Area football gets going full steam this week

As much as last week whet our appetites, this week area football fans will be able to gorge themselves, as the season kicks off for most of the area's prep programs.

The full slate includes some impressive match-ups, including two that will be broadcast live on the Jacobs Media family of stations.

Chestatee will travel to North Hall on Friday, as the two rivals face off for the 12th time in a game that will feature on 102.9 FM.

Both teams are coming off huge seasons, with the Trojans reaching the Class AAA semifinals in 2012 and the War Eagles posting their highest-ever win total and hosting their first ever state playoff game. Both programs also return a number of standouts from last year's successes and will be itching to renew a fierce rivalry.

North Hall has dominated this contest so far, winning 10 of the previous 11 -- though Chestatee pushed the Trojans throughout last year's battle before falling 32-20.

Meanwhile, three defending state champions in northeast Georgia will also begin their quest to retain their crowns on Friday, as Buford, Gainesville and Jefferson all get underway.

The Red Elephants will travel to face West Forsyth in a game broadcast live on 1240 AM.

Gainesville was upended 32-30 by the Wolverines in the same fixture last season, and the Red Elephants will want to avoid a similar fate against a West Forsyth team that reached the Class AAAAAA second round in 2012.

In Class AAA, Buford will play host to Elbert County in a contest that the Wolves won 14-3 last season in Elberton. The Wolves will be wary of an athletic Blue Devils attack but will look to make their title run experience of 2012 pay off after entering last season with one of its most inexperienced starting line-ups in some time.

Meanwhile, Jefferson and Commerce will continue one of the oldest rivalries in the state, as the Dragons and Tigers will battle for the 68th time on Friday at Jefferson's Memorial Stadium (Commerce leads the series 42-20-5).

Commerce dealt Jefferson its only loss of 2012 with a 22-7 victory in Commerce, and the Dragons will be itching for some payback. Both teams are under new head coaches and both understand the significance of this opener.

There are also plenty of other big contests for northeast Georgia teams this Friday.

Flowery Branch travels to Northside, Warner Robins in a battle of top 10 Class AAAAA programs, while local rivalries will also play out, as Dawson County plays host to Lumpkin County, Habersham Central travels to White County, Towns County heads to Union Count, and North Forsyth plays host to Forsyth Central.

It should be a huge night of action, and Access North Georgia.com and Jacobs Media will be along for the ride.

AREA PREP FOOTBALL SCORES, AUG. 23-24
Dawson County 29, East Hall 27
Hayesville, N.C. 20, Towns County 0
North Gwinnett 34, Camden County 14
West Hall 35, Johnson 30

AREA PREP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR AUG. 30
Banks County at East Jackson
Chattooga at East Hall
Chestatee at North Hall -- Radio: 102.9 FM
Commerce at Jefferson
Elbert County at Buford
Flowery Branch at Northside, Warner Robins
Forsyth Central at North Forsyth
Franklin County at Stephens County
Gainesville at West Forsyth -- Radio: 1240 AM
Gilmer at Fannin County
Habersham Central at White County
Jackson County at Winder-Barrow
Johnson at Oglethorpe County
Lakeview Academy at Fellowship Christian
Lanier at Apalachee
Lumpkin County at Dawson County
Mill Creek at Dacula
North Gwinnett at Grayson
Towns County at Union County