Ranked teams roll to big wins in Week 2

GAINESVILLE - White County and Gainesville set up a matchup of unbeaten teams in Cleveland next week with big wins Friday night.

The Class AAA second-ranked Elephants pitched their second straight shutout to open the season with a 41-0 route of Franklin County at City Park Stadium.

White County was equally dominant in a 33-0 shutout of East Hall at home.

In other games around northeast Georgia, Class AA No. 1-ranked Buford whipped North Hall 35-7 at The Brickyard. Class AAA third-ranked Flowery Branch started slow but then scored 28 unanswered points to beat Lumpkin County 35-7 in Dahlonega.

In other Region 7-AAA action, West Hall lost 28-21 to Pickens. The Spartans fell behind 20-0 before rallying to within a touchdown. The Spartans drove deep into Pickens territory in the final minute but fumbled inside the 10 to snuff out the comeback.

Johnson struggled against a bigger North Forsyth squad in a 28-0 loss.

Class AA ninth-ranked Jefferson led 42-8 at halftime and then cruised in the second half for a 56-16 thumping of Dawson County in both teams' Region 8-AA opener. Also in Region 8-AA, Riverside Military Academy opened region play with a win after knocking off Banks County 23-12 in a matchup of playoff teams from last season.

Habersham Central had the most thrilling win of the night scoring with 37 seconds left to beat Heritage, Conyers 13-12 on the road. The Raiders had to survive a wild finish of Hail Mary passes in final seconds.

Lakeview Academy picked up its first win of the season with a 21-13 win over Towns County in Hiawassee.