The season continues to fly by at what seems a record pace. We're almost halfway through and have already seen some pretty good games.
Last week, Cherokee Bluff made a statement with a win over rival North Hall to remain undefeated. Jefferson, East Hall, Lakeview, East Jackson and Gainesville rolled to easy wins. Habersham Central outlasted White County in a thriller. Jackson County and Lumpkin County got back on track with wins.
This week, there are 16 games on the schedule, and three of them are Games2Watch.
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STEPHENS COUNTY at JEFFERSON
Records: Indians (3-0, Region 8-2A), ranked No. 2 in Class 2A; Dragons (2-1, Region 8-3A), ranked No. 2 in Class 3A
Last week: Stephens County beat Cedar Shoals, 52-3; Jefferson beat Clarke Central, 42-14
Where: Memorial Stadium, Jefferson
Radio: WDUN FM 102.9
Time: 7:30 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: JEFFERSON: QB Gavin Markey (19-for-27, 349 yards, 3 TDs passing; 13-135 yards rush, 2 TDs), RB Mykel Pittman (28-108 rush), RB Dallas Russell (37-183 yards rush, 3 TDs), WR Dalton Dye (8-164, 1 TD rec.), WR Talan Childress (5-109, 1 TD rec), LB Max Brown (28 tkls), LB Jaden Yang (26 tkls), LB Rett Hemphill (26 tkls), LB Daren Pinkard (23 tkls, 4 TFLs), DL Kelan Butler (17 tkls, 3 TFLs); STEPHENS COUNTY: QB Tripp Underwood (39-for-56, 642 yards passing, 8 TDs, 2 INTs), RB Javin Gordon (51-277, 4 TDs rush; 15-185 rec.), WR Jonah Swinton (4-105, 2 TDs), WR Davon Swinton (11-240, 3 TDs); SS Brock Tankersley (31 tkls), DL Jakob Lunsford (25 tkls, 5 TFLs), LB Garrett Addison (24 tkls), LB Morris Perkins (17 tkls, 4 TFLs), DL Kymani Colbert (16 tkls, 6 TFLs)
WHY WATCH IT: While these two teams haven't met much through the years, the 2024 meeting has all the makings to be a dandy. Stephens County has proved it can both pass and run the ball and when you have a running back like Javin Gordon, the rushing attack runs downhill like an Army tank. Meanwhile, the Dragons are still finding a dominant rushing game. It's gotten better from Week 1 through Week 3, with the Dragons using seven backs, including QB Gavin Markey, to rack up 287 rushing yards last week. Both also have pretty good passing games, with Tripp Underwood at the helm for the Indians and Markey for the Dragons. So, expect this one to be left to the defense to control the game. Which team will break through, and will it be with the passing or rushing game, or will it be a balanced attack? Regardless, we believe this one will be one to remember for a while.
EAST HALL at NORTH HALL
Records: Vikings (3-0, Region 8-3A); Trojans (0-2, Region 6-3A)
Last week: East Hall beat Johnson, 55-0; North Hall lost 38-13 to Cherokee Bluff
Where: The Brickyard, Gainesville
Radio: FM 94.5 The Lake
Time: 7:30 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: EAST HALL: QB Jamarcus Harrison (25-for-35, 309 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT; 25-202 yards rush, 1 TD); RB Lukas Pruitt (21-123 yards rush; 3 TDs); WR Chasen Jones (12-188, 3 TDs); Elijah Buffington (24 tkls), DB Levi Kinney (21 tkls), Jacob Christian (19 tkls), DE Aaron Brock (17 tkls, 3 TFLs), Matt Hale (17 tkls); NORTH HALL: QB Smith McGarvey (24-20, 262 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs; 10-54 rushing, 2 TDs); QB Alex Schlieman (14-for-22, 134 yards, 2 INTs, 3-16 rushing), RB/DB Parker Carlton (9-31, 17 tkls), WR Cole Cable (11-126 yards, 2 TDs), WR Luke Jenkins 13-113 yards), WR Ty Kemp (8-90 yards, 1 TD); DB Charlie Dyer (17 tkls), DB Walker Davis (16 tkls), DL Matt Arceo (12 tkls, 3 TFLs)
WHY WATCH IT: East Hall hasn't won a game in 14 tries against rival North Hall. The last time the Vikings beat the Trojans, East Hall head coach Matt Turner was playing. The year was 2001. Since then, North Hall has outscored East Hall 739 to 235, and over the last four meetings, the Trojans have averaged nearly 60 points per game. Could the streak end in 2024? Well, that's a tough one to pick. Sure, the Trojans are 0-2, averaging just 17 points per game and giving up 37. But don't sleep on those stats or the record. North Hall's first two opponents -- Cherokee Bluff and Wesleyan -- have a combined 5-1 record. Meanwhile, the Vikings are 3-0, averaging 37 ppg and giving up just seven, but their first three opponents have a combined record of 1-7. The strength of schedule is on North Hall's side, and it might suggest that the Trojans have been tested more than the Vikings. It also poses the question: Does the strength of schedule matter regarding one of Hall County's oldest rivalries? It could, but one factor is not mentioned: That good ole Brickyard magic. However, the Vikings are tired of hearing about the streak, and although their schedule isn't as strong as North Hall's to this point, it doesn't take away the fact the offense has been clicking on all cylinders. Don't sleep on this matchup. The magic carpet ride could be black and gold when the clock strikes zero.
BUFORD at ROSWELL
Records: Wolves (1-1, Region 8-6A), ranked No. 3 in Class 6A; Hornets (2-0, Region 7-5A), ranked No. 8 in Class 5A
Last week: Buforfd was off; Roswell beat Walton, 42-32
Where: Ray Manus Stadium, Roswell
Time: 7:30 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: BUFORD: Dayton Raiola (20-for-39, 316 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs), RB E Ervin (22-130 yards 1 TD, RB Justin Baker (22-77), WR Jordan Allen (10-154 yards), WR Kyle Carpenter (3-67 yards), LB AJ Holloway (16 tkls, 3 TFLs), LB Deion Miller (13 tkls), DL Bryce Perry-Wright (11 tkls), LB Benji Wyatt (11 tkls), LB Mantrez Walker (10 tkls), DL Nicco Maggio (9tkls), LB Jaden Perlotte (6 tkls); ROSWELL: QB Trey Smith (19-for-34, 277 yards, 3 TDs, 14-128 yards rushing, 4 TDs), RB Synkwan Smith (29-229 yards, 2 TDs), WR Grant Cook (6-99 yards), WR Ethan Gurela (3-74 yards), WR Wills Campbell (5-51 yards, 2 TDs), LB Brody Duffy 13 tkls, LB Ryder Duffy (10 tkls, 4 TFLs), DL Kobby Sakyi-prah (9 tkls, 4 TFLs), DB Roger Getch (9tkls)
WHY WATCH IT: Buford's non-region schedule has to be the toughest in the state. That schedule continues to gain strength this week when they travel to Class 5A's No. 8-ranked Roswell. The Wolves have been living on the edge in their first two games of the season. The Wolves came close to beating top-ranked Milton in Week 1, and in Week 2, Buford coach Bryant Appling pulled out all the stops to rally back to beat Benedictine. So, what's in store in Week 4? Roswell features a dual-threat QB, a solid rushing game, and an offense averaging nearly 32 ppg. Meanwhile, the Wolves are still building an identity on offense, with junior QB Dayton Raiola averaging just 17 ppg. It might be interesting on defense, with both teams giving up 20 ppg. Can somebody say shootout? If so, Roswell might have the upper hand with an experienced quarterback who can throw and run. Then again, we're talking about Buford. A team that almost always finds a way to win the close ones. What we are sure of in this one is that if it comes down to pulling out all the stops, Buford gets the nod. You better believe coach Appling won't be afraid to reach into the bag of wizardry to pull off another one.
