There were a few instant classics -- and a handful of area teams are already starting to turn heads as "Week 2" of the high school football season produced some eye-opening results.
(NOTE: For game stories, video highlights and scores from throughout northeast Georgia and the rest of the state, visit our Friday Game Night page.)
One classic took place at Thomson, and while Jefferson dropped its rematch with the Bulldogs, 20-14 in the Brickyard, the forth-ranked Dragons (2-1) had to be encouraged by a stout performance that saw them grab the lead on a pair of touchdown runs from Colby Wood before succumbing to a last-minute score by second-ranked Thomson.
The other classic took place in Mt. Airy -- and White County is showing that it is more than righting the ship under new coach Tim Cokely after a third straight victory, this time 24-21 over a Habersham Central team that scored 72 points last time it took the field (the Raiders had a bye last week after a season-opening win on Aug. 18). The Warriors are now 3-0 and soaring into next week's non-region battle with Rabun County. The Raiders are 1-1.
Speaking of the Wildcats, they took care of business Friday night to move to 2-0 courtesy a 28-6 win over Stephens County (1-1). Flowery Branch is also 2-0 after a convincing, 43-7 win over Chestatee at the Branch.
But there were plenty more razor-thin finishes out there, including a 29-26 win for Commerce (2-0), which battled its way to a 2-0 record by edging a resurgent Hebron Christian on the road.
Elsewhere, Jackson County marched into rarified territory after Noah Venable ran wild in a 35-7 win over Lumpkin County in Jefferson. The Panthers are now 3-0 for the first time since 2009.
It's been a little longer since Winder-Barrow was 3-0 -- 2007 -- but the Bulldoggs are back in that position after a 38-14 win over Northview. Dawson County is also undefeated on the young campaign after a 29-14 defeat of Chattooga. Mill Creek is also 3-0 after a solid, 20-7 defeat of arch-riva Dacula. The Hawks will play their first home game of the campaign next week.
In Oakwood, West Hall kept its forward momentum rolling courtesy a 20-0 shutout of Washington-Wilkes at the Hot Gates to move to 2-1, while Banks County (1-2) broke into the win column for the first time this season in a 47-6 defeat of Johnson (0-3). Union County is also 2-0 after a lopsided, 60-7 defeat of Hayesville, N.C.
North Forsyth also battled its way past Loganville for a 24-17 win that saw the Raiders move to 2-1 on the season. And North Gwinnett is also 2-1 after a convincing 33-9 defeat of Hillgrove.
There were also some tough defeats for area squads, as Gainesville (1-2) suffered a 42-14 setback at Clarke Central and Lakeview (1-1) fell 48-0 at Athens Academy. Apalachee, Towns County and Fannin County also each fell in contests.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES, SEPT. 1
Athens Academy 48, Lakeview Academy 0
Banks County 47, Johnson 6
Clarke Central 42, Gainesville 14
Commerce 29, Hebron Christian 26
Dawson County 29, Chattooga 14
Flowery Branch 43, Chestatee 7
George Walton Academy 17, Towns County 7
Jackson County 35, Lumpkin County 7
Mill Creek 20, Dacula 7
North Forsyth 24, Loganville 17
North Gwinnett 33, Hillgrove 9
Rabun County 28, Stephens County 6
Ringgold 31, Fannin County 0
Thomson 20, Jefferson 14
Union County 60, Hayesville (N.C.) 7
Union Grove 28, Apalachee 12
West Hall 20, Washington-Wilkes 0
White County 24, Habersham Central 21
Winder-Barrow 38, Northview 14
http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/9/577041/week-2-classic-finishes-eye-opening-results-on-display-as-season-heats-up