So, we stroll into Week 3, knowing a little bit more about our Northeast Georgia teams.
We know Gainesville can score, but the defense is just plain nasty. We know North Hall is not rebuilding; it is just reloading. We know Flowery Branch found some success with a triple-option offense. Jefferson's offense came alive against rival Jackson County, and the defense was pretty good. East Hall and West Hall's offense was rolling against Oglethorpe. Can that continue?
Week 3 should give us more clues about our teams and has the potential to give us more exciting finishes across the area.
Three games will be on the Jacobs Media airwaves and streaming live on AccessWDUN.com. To follow scores and more this week, follow our Friday Game Night X for scores, stories and highlights.
North Hall at Cherokee Bluff—This matchup is only six years old, but it's become one of the biggest in Hall County. This season will be no different. The Bears proved they are ready to make a run in their new region, blasting Lumpkin County two weeks ago to open the season. They hope to go 2-0 to start the season and earn some bragging rights over the Trojans. However, the Trojans are hoping to make a statement as well, and after Friday's game against Wesleyan, even though it was a loss, the Trojans have proven it's not a rebuilding season. North Hall has reloaded, and the Bears are pretty dang physical. This one should be like the other six, really dad gum good. The game can be heard live on WDUN AM 550 (Click to listen live).
West Hall at Chestatee— Chestatee picked up its first win in 11 tries two weeks ago. Meanwhile, West Hall had a tough second half in a lopsided loss to Seckinger in Week 1, but the Spartans recovered nicely with a blowout win over Northview in Week 2. This one has "good game" written all over it. The War Eagles have had two weeks to prepare for the Spartans, while the Spartans will have four days to prepare for the War Eagles Wing-T offense. This one could go either way and if the Spartans' defense allows the Chestatee rushing attack to rule the roost, it could be a long night. But don't count out the Spartans, who used a balanced game plan to blow past Northview. The game can be heard live on FM 102.9 WDUN (Click to listen live).
Gainesville at Westlake – If this game is about the Gainesville defense slowing down the Westlake passing game, there should be no worries. Big Red rolled into Moody, Ala. last week and shut down the Blue Devils, holding them to just seven points. The Red Elephants are giving up just five points per game. In two games, Big Red has racked up more than a dozen tackles for a loss and six sacks. Expect that number to rise on Friday. Offensively, Gainesville is only getting better and better, especially in the third quarter, scoring 49 points in the third quarter over the season's first two games. This one might be close early, but it expects to end in a boat race. The game can be heard live on FM 94.5 The Lake (Click to listen live).
PREP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, August 29 & 30
August 29 (Thursday)
East Forsyth at Winder-Barrow
Lanier Christian at Riverside Prep
August 30 (Friday)
Clarke Central at Jefferson
Commerce at Luella
Dacula at Jackson County
East Jackson at Dawson County
Fannin County at Union County
Flowery Branch at Forsyth Central
Franklin County at Banks County
Gainesville at Westlake -- 94.5 The Lake
Hart County at Lumpkin County
Johnson at East Hall
Lanier at North Forsyth
North Hall at Cherokee Bluff -- WDUN AM 550
Towns County at Lakeview Academy
West Hall at Chestatee -- WDUN 102.9 FM
White County at Habersham Central
(Buford and Rabun County are off)
PREP SCOREBOARD, Saturday, August 22
Creekview 20, North Forsyth 14
Gainesville 31, Moody (Ala.) 7
PREP SCOREBOARD, Friday, August 23
Buford 29, Benedictine 28
Cherokee Bluff 49, Apalachee 7
East Forsyth 38, Dawson County 7
East Hall 40, Oglethorpe County 7
East Jackson 14, Commerce 13
Fannin County 28, Rabun County 7
Flowery Branch 23, Habersham Central 13
Franklin County 68, Johnson 7
Gilmer 33, Union County 0
Jefferson 38, Jackson County 3
King’s Ridge 30, Lanier Christian 7
Lakeview Academy 52, Creekside Christian 6
Towns County 14, Riverside Prep 0
Wesleyan 24, North Hall 21
West Hall 56, Northview 14