Here's a look at five things we learned from Week 11 of the high school football season. (NOTE: Check out the final regular season standings for area regions here.)...
1. Banks County can make history this week
Just seven weeks ago, the Leopards were 1-3 and entering the great unknown of the newly-shaped Region 8-AA. Heading into the postseason, however, Banks County is the No. 2 seed from 8-AA, riding a four-game win streak and hosting a state playoff game. Quite the turnaround. This is a program that has verged on the playoffs the last two seasons, going 5-5 under previous coach Biff Parson. Now first-year head coach Josh Shoemaker has a chance to do something that no Banks County head man has accomplished: win a state playoff game. And considering the roll that the Leopards are on, it looks very much a possibilty. Consider that Banks County just went in to the Granite Bowl in Elberton and defeated No. 10 Elbert County 43-29 after trailing early. Banks County has the offensive power to make waves in the postseason, with quarterback Griffin Goodwin and running back Clayton Dykehouse. A new star has also emerged in Bryce Bennett. The senior receiver/running back torched Elbert with two carries for 22 yards and a touchdown, while also hauling in four catches for 142 yds and two scores. He also tossed a 63-yard touchdown pass, finishing the game 237 total yards. Meanwhile, its defense has shown it too can make big plays as well as hold down fellow playoff foes, blanking 8-AA fourth seed Monticello in a 14-0 win on Oct. 28. It's an exciting time in Homer -- with history just within touching distance, as the Leopards get ready to host KIPP (which stands for Knowledge Is Power Program) Atlanta.
2. No need to panic for Dawson County; Mills, GAC simply that good right now
OK, so the Tigers did not push the Spartans until the end on Friday like we thought they might -- but that does not portend a letdown for the upcoming postseason. In fact, after watching on Friday, we think it says more about how good GAC -- and specifically its quarterback Davis Mills -- is right now. Dawson County had some opportunities to make a big splash in the contest, and, for various reasons, it did not pan out. And once Mills got going it proved too hard to turn the Spartans' momentum. That said, we believe the Tigers have the balance, ability and experience -- remember, there are 35 seniors on the Dawson roster -- to bounce back from a disappointing result. And playing traditional power Lovett in the first round means that the Tigers will have to do so in order to keep a promising season going. The Lions play in a tough Region 5-AAA and will not be intimidated by a road trip in their first round contest. But we believe Dawson County -- and all of Region 7-AAA's postseason representatives for that matter -- can make a splash in the state bracket.
3. Jefferson's three-headed monster making them much tougher to slow on offense
The Dragons may not have a single player topping the state's yardage leaders -- unlike last season, when then-sophomore running back Colby Wood rolled up over 2,000 yards rushing -- but what Jefferson does have is three offensive stars to spread the ball to, each of which are capable of carrying an offense or busting a game-breaking play. Wood and fellow running back Zack Boobas, along with freshman quarterback Colby Clark, form the business end of an attack averaging 245 yards rushing per game. Wood leads the team with 1,111 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Boobas has 526 yards and 12 scores and Clark has 559 yards and eight scores (he's also thrown 356 yards and four TDs). And, as they showed in Friday's win over Oconee County, it is a mixture that is making them much harder for defenses to stop. When you consider the strength of Jefferson's offensive line leading the way, there is no one playmaker that defenses can key on. And, as the Warriors found out, they can either burn you for big plays or slowly grind you to dust. It will be interesting to see how this attack continues to develop in the postseason.
4. For the first time in years, East Jackson heads into offseason on a roll
OK, so the Eagles did not get all of the variables to fall into place on Friday night to net their first state playoff berth since 2009 (and second in program history). But there is no doubt that East Jackson's late-season surge and run to a 4-6 record should act as a carrot to the Eagles in the offseason. And when you consider where this program was just a year ago, this campaign has to rate as a huge success for new coach Christian Hunnicutt. The Eagles won just three games combined over their last four seasons and had posted just one winning mark in a season (the aforementioned 2009), so to even be in the playoff conversation in the first year under a new staff speaks volumes. And then consider that East Jackson won its last two games -- including a 21-14 battle over cross-county foe Jackson County that is heading to the postseason. You can bet that the weight rooms will be full and loud this offseason, as they look to build toward the future.
5. East Hall, Fannin County never quit -- or forgot how to play offense
Taking in Friday's game between the Vikings and Rebels about blew our minds -- and our computers -- as the two traded big play after play and went at it like two arena league teams on steroids. 71-58. Take that in for a second. 129 total points. Seriously, we will cover several basketball games this season with lower scores. We cannot remember a single contest that came close to touching that point total. And while it's probably not a state record -- the Georgia High School Football Historians Association website (ghsfha.org -- a must-read site for ANY high school fan) says old Douglas A&M once scored 144 points on its own in a game in 1922 -- it has GOT to be a northeast Georgia record. And this from two teams that could easily have mailed in the contest. Neither had a shot at reaching the state playoffs. In fact, it was a battle to earn the first region win for both programs. And it was impressive to see just how much it meant to each just to compete. That's what the game is all about when it comes down to it. Winning is nice, obviously, but it's watching the competition and the grit that makes it truly entertaining and enjoyable. And both these teams put on a show on Friday, rolling up 1,217 total yards in an absolute offensive exlposion that threatened to drift into Saturday morning.
WEEK 11 AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES, Nov. 4
Banks County 43, Elbert County 29
Blessed Trinity 34, West Hall 13
Buford 49, Flowery Branch 13
Commerce 42, George Walton Academy 6
Dacula 43, Winder-Barrow 13
East Hall 71, Fannin County 58
East Jackson 28, Hart County 19
Greater Atlanta Christian 42, Dawson County 7
Habersham Central 49, Apalachee 21
Jefferson 31, Oconee County 7
Lakeview Academy 24, Riverside Military Academy 14
Lanier 10, Gainesville 3
Loganville 41, Johnson 6
Marist 35, White County 0
Mill Creek 56, Duluth 0
Milton 38, North Forsyth 15
Morgan County 33, Jackson County 14
North Gwinnett 43, Discovery 7
Rabun County 55, Monticello 14
Stephens County 35, North Oconee 14
Towns County 19, Providence Christian 14
Union County 35, Lumpkin County 13
FIRST ROUND STATE PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS FOR AREA TEAMS
(Area teams listed first; All games scheduled for Friday unless otherwise noted)
CLASS AAAAAAA
Mill Creek (Region 6, No. 1 seed) vs. Newton (Region 8, No. 4)
North Gwinnett (Region 6, No. 3) at South Gwinnett (Region 8, No. 2)
CLASS AAAAAA
Lanier (Region 8, No. 2) vs. Allatoona (Region 6, No. 3)
Gainesville (Region 8, No. 3) at Harrison (Region 6, No. 2) -- Radio: 1240 AM ESPN
Winder-Barrow (Region 8, No. 4) at Dalton (Region 6, No. 1)
CLASS AAAAA
Buford (Region 8, No. 1) vs. North Springs (Region 6, No. 4)
CLASS AAAA
Jefferson (Region 8, No. 1) vs. Pickens (Region 6, No. 4)
Stephens County (Region 8, No. 2) vs. Heritage, Catoosa (Region 6 No. 3)
West Hall (Region 7, No. 3) at Troup County (Region 5, No. 2) -- THURSDAY
Chestatee (Region 7, No. 4) at Cartersville (Region 5, No. 1) -- Radio: WDUN AM 550
CLASS AAA
Dawson County (Region 7, No. 2) vs. Lovett (Region 5, No. 3)
Union County (Region 7, No. 3) at Cedar Grove (Region 5, No. 2) -- SATURDAY
North Hall (Region 7, No. 4) at Westminster (Region 5, No. 1) -- Radio: WDUN FM 102.9
CLASS AA
Rabun County (Region 8, No. 1) vs. BEST Academy (Region 6, No. 4) -- SATURDAY
Banks County (Region 8, No. 2) vs. KIPP (Region 6, No. 3)
CLASS A*
Commerce bye
*Class A Power Ratings gave Tigers the No. 7 seed, meaning they got a bye through first round. Will host Trion at Taylor County winner in second round. Lakeview finished with 25th seed to miss playoffs.
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