Friday Game Night

Here's some quick perspective on Friday

The Gainesville-Hall County Fellowship of Christian Athletes has released the rosters for the Inaugural FCA East/West Classic.

While defending state champions Buford (Class AAA) and Gainesville (Class AAAAA) continue their methodical march toward another state finals appearance, North Gwinnett is just one win from its first state title shot since 2007.

Last season, the Gainesville offense was one of the most feared units in all of Georgia high school football. The Elephants, behind Class AAAAA Player of the Year Deshaun Watson, averaged 45.3 ppg while scoring a school-record 680 points on the way to the Class AAAAA state title. The current unit already has scored 641 points in 13 games (49.3 ppg) and shows no signs of slowing down.

What qualities go into the making of a great defense? Is it purely stats? Is it clutch performances? Is it by reputation with a large dose of intimidation added in?

Is it all of the above?

Region 8-AAAA may well become the beast of the northeast...

Four is a magic number, and for three area teams the state semifinals are moving quickly onto the horizon. Two of those contests will be broadcast live on Friday by the Jacobs Media family of radio stations, as the hunt for No. 1 continues.

Here

Gainesville has played its final game of the season at Bobby Gruhn Field, while Buford's Tom Riden Stadium will get to host one more contest.