With Week 5 already here (that means we’re just one week from the halfway point of the season — WOW) some trends have begun to develop for the 2024 season.
Also, there are some rough streaks for several northeast Georgia area teams against some old nemeses still in play. And several of those are taking place tonight. However, could this be the week that those come to an end?
While we looked at this last week, with the majority of region play starting in our area and across the state, which regions really are the power players now that most of the non-region schedules have been completed?
We’ll begin the Week 5 Notebook with...
STREAK BUSTING?
Lumpkin County, Lakeview Academy, Chestatee, and North Forsyth all come into Friday night’s crucial region battles on the business end of some ugly streaks. Can any or all of them put an end to those?
The answer to that is yes. They all come into Friday’s action with more than a puncher’s chance.
GAC at Lumpkin County
Lumpkin County (2-1, 0-0 Region 6-3A) takes on Greater Atlanta Christian (0-3, 0-0 Region 6-3A) to open Region 6-3A, a matchup of the two teams picked to finish atop the region standings in the preseason. This game will have some major implications, not just for the region but for the Class 3A playoffs as well.
With the power ratings in play for the playoffs in Class 3A, the No. 1 seeds at the end of the season will be seeded by power ratings. HOWEVER, if a private school wins the region, that spot will probably fall below the top 8, depending on other factors. This means that 6-3A will need someone to knock off the Spartans to keep that from happening.
It has not been a kind series for the Indians. GAC leads the series 10-0. Every meeting has been since 2000, but this is the first meeting since 2019, which was a 49-6 Spartans’ romp in Norcross. Lumpkin is 0-5 all-time vs. GAC at home.
The Indians are averaging 32.33 points/game and yielding 30.33 ppg on defense. GAC is averaging just 12.33 ppg and giving up 32.0 ppg on defense.
This is the region opener for both and the winner will take the upper-hand. If the Indians can snap the streak, it could also show the rest of the region that the Spartans are vulnerable in 2024.
George Walton at Lakeview Academy
Lakeview Academy finds itself in a similar boat as Lumpkin County. The Lions (4-0, 1-0 GIAA District 4-A/3A) take on George Walton (2-2, 1-0 GIAA District 4-A/3A) tonight at home. They have never beaten the Bulldogs in eight previous meetings, all of which have come since 2014. The Bulldogs last won 28-10 in 2023 in Monroe.
As the record indicates, it has not been a kind series to the Lions. In the eight games, Lakeview has given up 45.1 ppg. However, last season was the Lions’ best defensive effort ever in the series.
It’s not the region opener for either but the winner of this one also will get the quick upper-hand on the top seed from the region.
This one has a different feel to it than the other eight. The Lions have an improved and more experienced Kyari Burch at the helm. The junior quarterback already is having a breakout season and has been nigh impossible to stop. The key matchup will be the Lions offense vs. the Bulldogs defense.
Burch has thrown for 726 yards and 9 TDs to 6 different receivers, but he also had 3 INTs last week as the Lions had to battle back from an early deficit. The Bulldogs are giving up just 15.0 ppg with 13 TFLs, seven sacks, 23 QB hurries, and three turnovers, including a pair of INTs.
Something is probably going to have to give. I’ll put my money on Burch, who is playing as well as anyone in the area right now.
South Forsyth at North Forsyth
South Forsyth (2-1, 0-0 Region 6-6A) leads the series 17-7 over their arch-rivals. But they haven’t played in three years, the longest break in the series since North (2-1, 0-0 Region 6-6A) was created in 1994. The War Eagles won 28-10 in 2021, have won two straight overall, and 7 of the last 8 going back to 2013. They are 8-4 all-time at Raider Valley.
Most of the matchups have been lopsided wins. Only three games have been decided by 7 points or less.
This is the Region 6-6A opener for both and it couldn’t be more important for both. Both are part of a group of four teams, along with North Atlanta and West Forsyth, all sitting at 2-1 overall as region play opens.
Neither team was projected in the preseason to make the playoffs. A Raiders win would give them confidence and a huge boost in the region early on.
The North Forsyth offense vs. the War Eagles' defense could be the key. The Raiders are averaging 24.0 ppg but are coming off a solid 33-point outing in a win over a good Lanier defense behind QB Elijah Seaney, who has been efficient with no turnovers. The War Eagles are giving up 25.0 ppg and have just one takeaway so far in 2024.
North Hall at Chestatee
North Hall (1-2, 0-0 Region 6-3A) leads series 20-2. The two arch-rivals have played every season since Chestatee (1-2, 0-0 Region 6-3A) was created in 2002. The Trojans won 27-0 in 2023 at The Brickyard. North Hall has won 6 straight overall.
Chestatee is just 1-10 all-time at home vs. the Trojans, but the War Eagles' last win in the series was in 2017, 42-12, at Lynn Cottrell.
This is the third straight season this has been a region game but just the fifth time ever they have been in the same region since 2011. It is also the region opener for both.
The War Eagles are underdogs again -- North Hall is a 15-point favorite -- coming into this one. But their wing-T offense is much improved, and they are giving every team this year fits. North Hall gave up 199 yards rushing to Bluff two weeks ago but held East Hall scoreless in the second half last week and forced two big fumbles last week. Chestatee has turned the ball over just once so far in 2024.
With a highly competitive and balanced Region 6-3A, this is a huge game for playoff possibilities for both teams.
HEADING INTO REGION PLAY, WHO ARE THE POWER REGIONS?
Region play is opening for most regions in every classification around the state. We looked at the power regions last week, but now that the majority of the non-region schedules are complete, which regions were the true power players?
How did the eight regions in our AccessWDUN area in the GHSA stack up around the state and in their classifications? There are some surprise results -- and some not-so-surprising results.
It doesn’t mean much overall. However, for the regions that are projected to be a race to the finish, we should expect some fantastic battles for playoff seeding and positioning, especially in the lower classifications where power ratings will be in play.
It's no surprise that Region 8-3A, which includes Jefferson, Cherokee Bluff, Monroe Area, Oconee County, East Hall, and West Hall, currently has the best record in Class 3A at 16-6. Bluff is 4-0, Monroe Area 2-0, and Jefferson, East Hall, and West Hall are all 3-1 with one week of non-region left.
However, also in Class 3A, Region 6-3A (Lumpkin County, Pickens, Chestatee, Dawson County, North Hall, White County, GAC, and Johnson) is 7th out of 8 regions with a dismal 8-16 record. Lumpkin and Pickens are both 2-1 with the other six teams managing just 4 wins combined.
In Class 6A, Region 1-6A has the best record of any region in any classification at 19-3 (.864). Six of the other seven regions in 6A have overall losing records.
Buford is in Region 8-6A, which has the 3rd-best record (12-13) in the classification. But Region 6-6A, which has North Forsyth, is tied for last in 6A with a 10-14 record.
In Class 5A, Region 8-5A has struggled outside of the region with an 8-16 record. They open region play tonight in what is expected to be a slugfest for the top four playoff spots the rest of the way.
REGION POWERHOUSES
And speaking of regions, there are some major powerhouses that have been dominating their regions for the past several years.
From Georgia High School Football Daily, Rockmart currently has the state’s longest region win streak at 52 straight. They knocked off Ringgold 23-20 last week in overtime to keep it going.
Among area teams, Jefferson leads the way with the longest current streak at 13, most of that coming in Region 8-5A the past two seasons. The Dragons, now in Region 8-3A, last dropped a region game to North Oconee, 11-6, in 2021 while part of Region 8-4A. Ironically, those two teams meet tonight for the first time since then.
And Gainesville is working on a 12-game win streak in region play. The Red Elephants went undefeated (6-0) each of the past two seasons in Region 8-6A. Their last region loss was to North Forsyth in the old Region 6-7A in 2021.
But the Red Elephants’ streak will be challenged this year. Two teams in their current 7-5A region also are working on long region win streaks. Milton, the defending Class 7A state champion, has a 33-game streak working while Roswell has won 14 straight in region play. Yeah, something will give there for sure for somebody.
MORE BUFORD RECORD-BREAKING?
Buford has had plenty of talented classes over the past two decades. In this century, going back to the days of Darius Walker (Notre Dame), and as recently as last season with KJ Bolden (Georgia) the Wolves have had more than their fair share of major Division I signings. However, according to Todd Holcomb of the GHSF Daily, Buford sports 10 seniors in the Class of 2025 who are committed to major Division I schools (Power 5 or now Power 4). That’s believed to be a state record. But of course, everyone would have to eventually sign to officially make it so.
STATE LEADERS
Week 3 saw several northeast Georgia players begin to creep up the stat sheet, breaking into the top 20 and higher among the state’s top rushing, passing, and receiving leaders.
In Week 4, a few have busted down the door. (All stats are according to the comprehensive stats released by Georgia High School Football Daily on Friday’s).
Two players now lead their classification, both in Class 3A. Elijah Hayes of West Hall leads Class 3A in rushing with 671 yards, which is good for 2nd in the state overall behind Chattooga’s Zayden Cook, who has 849 yards and leads Class A D1. Cherokee Bluff’s Brooks Brien leads Class 3A in passing with 947 yards, which puts him 9th overall in the state.
Both also have helped their teams get off to outstanding starts to the season. Bluff is a perfect 4-0 while West Hall is 3-1, which is one more than the Spartans won over the past two seasons combined.
As for other players in the northeast Georgia area, several more have cracked into the top five in their respective classifications. Commerce’s Tysean Wiggins sits 2nd A D1 in rushing and fourth overall in the state with 643 yards. Tripp Underwood of Stephens County is second in Class 2A in passing and 10th overall with 944 yards.
Gainesville sophomore Kharim Hughley is fourth in passing in 5A (22nd overall) with 811 yards and Brock Szakacs of East Forsyth is third in 3A in passing and 24th overall with 806 yards.
In receiving, two-way player Kaden Thompson of Cherokee Bluff is second in 3A and 17th overall with 372 yards.
