Friday Game Night

Lumpkin County lost several key cogs to graduation along the offensive line, as well as running back Mason Sullens. But they do return dynamic quarterback Cal Faulkner and plenty of playmakers on offense.

It’s definitely one of the fastest growing sports, not just in the United States, but around the world. In fact, flag football has become so popular over the past half-dozen years that there is even an exhibit now at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

The Lightning suffered some key injuries in 2023 and then coach Bruce Miller stepped down, leaving some sizable holes in the program. But long-time assistant Joel Lulinski took over the reins in 2024.

The Lions won three of their final four games in 2023 to get into the playoffs. But this year they will have to rely on a slew of underclassmen as half of their summer roster are freshmen.

The Knights are coming off their best season 2019, snapping a long losing streak and winning four games against the same 2022 schedule. It has optimism at Billy Ellis Memorial Stadium at a high level coming into 2024 as they jump back into region play.

Flowery Branch will be in rebuild mode after graduating nearly its entire starting 22 from a year ago, not to mention some key transfers out of the program. The challenges will be vast for a Falcons program that has only missed the playoffs four times since 2005.

East Jackson posted its first outright winning season since 2009 last year. And the Eagles return the bulk of what was a young team in 2023.

The Vikings in 2024 could be one of the more intriguing teams to keep an eye on. But continuing to improve a defense that allowed 38.9 points/game in 2023 may hold the real key.

East Forsyth is under new management as Dustin Canon takes over for the retired Brian Allison, who led the Broncos to their first-ever playoff appearance in 2023.

After winning a region title in 2022, the Tigers slipped to their worst record since 2014 last season and missed out on the playoffs for the first time in Sid Maxwell’s nine seasons in Dawsonville.