Just like the other Games2Watch features this week, the Gainesville-North Forsyth showdown at Raider Valley on Friday has the potential to crown a region champ.
It's pretty simple: a Gainesville win, and the Red Elephants capture their second straight region title. A North Forsyth win, and the Raiders COULD capture their first region title since 2001.
But Gainesville coach Josh Niblett knows all too well not to pay attention to pesky things like records and scores.
North Forsyth coach Robert Craft understands the perceived advantage his Raiders have had over the years at Raider Valley.
"North Forsyth is a whole lot better team than what the record says," said Niblett about the Raiders squad. "They're very well coached and play extremely physical. We're expecting another battle for sure."
There's also this: North Forsyth (4-4, 3-1 Region 8-6A) has never lost to Gainesville (8-0, 4-0 Region 8-6A) in Coal Mountain. Does that mean anything with these two particular teams?
"We're excited to be at home," Craft said. "We feel like playing at Raider Valley is certainly to our advantage. Playing in our home stadium with our home crowd is something that we enjoy doing, and we haven't been at home in five weeks. So we're looking forward to the opportunity."
NIBLETT ON HIS OFFENSE GETTING ANOTHER QUICK START
"The last two weeks, scoring on the first play (and getting big leads early), is kind of been a double-edged sword because we've rested our starters, but you know it's going to take four quarters to win a championship," he said. "We've been able to have some explosive, a few more explosive plays, and I feel we're continuously getting better. So we've just got to continue that. But we know we're going to need to make sure (the) kids are prepped and ready to go for a full four quarter game. That's something we're working on."
CRAFT TALKS TAKING THE FIGHT TO THE RED ELEPHANTS
"We're going to be aggressive. That's our thing. We want to play with an edge about us. That's the one thing about this team I'm confident in is that they'll play aggressive. We're going up against a great team, and we've got nothing to lose, so why not be aggressive."
NIBLETT TALKS DEFENSE -- HIS OWN
"On defense, I think we've found our identity and what we want to do. Our players have really grasped what we're trying to do, and Coach Davis and his staff have done a really, really good job. We've been able to get a lot of takeaways."
CRAFT ON HIS OL vs. THE GHS DL
"One of the strengths of our football team is our offensive line, and certainly, the challenge they'll have with (Gainesville's) front-7 will be a big challenge. We have got to be able to pick up first downs and stay on the field. That will play a big part on Friday."
NIBLETT ON THE RAIDERS DEFENSE
"Defensively, they do a really, really good job of trying to mess the box up. They give you as many different fronts as they can, and they do a lot of movement, pre-snap, and then they bring a lot of pressure. And they can mix it up on the back end as well."
CRAFT ON THE REGION TITLE STILL BEING WITHIN THEIR GRASP
"Yeah, it certainly is. There are several ways for us to win the region. But it starts with us winning on Friday. What you set out to do in the offseason is have a chance to win a region championship. That's where you kind of always start your goals. We have that opportunity, and you can't ask for anything more."
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GAINESVILLE at NORTH FORSYTH
Records: Red Elephants (8-0, 4-0 Region 8-6A), ranked No. 1 in Class 6A; Nickname (4-4, 3-1 Region 8-6A)
Last week: Gainesville beat Shiloh, 55-0; North Forsyth beat Habersham Central, 36-19
Where: Raider Valley, Coal Mountain
Radio: 94.5 FM The Lake
Time: 7:30 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Gainesville: Sr. QB Baxter Wright (62-for-96, 884 yards, 8 TDs, 3 INT passing, 30-128, 2 TDs rushing), Sr. RB Gavin Hall (89-695 yards, 10 TDs rushing), Sr. TE Sky Niblett (13-196 yards, 4 TDs rec.), Sr. WR Travien Watson (14-225 yards rec), Sr. WR Eric Wright (11-158 yards rec., 2 TDs) LB Carmelo Byrd (27 tkls, 5 TFL, 2.5 sacks), Julius Columbus (17 tkls, 7 TFL, 5.5 sacks), C Thompson (16 tkls), Nick Taylor (27 tkls), Zion Ferguson (16 tkls). North Forsyth: QB Eli Seaney (46-of-82, 355 passing, 4 TDs, 4 INT, 22-226 rushing, 2 TD), RB Darron Parry (55-310 rushing, 1 TD, RB/LB Jacob Shirley (19-114, 3 TDs, 20 Tkls), WR Brady Holbrook (8-119, 3 TDs rec.), WR Cole Smith (16-125, 1 TD rec.), LB Dylan Parker (26 tkls), DB CJ Lenyszyn (24 tkls), SS Colter Vela (23 tkls, 2 TFL), DB Colton Constable (16 tkls), LB Brody Hancock (15 tkls).
WHY WATCH IT? Because, despite a dominant No. 1-ranked Gainesville squad outscoring the rest of 8-6A by a 209-13 margin, the Raiders can win. Also, the 8-6A championship is on the line. The Raiders were the only team in Region 8-6A that gave Big Red a true scare last season, taking a lead into the fourth quarter at City Park in an eventual 34-21 loss, where the Red Elephants scored 17 unanswered in the final period. The challenges this time around for both teams are still present. Can the Raiders slow down an explosive Big Red offense that scored on its opening play in the past two games? Can the Raiders' offense find some big plays of its own against a brutal GHS front seven that has wreaked havoc on everyone this season? The Red Elephants are prohibitive favorites on the road. However, the Raiders may have an ace up their sleeve: Gainesville is 0-4 all-time in Coal Mountain, including a 38-13 loss just two years ago.
WEEK 11 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
All games start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted
Athens Academy at Union County*
Chestatee at East Forsyth*
Clarkston at Johnson
Fellowship Christian at Banks County*
Gainesville at North Forsyth* -- 94.5 FM The Lake
Habersham Central at Apalachee*
Heritage-Conyers at Jefferson*
Lakeview Academy at George Walton Academy*
Lanier Christian at The Walker School*
Loganville at Flowery Branch* -- WDUN FM 102.9
Lumpkin County at Dawson County*
Mountain View at Buford* -- WDUN AM 550
North Hall at Cedar Shoals* (Thursday)
North Oconee at East Hall*
Pickens at White County*
Providence Christian at East Jackson*
Rabun County at Commerce*
Riverside Prep at Loganville Christian*
Towns County at Washington-Wilkes*
Wesleyan at West Hall*
http://accesswdun.com/article/2023/10/1211085/games2watch-ghs-nofo