Coming into the 2024 season, Class 3A figured to be a wide-open, offensive classification with the likes of Cedar Grove, Peach County, Sandy Creek, and Calvary Day.
However, the northeast Georgia area -- Regions 6-3A and 8-3A specifically -- is leading the way heading into Week 7. While Peach County is pacing the field at 41.2 points/game, West Hall (6-3A) is 3rd at 39.2 ppg and Cherokee Bluff (8-3A) is 4th averaging 38.2 ppg on the season. Lumpkin County is 10th (31.8 ppg) heading into Week 7.
Lee County leads Class 5A, and the state, in scoring, all classifications, at 55.0 points/game heading into Week 7. Lee County is in the same classification as Gainesville, which is 6th in Class 5A at 37.8 ppg so far.
STATE LEADERS
Elijah Hayes of West Hall and Gainesville’s Kharim Hughley continue to race up the yardage leader charts in 2024.
Hayes, a West Hall senior running back, has moved into 4th overall in the state in rushing with 903 yards, which also leads Class 3A. However, he has some ground to make up to catch the state’s leading rusher in Chattooga’s Zayden Cook, who leads Class A D1 and the state with 1,328 yards.
Tysean Wiggins of Commerce is 3rd in Class A D1 and 16th overall with 755 yards.
Hughley, a sophomore quarterback, who another solid game on Wednesday for Gainesville’s rout of Johns Creek (202 yards) and now is 8th overall in the state with 1,287 yards passing. That is only good for 3rd in a pass-happy Class 5A, behind 5A leader Antwann Hill Jr. of Houston County (1,407 yards) and Dunwoody’s Matt Pearch (1,386).
White County’s Tripp Nix, meanwhile, has climbed to 13th overall in the state in passing and now leads Class 3A with 1,233 yards. Cherokee Bluff’s Brooks Brien, who led 3A after last week, fell to 3rd in the classification and 31st overall with 1,032 yards.
Nine area quarterbacks in the northeast Georgia area are in the top 97 in passing overall.
In receiving, Kaden Thompson of Cherokee Bluff is the area’s leading receiver with 449 yards, which puts him 33rd overall in the state.
