kickoff.
Perhaps 1A on the list of enticing showdowns will be Gainesville traveling to always-tough Marist in an opener that will have all eyes on the Red Elephants and new head coach Josh Niblett. Most fans will be looking to see if the former Hoover, Ala. coach can quickly weave his magic with a program that has been stagnant for half a decade. Gainesville has not won a playoff game since 2015.
There are 18 games on tap Friday night. There are more than a few other storylines to follow as well:
Can Johnson snap its 22-game losing streak?
Can Habersham end a 10-game losing streak to arch-rival Stephens County in Toccoa that goes back to 1993?
How will North Hall look in its new spread attack after new coach Sean Pender installed the offense to replace the Trojans’ two-decades of wing-T excellence?
For a look at all of the night's contests involving area teams, simply scroll down. And be sure to check back with AccessWDUN's Friday Game Night throughout the night for score updates and game stories and video highlights. You can also check for scores and highlights on our Twitter feed: @FridayGameNight
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR AUG. 18 and 19
(Games listed in alphabetical order of visiting team)
BUFORD VS. THOMPSON, ALA. (at Milton High)
Records: Buford (0-0, Region 8-7A); Thompson (0-0, Region 3-7A Alabama)
Where: Milton High School
Time: 5:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: Both teams have been nearly unbeatable of late. The Warriors are 39-2 over the last three years and have won three straight 7A state titles in Alabama. Buford is 41-3 in that same span and has captured three straight state titles, the last two in 6A and the 5A title in 2019.
What to watch for: Both rosters are loaded with Division I and Power 5 talent. Thompson has DB Tony Mitchell (No. 3 in the 247 composite rankings), DL Peter Woods (No. 5) and OT Stanton Ramil (No. 15)*. Buford has RB Justin Haynes (Alabama-commit), QB Dylan Wittke (Virginia Tech-commit), CB K.J. Bolden (No. 1 recruit in his class), OT Paul Mubenga, DE Eddrick Houston, and DE King-Joseph Edwards. The Thompson offense and the Buford defense are almost mirror images and should be a fun matchup. Both units are young and talented and replacing several key spots after graduation.
COMMERCE at SOUTHSIDE CHRISTIAN (SC)
Records: Tigers (0-0, Region 8-A Division 1); Sabres (0-0, Region 1-A, South Carolina)
Where: Southside Christian, Simpsonville, SC
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: This might be the toughest opener for any team in the Northeast Georgia area on Friday, including Buford. This will be the first out-of-state opponent the Tigers have played since traveling to Walhalla (SC) in 2001 and just their third-ever game against a non-Georgia opponent. They went 2-0 vs. Walhalla in 2000 & 2001. Southside is 3-3 all-time vs. teams from Georgia. These particular Sabres, however, will not be a pushover. They are a current powerhouse in the Palmetto State, where they have gone 72-14 since 2015, including 22-0 the last 2 seasons, capturing back-to-back Class A state titles. They have scored a whopping 951 points (43.2 ppg) and allowed just 120 total points (5.45 ppg) in that span.
What to watch for: The Tigers still feature the triple-option and return dynamic So. RB Jaiden Daniels, who ran for over 1,300 yards and 13 TDs as a freshman. How much has the Tigers' defense, which gave up 29.5 ppg over its last 4 games in 2021, improved over the offseason will be a key storyline early on.
EAST HALL at WEST HALL
Records: Vikings (0-0, Region 8-4A); Spartans (0-0, Region 7-3A)
Where: West Hall Stadium, Oakwood
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Radio: WDUN AM 550
The Statisticals: It’s been a tight series with the two teams splitting the last 12 games going back to 2006. The Spartans are 8-4 at West Hall Stadium and have won 3 of the last 4 at home in the series. However, the Vikings took a 30-22 win in 2020, the last time the series played at West Hall. East Hall is just 1-6 in its last 7 road games going back to 2020.
What to watch for: The Spartans will look to Fr. Brett Sturm to run the offense while the Vikings will give both So. Peyton Llewallyn and Fr. Jamarcus Harrison some playing time as they look for a replacement for Clete Cooper at QB. ... The Vikings defense, which has been the focal point of the summer, may be the key. They allowed more than 51 ppg while the Spartans gave up just 28 ppg in 2021.
EAST JACKSON at OGLETHORPE COUNTY
Records: Eagles (0-0, Region 8-2A); Patriots (0-0, Region 5-A Division 1)
Where: Patriot Stadium, Lexington
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: East Jackson has won 4 straight in the series and has never lost to the Patriots in Lexington (4-0). The Patriots scored 23 ppg and allowed 26 ppg in 2021. The Eagles, playing in a much tougher 8-3A, managed just 17 ppg while giving up 23 ppg in 2021.
What to watch for: Both teams have moved down a classification and should be competitive in fighting for playoff spots. Both programs also are expected to be much improved on the field. Eagles’ Sr. Randy Smith won the QB job in the summer, but Fr. Drew Richardson will factor into the offense as the season progresses. Gary Maddox and Quay Hill will both return at RB, giving the Eagles a strong ground game to lean on early.
FANNIN COUNTY at UNION COUNTY
Records: Rebels (0-0, Region 7-2A); Panthers (0-0, Region 8-2A)
Where: Mike Colwell Memorial Stadium, Blairsville
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: The all-time series is tied at 15, and the two teams have played every year since 2006, with Union County holding a 9-7 edge in that span. The Panthers are 9-6 all-time at home in the series but lost to the Rebels in 2020 at home, 24-20.
What to watch for: After going 20-3 over the last two seasons, Fannin may be in rebuilding mode, having graduated their top 3 rushers, 3 of their top 4 receivers, and QB Seth Reece, who passed for over 1,100 yards and 13 TDs in 2021. Union County will be breaking in a new QB in Jr. Caden Tanner, who is familiar with the offense after leading the JV team last season.
FLOWERY BRANCH at DECATUR
Records: Falcons (0-0, Region 8-5A); Bulldogs (0-0, Region 4-5A)
Where: Bulldog Stadium, Decatur
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: The Bulldogs have been tough at home, going 12-3 over the past three seasons. They also have won three straight season openers. Branch has won its last four season-openers on the road going back to 2014.
What to watch for: The Falcons will be breaking in a new spread offense and a QB in Sr. Brody Jordan under new head coach Jason Tester. Look for them to lean on the running game early behind RBs Myles Ivey and Malik Dryden and what should be a pretty good line up front. The Decatur defense only allowed 14 ppg in 2021.
GAINESVILLE at MARIST
Records: Red Elephants (0-0, Region 8-6A); War Eagles (0-0, Region 4-6A)
Where: Hughes-Spalding Stadium, Atlanta
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Radio: 94.5 FM The Lake
The Statisticals: GHS, which averaged just 22 ppg in 2021, will still employ a spread attack behind Jr. QB Baxter Wright and will need to improve in a new offense under Josh Niblett, whose last three Hoover teams scored at a 33.6 ppg clip. The War Eagles, however, are as stingy as they come on defense. They have allowed just 9.1 ppg over the past three seasons.
What to watch for: The enthusiasm for the Red Elephants’ first season under Josh Niblett has been off the charts, especially in marketing the program. But is the improvement of the roster, including some notable additions, ready to match the preseason hype? The War Eagles, who made the 4A quarterfinals in 2021, will be a stern opening test. Marist comes in ranked 6th in 6A in composite rankings and has plenty of talent returning.
HABERSHAM CENTRAL at STEPHENS COUNTY
Records: Raiders (0-0, Region 8-6A); Indians (0-0, Region 8-3A)
Where: The Reservation, Toccoa
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Radio: WCON 99.3 FM
The Statisticals: This has been a series owned by the Indians. They have won 18 of the last 20 meetings going back to 1994. Habersham has dropped 10 straight at The Reservation. The last Raiders win in Toccoa was in 1993.
What to watch for: Both teams come in with high expectations. The Raiders should have one of the better offenses in the area behind Jr. QB Carson Parker and a plethora of receivers in So. Zeke Whittington, an All-Region selection in 2021, So. Landyn Savage, Sr. Seth Dover and Jr Jonah Wilson. Sr. RB Blandon Grizzle could be poised for a breakout season as well. But the Raiders allowed 29.1 ppg on defense and are hoping a more experienced unit is ready to improve on that.
HEBRON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY at CHESTATEE
Records: Lions (0-0, Region 8-3A); War Eagles (0-0, Region 8-4A)
Where: War Eagles Stadium, Gainesville
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: 20, which is the number of seniors the War Eagles graduated, including key spots at QB, WR, and along the offensive line. They will be inexperienced. And that will pose a huge problem against the Lions, who brought in former ELCA coach Jonathan Gess, who led the Chargers to 160 wins and 6 state titles in 15 seasons. The Lions were young last season, and Gess’s hire attracted several high-profile players to the program in the offseason.
What to watch for: Chestatee QB Josh Kermode. Kermode has a year of learning the offense under his belt, and several coaches in the area project a big season and career for the sophomore. Can the Chestatee defense, which had its best statistical season since 2013, continue to improve and give the offense some help?
JACKSON COUNTY at DAWSON COUNTY
Records: Team (0-0, Region 8-6A); Team (0-0, Region 7-3A)
Where: Tiger Stadium, Dawsonville
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Radio: www.northgeorgiasportslink.com
The Statisticals: Both teams are trying to replace losses at key offensive positions. The Panthers had their 2nd best offensive season (303 points, 27.5 ppg) but will have a new QB and a new backfield. The Tigers graduated their record-setting QB, their top two rushers, and two of their top three receivers.
What to watch for: Can the Panthers find the right combination on a rebuilding O-line and some production to replace the school’s all-time leading rusher, Tray Ransom? The Dawson County defense is experienced with a lot of returning talent and could set the tone early in this one. They allowed just 11 ppg in non-region play in 2021.
JEFFERSON at ALPHARETTA
Records: Dragons (0-0, Region 8-5A); Raiders (0-0, Region 7-6A)
Where: Raider Stadium, Alpharetta
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: New Dragons coach Travis Nolan is installing a new pro-style offense, which could pay dividends with Sr. QB Max Aldridge at the helm. But they still have Jr. RB Sammy Brown, who averaged 107 yards/game last year on the ground and is one of the most explosive players in the state, to go with Sr. WR Elijah Dewitt, a Prince Avenue Christian transfer used to a pass-happy offense. The Raiders gave up 28.9 ppg in 2021
What to watch for: Aldridge has the tools to be a solid QB in a pass-oriented system. How quickly he can integrate into the offense could be the missing ingredient for the Dragons. Brown, who is being recruited as a LB, and Isaiah Copeland, who moved from DE to LB, could make up one of the best 1-2 combos in the state.
JOHNSON at BANKS COUNTY
Records: Knights (0-0, non-region); Leopards (0-0, Region 8-2A)
Where: Leopards Stadium, Homer
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: Johnson is trying to snap a 22-game losing streak going back to the 2018 season. The Leopards, however, are just 3-19 over that same span. The teams have not played since 2017, and Banks County has won the last 4 meetings. Johnson has not beaten the Leopards since 1959.
What to watch for: Which team can generate some offense may be the key to this one. The Leopards are rebuilding an offense that averaged just 12.6 ppg over the past two seasons and was shut out 4 times last season. Johnson is changing an offense that was shut out six times in 2021 back to a single-wing offense.
KINGS RIDGE at LAKEVIEW ACADEMY
Records: Tigers (0-0, Region 6-A, Division 1); Lions (0-0, GIAA Region 4-3A)
Where: Lions Stadium, Gainesville
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: The two teams played the last two years as Region 6-A foes splitting a pair of games at home. Lakeview, however, moved over to the GIAA after GHSA reclassification while the Tigers stayed put. The Lions are trying to rebuild after a disastrous 2021 campaign (1-9).
What to watch for: Lakeview still has a small-ish roster but has been the benefit of some late, young transfers from around the area, including a trio of O-linemen tipping the scales at over 900 pounds combined. They also are breaking in a new QB and other skilled position players. If they can bring the late arrivals into the fold, they could have an offense ready to put up some points.
LANIER CHRISTIAN at HARVESTER
Records: Lightning (0-0, GAPPS Class AA, Region 1); Hawks (0-0, GIAA A Region 1)
Where: Douglasville
Time: Thursday, 7 p.m.
The Statisticals: LCA, which finished 9-3 last season, put up some huge numbers on offense without having a true QB at the position. They will have a Fr. running the offense in 2022 in C.J. Britt. But they return So. GAPPS 8-man All-State running back Zeke Clanton, who piled up over 1,600 yards and scored 31 TDs in 2021. The Hawks finished 7-3 but graduated their QB and top rusher from last season.
What to watch for: LCA Fr. QB C.J. Britt. Lightning coach Bruce Miller said Britt has the tools to be a special player and has plenty of weapons to work with in Sr. WRs Carter Raulerson, Isaac Dinn, and Camden Hohman, along with Jrs. Shepherd Acton and McKinney Crozi. Also, can Clanton repeat or improve on his 2021 campaign and avoid the sophomore jinx in a bigger league?
NORTH FORSYTH vs. NORTH ATLANTA
Records: Raiders (0-0, Region 8-6A); Warriors (0-0, Region 4-6A)
Where: West Forsyth High School, Cumming
Time: Thursday, 5:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: It’s the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The 6 wins for the Warriors in 2021 were the most since winning 7 in 2010. North Atlanta has won five straight season-openers. The Raiders are 3-3 in season-openers under Robert Craft, including winning their last two.
What to watch for: The Raiders will be breaking in a new full-time starter at QB in Sr. West Roberts, who completed 53% of his passes for 329 yards and 2 TDs in 2021. He will have a speedy group of WRs in Srs. Aiden Ruckh (22-302, 1 TD), Logan Curry (24-342, 3 TD), Ashton Green, Zack Shirley and Mike Oakland. Raiders LB Collin Miller, a first-team All-AccessWDUN selection in 2022 and a Navy-commit, is one of the area's best and will lead a defense that is experienced and expected to be stingy.
NORTH HALL at WHITE COUNTY
Records: Trojans (0-0, Region 8-4A); Warriors (0-0, Region 7-3A)
Where: Warriors Stadium, Cleveland
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Radio: 102.9 FM; WRWH 93.9 FM
The Statisticals: Typically, the road team has fared well in this series, one of the longest-running and best in North Georgia. The road team is 13-6 since 2002. However, the Trojans snapped a 4-year losing streak for the home team last season. The Warriors have not won at home in the series since 2016.
What to watch for: North Hall has radically changed its offense to a spread from its decades-long wing-T and is doing it with no starters returning from the 2021 squad. There will be some growing pains as they get acclimated. The Warriors return So. QB Tripp Nix and a slew of speedy WRs in an offense that had growing pains last year with a young roster. They are experienced heading into 2022 and may be ready to break out this season.
RABUN COUNTY at HARALSON COUNTY
Records: Wildcats (0-0, Region 8-A, Division 1); Rebels (0-0, Region 7-2A)
Where: Taylor Memorial Stadium, Tallapoosa
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: The Rebels tied a program-record for wins in a season (10, 1990) and earned their first-ever GHSA playoff win last season. Rabun County has the 4th-most wins in all GHSA (82) since 2015. The Wildcats graduated QB and Georgia-signee Gunnar Stockton but had former West Forsyth QB Keegan Stover (2,409 yards, 25 TDs, 3 INTs in 2021) transfer in. Sr. WR Jaden Gibson had 1,878 yards receiving last year. Gibson now sits just 1,303 yards short of the state record of 4,477 yards set by Stan Rome in 1973.
What to watch for: The Rebels run a single-wing offense, but they will be in rebuild mode in 2021 after they graduated a senior class that won more games (33) than any class in program history. How quickly will Stover, Gibson, and the rest of the Rabun offense click under new head coach Michael Davis, who was the Wildcats’ OC in 2021?
RIVERSIDE MILITARY at LUMPKIN COUNTY
Records: Eagles (0-0, GIAA Region 4-3A); Indians (0-0, Region 7-3A)
Where: The Burial Grounds, Dahlonega
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Radio: www.northgeorgiasportslink.com
The Statisticals: The Eagles are still trying to recover from the lost 2020 season but may be ready to turn the corner. The offense will be the key. After scoring 32 in their opener last season, they scored just 34 total points the rest of the way. The Indians, who have a new coach Heath Webb, known as a program-builder, have a plethora of athletes on offense but are rebuilding the O-line. They need to improve an offense that averaged just 14 ppg and improve on their 35.8 points against on defense in 2021.
What to watch for: The Eagles return four on the O-line, Sr. RB Rodney Robinson also returns, but many are anxious to see what Sr. QB Jeremiah Shaw, a Meadowcreek transfer, brings to the offense. He could be one of the more dynamic players in the area. The Indians could be a sleeper team in 7-3A. Their running game behind a loaded backfield and the underrated Cooper Scott at QB could be a unit to keep an eye on.
TOWNS COUNTY at HAYESVILLE, (NC)
Records: Indians (0-0, Region 8-A, Division 2); Yellow Jackets (0-0, Region 1A West Conference)
Where: Hayesville, NC
Time: 7:30 p.m.
The Statisticals: It’s a series traditionally owned by the Yellow Jackets. But the Indians have won 4 of the last 9 after dropping the first 16 games in the series. Towns has won the last two meetings in Hayesville (2016 & 2018). The Jackets return their QB, top rusher, and 3 of their top 4 receivers from last season on offense.
What to watch for: The numbers are way up for the Indians, who will have depth at most positions, and for the first time, will field a JV program. Jr. QB Connor Chastain returns but finding a feature RB among Jr. Justin Miles-Hill and Sr. Seth Gillis, an All-Access Honorable Mention at linebacker, is a priority.
(* -- Information from AL.com)
