Cherokee Bluff took advantage of every mistake and manhandled North Hall in a 38-13 pasting last year in the two teams’ annual showdown.
North Hall coach Sean Pender sounded almost thankful, however, this week when talking about that game in preparation for Friday night’s latest installment of what has become Hall County’s best rivalry.
Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at The Brickyard between the two Class 3A top-10 ranked teams and can be heard on 102.9 FM WDUN beginning at 7:20 p.m. after the Pregame Show.
After that loss, which was punctuated by two huge special teams gaffes in the second quarter, the Trojans found themselves sitting at 0-2, not exactly the start they were expecting.
“Even though I hated the loss, one of the best things that happened to us last year was getting beat like we did by Bluff,” Pender said on Monday during a phone interview. “It kick-started us. It put a spark in us, and it gave us a real wake-up call.
“After that, we started playing really good football. We kind of got our stuff together, and once that happened, we started playing the kind of ball that we were capable of playing...and we haven't stopped since!”
North Hall took that loss to heart and reeled off 10 straight victories all the way to a Region 6-3A title -- its first since 2012 -- and a playoff run to the Class 3A quarterfinals, also a first since 2012.
Meanwhile, Cherokee Bluff coach Tommy Jones said that the game was far closer than the score indicated, but also stated that that was then, and this is now.
“It's 2025, man,” Jones said. “That was 2024. Both teams are different. Last year, we got a little momentum in the second quarter there, and it kind of exaggerated what was a really close game outside of two or three special teams plays in the second quarter.”
The roles may be a little reversed from Jones’s point of view in 2025. The Bears had the experience in 2024. The Trojans come into Friday's showdown with 18 returning starters.
“North Hall has 28, 30 seniors, I think we have nine right now on our roster,” Jones said. “They have a large number of returnees, and we've got a lot of new pieces and new parts. We're excited about the new guys we have, but I would agree that we're still in the figuring-out stage right now.”
Experience won the day last year. But will that be the case in 2025?
Rivalries typically bring out the unexpected and the crazy, no matter what level of play you’re talking about. This is already as intense a rivalry as any in the area over the past 25 years, despite it still having that slightly new-car smell by most standards.
The last six meetings have been split evenly, with each snagging at least one road victory in that span. And both teams have playmakers on both sides coming into this one.
The Trojans (1-0) feature their two-quarterback system in junior Alex Schlieman and senior Smith McGarvey. They have receivers Cole Cable, a junior, and senior Ty Kemp, as well as senior running back Parker Carlton, all back. But it was senior Wyatt Tumlin who stole the show last week, rushing for 221 yards on just 10 carries and one touchdown. Junior Mason McGill and Kade Hawthorne lead the North Hall offensive line, which can go seven or eight deep.
Carlton, senior defensive back Walker Davis, and senior linebacker Buddy Clark lead a tenacious defense that held Wesleyan to its lowest offensive output since 2022.
For Bluff (2-0), senior quarterback Cooper Dean has waited his turn and has not disappointed so far in his first two varsity starts. It helps to have junior running back Jackson Pirkle and senior receiver Malcolm Milsap back.
Three solid guys up front lead the Bluff defense in juniors Tony Rushin, Hudson Davis, and Bryce Fontenot. And they sport a solid linebacking group in seniors Erik Johansen and Brett Pierce, and juniors Mattax Sutulovich and Conner Cook. Milsap anchors the secondary.
Jones said the early-season reports on North Hall show few to no weaknesses.
“I don't know if there is a weakness. They believe that anytime they step on the field, they can win,” Jones said. “They are highly explosive on offense and can score on any play. They have speed on the outside. They have really good running backs. They have a veteran offensive line, and defensively, they're starting 10 seniors who all started last year.
“They’re very solid in all phases and playing with a ton of confidence. It’s going to be a huge challenge for us.”
It’s cliché, but that’s why they’re called clichés. The line play may well dictate who comes out of The Brickyard with a ‘W.’
Pender agreed.
“Their defensive line is very good and underrated,” he said. “Those guys all play extremely well. Our offensive line has got a lot of experience. So I think our offensive line versus their D-line is going to be a real key matchup.
“Who can control the line of scrimmage is going to dictate a lot of what we can do and what they can do. And it's going to be on both sides of the ball.”
Pender admitted that the game last year served as a measuring stick for a group that seemed poised to take the next step. Jones was not ready to declare that with his 2025 group that is still a work in progress, he said.
“I'm terrible at predicting where we're going to be at any point in time,” Jones said. “But I'm really impressed with their work ethic and the commitment level they have. I was really proud of our mental approach, coming in and taking care of business last week.
“I thought our guys were ready to play and executed well on both sides of the ball. We’ll need to do that again and at a higher level this week to have a chance.”
Cherokee Bluff at North Hall
Records: Bears (2-0, Region 8-3A); Trojans (1-0, Region 6-3A)
Last week: Cherokee Bluff beat Apalachee, 47-2; North Hall beat Wesleyan, 41-7
Radio: WDUN 102.9 FM
Time: 7:30 p.m. The Brickyard, Gainesville
Key players: Cherokee Bluff -- OL/DL Cohen Carter, Sr. QB Cooper Dean (300-plus total yards, 4 TDs passing, 2 TDs rushing), Jr. RB/CB Jackson Pirkle (26-164, TD), Sr. WR/CB Malcolm Milsap (6 rec., 135 yards, 2 TD), Jr. DL Tony Rushin, DL Hudson Davis, DL Bryce Fontenot, LB Erik Johansen, LB Mattax Sutulovich, LB Brett Pierce, LB Conner Cook; North Hall -- Jr. OL Mason McGill, Sr. QB Alex Schlieman (13-23, 220 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT), Sr. QB Smith McGarvey (1-2, 16 yards passing, 3 car., 12 yards rushing, 1 rec., 21 yards receiving), Sr. RB Wyatt Tumlin (10-221 yards, 1 TD), Sr. RB/LB Parker Carlton, (3 rec., 63 yards, TD receiving, 6 tkl, 1 TFL, 2 QB hurries), Sr. DB Walker Davis (8 tkl), Sr. WR Ty Kemp (4 rec., 87 yards, TD), Jr. WR Cole Cable (4 rec., 21 yards), Sr. LB Buddy Clark (11 tkl, 1 FF, 1 FR)
