GAMES TO WATCH: Milton-Buford not the only interesting Week 1 matchup

That was a quick nine months, or at least it certainly seemed that way, as Friday Game Night has been eagerly awaiting the start of the 2025 campaign.

And it’s finally here, with 16 games to open up the regular season around northeast Georgia. One of those games, Milton at Buford, will be on Thursday, Aug. 14. The rest will be on Friday, Aug. 15.

There are more than a few enticing games on the schedule this week. But beginning this year, we’ll look at the top games each week that we feel are the ones to watch because of rivalries, or that could shape region standings, or just because it just could be that interesting for that week in the season.

Take Week 1. There are so many compelling season-opening games that the Gainesville-Marietta showdown at City Park did NOT make the cut for best games to watch. Neither did the Jackson County-Flowery Branch or Rabun County-White County showdowns. It was a tough week to narrow down.

But eventually narrow it down we did. Here are the six GAMES TO WATCH that had us asking the most questions among ourselves this week:

Milton at Buford
Records: Eagles (0-0, Region 7-5A); Wolves (0-0, Region 8-6A)
Last week: Season-opener for both teams
Time: 7 p.m. (Thursday, Aug. 14), Phillip Beard Stadium, Buford
Key players: Milton (2024 stats) -- Jr. QB Derrick Baker (14 comp, 100 yards, 2 TD), Sr. LB Billy Weivoda (89 tkl, 13. TFL, 8.5 sacks, 18 QB hurries), Sr. RB Bentley Hickman (171 car., 944 yards, 10 TD), Jr. TE Grant Haviland (9 rec., 82 yards), Jr. WR Jordan Carrasquillo (17 rec.,  317 yards, 6 TD); Buford -- Sr. QB Dayton Raiola (115-203, 1,953 yards, 19 TD, 3 INT), Sr. C Preston Clark, Sr. OL Graham Houston, Sr. OL Ben Mubenga, Sr. RB/DB Tyriq Green (77 car., 527 yards, 47.9 ypc, 8 TD; 28 tkl, 1 TFL, 5 INT, 1 FR), Sr. DL Bryce Perry-Wright (57 tkl, 13 TFL, 9 sacks, 17 QB hurries), Sr. DL Cam Simmons (19 tkl, 1 TFL, 3 QB hurries), Sr. LB Deion Miller (57 tkl, 5 TFL, 5 sacks, 2 QB hurries, 1 INT), Sr. LB Kanon Nelson (23 tkl, 3 TFL, 1 sacks, 4 QB hurries, 1 FF)
Why watch it: I mean, why NOT? The reasons why are too numerous to list -- but we’ll try! Milton is the defending Class 5A champion and finished ranked No. 2 in six national polls after last season. The Eagles had to replace 17 starters but reloaded at several spots with high-caliber move-ins and come into this one ranked 22nd in the national preseason MaxPreps rankings. Buford made a semifinal run in Class 6A last season -- the Wolves' best showing so far in the state’s largest classification -- and comes into this one ranked 13th in the MaxPreps preseason rankings. Buford returns a half-dozen key players from last year and added a few newcomers as well. The nearly one dozen Power 4 players that could be on the field at any given time are enough alone to watch this one. This was a 13-10 Milton win in a downpour in Milton last year, so you know the Wolves are looking to return the favor. Oh, and did we mention it will be the first-ever game in the new $62 million Phillip Beard Stadium that holds over 10,000, AND it will be televised live on ESPN 2? Regardless of outcome, and despite it being the first game of the year, both teams will get a strong sense of where they are as both are considered title contenders in their respective classifications. Oh, and it’s on a Thursday and is the only game in our coverage area playing that night so there’s NO REASON you can’t watch it! Just sayin!

East Hall at Banks County 
Records: Vikings (0-0, Region 8-3A); Leopards (0-0, Region 8-A D1)
Last week: Season-opener for both teams
Radio: FM 102.9 WDUN
Time: 7:30 p.m., Leopard Stadium, Homer
Key players: East Hall (2024 stats) -- Sr. QB Jamarcus Harrison (132-244, 1,709 yards, 18 TD, 8 INT passing; 159-1,137 yards, 12 TD rushing), Sr. WR Chasen Jones (51 rec., 689 yards, 10 TD), Sr. RB Lukas Pruitt (121-643 yards, 7 TD rushing; 14-153 yards, 1 TD receiving), All-Access 1st team Jr. LB Elijah Buffington (82 tkl, 10.0 TFL); Banks County -- Sr. QB Lane Morris (500 yards rushing), Sr. RB Davian Knox (500 yards rushing)
Why watch it -- The Leopards were just 12 points from a .500 season in their first campaign in Todd Winter’s triple-option attack. They brought in former Commerce head coach Mark Hollars as well as long-time offensive line coach Ron Boyd, both triple-option masters, to run an offense that returns nine starters. East Hall was just one win from a playoff spot in a brutal Region 8-3A. They return most of their key skilled players on offense, including dynamic All-Access first-teamers QB Jamarcus Harrison and WR Chasen Jones in 2025. Both teams are upping the expectations for 2025, with both looking to make playoff runs. This was a 16-14 Vikings win last year when they staged a goal line stand on the final play to avoid the upset. Both offenses, and both defenses, should be better. What will this one tell us? Being non-region, it will have no playoff ramifications. But a high-scoring, back-and-forth contest could show the rest of the area that both teams will be formidable. A blowout either way, however, could also show if either still has some work to do.

Cherokee Bluff at Lumpkin County
Records: Bears (0-0, Region 8-3A); Indians (0-0, Region 6-3A)
Last week: Season-opener for both teams
Radio: www.northgeorgiasportslink.com
Time: 7:30 p.m., The Burial Grounds, Dahlonega
Key players: Bluff -- Jr. RB Jackson Pirkle (158-739 yards, 10 TD rushing; 9-77 yards, 2 TD receiving), Sr. WR Malcolm Millsap (34 rec, 604 yards, 5 TD), Jr. WR Dylan Haley (23 rec., 395 yards, 4 TD), Jr. DL Tony Rushin (39 tkl, 7.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 8 QB hurries, 1 INT, 1 FR); Lumpkin Co. -- Sr. RB Nolan Matthews (173-1,270 yards, 14 TD; 10-82 yards, 1 TD receiving), Sr. QB Mason Hester (9-17, 116 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT), Sr. LB Mike Nichols (87 tkl, 6.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 6 QB hurries, 1 FR), Sr. DL Patrick Woody (42 tkl, 3.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 12 QB hurries, 1 FR, 1 FF)
Why watch it: A pair of playoff teams last year. A pair of teams also looking for playoff runs in 2025. And, a pair of teams with several major question marks, like at QB. Both teams will have one All-Access first-teamer on offense -- Millsap for the Bears and Matthews for the Indians -- but both also will be looking to fill key holes besides at QB. Bluff will have All-Access first-teamer Rushin (DL) to lead the defense. We want to see how those changes are coming along, as both will face ultra-competitive region play down the road. But both programs have built stability and will have talent. The Bears won 31-20 last year in Flowery Branch. The big question in this one is what will this say about both teams, either way? What will life be like for Lumpkin without Cal Faulkner with a super-competitive Region 6-3A slate coming up? Hester won a QB battle for the Indians but attempted just 17 passes in 2024. Bluff graduated a slew of starters that were the heart-and-soul of their Elite 8 team in 2024, including KT Thompson and their two leading tacklers from last year. How quickly can they fill those holes as another brutal 8-3A schedule awaits? The key may be whether the defenses will be able to hold things together until the offenses find their grooves over the first few weeks of the season.

Commerce at Wesleyan
Records: Tigers (0-0, Region 8-A D1); Wolves (0-0, Region 5-A D1 Private)
Last week: Season-opener for both teams
Time: 7:30 p.m., Henderson Stadium, Norcross
Key players: Commerce -- Jr. QB Layden Bryson, Jr. RB Jace Lyle, Fr. RB Marco Huff, Jr. WR Essien Lockleer, Jr. WR Ty Sorrells, So. WR JJ Jarrells, So. WR Brennan Griffith, DE Caden McWilliams; Wesleyan --  Sr. RB/LB Maddox Gartland (leading returning rusher, 57 car., 252 yards, 2 TD), Sr. WR Carter Hayes (58 rec., 1,122 yards, 10 TD), Sr. FS Brice Gillis (77 tkl, 5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 FR)
Why watch it: If for no other reason than the Tigers will be running an offense other than the triple-option for the first time in over 60 years. But there are plenty of other reasons. New coach Lenny Gregory, who won a 7A state title with Travis Hunter at Collins Hill, has brought his spread attack to the Tigers and they have the athletes to make it work. Fr. RB Marco Huff could be a player to watch, with potential to be one of the more explosive players in the area. And they looked good during summer 7-on-7s. But that’s not 11-on-11 so how quickly they make the adjustments in what will be a stacked region will tell their fate. But this year’s Wesleyan team may be just the perfect way to open for the Tigers. The Wolves graduated dynamic QB Ben Brown, their top two rushers, and two of their top three WR from last season, comprising over 5,400 yards of offense. But they do return five of their top six tacklers on a defense that allowed just 19.4 ppg, including playoffs. Gregory also brought former Collins Hill DC Taylor Geathers with him so if they can find the right pieces to the puzzle, the Tigers could be an interesting team by season’s end.

Winder-Barrow at East Jackson
Records: Bulldoggs (0-0, Region 8-5A); Eagles (0-0, Region 8-2A)
Last week: Season-opener for both teams
Time: 7:30 p.m., East Jackson Stadium, Commerce
Key players: Winder-Barrow -- Sr. RB MJ Dowdy (193-1,404 yards, 16 TD rushing; 2 rec., 138 yards, 1 TD receiving); East Jackson -- Sr. QB Drew Richardson (2,428 total yards, 25 TD), Sr. WR Brooks Saunders, Sr. WR Brady Saunders, Sr. WR BT Callahan, Sr. RB Jamarion Parks, Sr. RB Deston Mitchell
Why watch it: All-Access first-teamer Drew Richardson and the Eagles offense. The East Jackson QB is one of the more dynamic players in the area and the Eagles return almost everyone on offense in 2025 from a unit that averaged 25.7 ppg, including 49 in a 3-point playoff loss to Morgan County. The Bulldoggs figure to be much bigger with a bigger roster but will be breaking in a new QB. However, they return their entire receiving corps from last season. And they have Dowdy back in the backfield. Winder-Barrow took a 43-20 win last year as they wore down the smaller Eagles. The Eagles are expecting a better showing in 2025. They will need to keep Richardson healthy and they will need to avoid any significant injuries. But an upset win or a game that goes down to the final possession could signal to the rest of 8-2A that East Jackson will be a force in the region.

Stephens County at Habersham Central
Records: Indians (0-0, Region 8-2A); raiders (0-0, Region 8-5A)
Last week: Season-opener for both teams
Time: 7:30 p.m., Raider Valley, Mt. Airy
Key players: Stephens County -- Sr. WR Davon Swinton (37 rec., 541 yards, 5 TD), Jr. LB Morris Perkins (85 tkl, 16 TFL, 2 sacks, 4 QB hurries, 1 INT, 1 FR), Sr. DT Connor Holtzclaw (84 tkl, 22 TFL, 6 sacks), Sr. DE Kymani Colbert (73 tkl, 29 TFL, 5 sacks, 2 FF); Hab Central -- Jr. QB Paris Wilbanks (176-267 2,369 yards, 22 TD, 8 INT), Sr. WR Tylon Davis (15 rec., 214 yards, 2 TD), Jr. WR Jay Feltus (27 rec., 344 yards, 2 TD), and Jr. WR KJ Murray, Sr. RB Donnie Warren (132 car., 872 yards, 5 TD rushing; 14 rec., 172 yards, 2 TD receiving) 
Why watch it: An intense rivalry that Stephens County has owned over the years, winning five straight and 19 of the last 20 overall. The only Hab Central win in that time came in 2019, 27-21 in Mt. Airy. But the Indians come into this one with a new coach (Thomas Flowers) and without dynamic RB Javin Gordon, who took more than 1,600 yards of total offense with him to Tulane. They also will be breaking in a new QB and are having to replace four of their top five receivers from last year as well. Their top three tacklers on defense also graduated. Meanwhile, the Raiders bring back QB Wilbanks, who was one of the more improved and underrated players in the area last season. Gone is WR Zeke Whittington (74 catches, 978 yards, 13 TD) but Davis, Feltus, and Murray give them some solid options in the passing game. Warren also returns and they have four starters back on the OL. The Indians, however, still return a good core from a defense that allowed 23 or fewer points in half their games last season. The Raiders defense is where they will be looking to make the most improvement. They were 1-7 when allowing 23 or more points in 2024. This could be the year the Raiders end their latest losing streak to the Indians and also send a message that they will be a player in 8-5A. Hab Central has made the playoffs each of the last two seasons but the Raiders have not snagged a playoff win since 2018 and a win against their arch-rivals could be the confidence they need to begin that journey.