If we gave awards at AccessWDUN Sports, Johnson would certainly have been this week’s recipient after ending its program-worst 34-game losing streak last week.
The Knights did it in thrilling fashion as Demetri Moon (this week’s Gaining The Edge winner) scored with just 19 seconds left to beat East Hall, 20-19.
Several offenses continued to put up some big numbers while the Buford offense finally showed what it could be capable of last week.
The Georgia High School Association began its long, and usually contentious, reclassification process on Thursday. The final outcomes will have a huge effect on Northeast Georgia area teams, as it will everyone in the state.
And is it time to hit the panic button in Dawsonville?
These are among the things covered in the football notebook this week:
RECLASSIFICATION: The opening stages of reclassification for the GHSA got under way on Thursday. There were two big takeaways that will drive how the Reclassification Committee will divide its more than 430 member schools.
The Committee agreed to drop the GHSA from seven classes down to six, with the largest 14 percent of the state’s schools (roughly 64 teams) making up the largest classification. They also voted to keep the 3.0 multiplier when determining out-of-district students to count.
But, probably on the positive side for most school districts, GHSA Executive Director Robin Hines reminded the committee that students entering the feeder school of a member high school in grades K-5 would be exempted from any multiplier.
However, there is still a long way to go before any final decisions are made. The Committee is set to meet again on Oct. 1.
THAT’S REALLY OFFENSIVE: If you like offense, Regions 8-4A and 7-3A games may be where you want to hang out.
Three of the top six scoring offenses in Class 4A, and two of the top four in Class 3A, are in 8-4A and 7-3A.
In Region 8-4A, Madison County (96, 48.0 points/game) is second, North Hall sits third (89, 44.5 ppg) and East Forsyth is sixth at 39.5 ppg on the young season. No. 2-ranked North Oconee is averaging 32.0 ppg and East Hall is averaging 27.0 ppg so far. Defenses beware!
In Region 7-3A, Lumpkin County (90, 45.0 ppg) is second in scoring average behind Calvary Day (56.5 ppg), who have both only played two games, while White County (2-1) is fourth, averaging 40.0 ppg. Pickens (1-2) is ninth at 34.3 ppg.
Region 8-2A still has some firepower, as well. Union County (2-1) is second in Class 2A (126, 42.0 ppg) while East Jackson (3-0) is seventh (98, 32.6 ppg).
Region 8-5A is also showing some offensive signs with Winder-Barrow (3-0) fifth, averaging 37.6 ppg and Jefferson (3-0) sitting eighth (32.0 ppg).
DING-DONG THE STREAK IS DEAD: It was the longest streak in Johnson history, so when the Knights finally snapped their 34-game losing skid last week, there was more than a sigh of relief for head coach William Harrell, his staff, and the players.
But in all fairness, the Knights were much better than their record in 2022 and so far in 2023. They lost two games by 1-point and another by 2-points last season. And in both of their losses to arch-rival West Hall the last two seasons, they were within one score early in the fourth quarter.
Johnson is off this week but can the Knights get a winning streak started? They have a tough three-game stretch coming up against East Forsyth (2-0), East Jackson (3-0), and Lakeside-Atlanta (3-0) before their next off week.
The last time Johnson won back-to-back games was in 2019 when they opened that season with wins over Oglethorpe County and West Hall.
TO WORRY OR NOT TO WORRY? THAT IS QUESTION: Dawson County is off to an 0-3 start to the season. Yes, they have played a ridiculously tough schedule. The Tigers first three opponents (Jackson County, Lambert, North Hall) are a combined 7-1 on the season so far.
But in 2021 they sat in the exact same position only to rebound and win six of their last seven to capture the Region 7-3A title. The Tigers have not lost four straight under coach Sid Maxwell, now in his ninth season.
However, they probably face their toughest assignment yet on Friday, traveling to Class 3A No. 4-ranked Stephens County (3-0), who shut out Rabun County two weeks ago (35-0) and dismantled Flowery Branch last week in a 32-7 win.
The Tigers will have the week off next week before opening their Region 7-3A schedule. Is it time to worry if they go into their opener against West Hall in two weeks 0-4? Who knows. I guess we’ll find out later tonight.
WEEK 4 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, Sept. 8
(All games start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
Armuchee at Union County
Madison County at Cherokee Bluff*
Chestatee at East Hall* -- AM 550 WDUN
Creekview at North Forsyth
Dawson County at Stephens County
Franklin County at Banks County
Gainesville at Clarke Central -- 94.5 FM The Lake
Habersham Central at Central Gwinnett
Jackson County at Mountain View
Lakeview Academy at Creekside Christian
Lanier Christian at Rock Springs Christian
Lumpkin County at Temple
North Hall at Walnut Grove*
Oconee County at Jefferson -- FM 102.9 WDUN
Riverside Prep at Providence Christian
SCORES FROM FRIDAY, Sept. 1
Buford 45, North Cobb 28
East Forsyth 35, Cedar Shoals 13*
East Jackson 42, West Hall 7
Gainesville 30, Coconut Creek (Fla.) 22
Hebron Christian 31, Commerce 21
Lanier Christian 51, Hickory Hawks 13
Jackson County 32, Central Gwinnett 26 (2OT)
Jefferson 42, St. Pius 0
Johnson 20, East Hall 19
Lumpkin County 46, Franklin County 7
North Hall 40, Dawson County 7
Rabun County 35, Adairsville 20
St. Anne-Pacelli 41, Lakeview Academy 0
Stephens County 32, Flowery Branch 7
Stratford Academy 57, Riverside Prep 14
Union County 49, Towns County 7
West Forsyth 17, North Forsyth 14
White County 52, Chestatee 7
