It's hard to believe we've reached the high school football season's halfway point.
Last week brought us several shocking finishes: Top-ranked Carrollton routed No. 3 Gainesville, Buford blew out top-10-ranked Douglas County in Douglasville, and No. 3 Jefferson was shut out at No. 4 North Oconee.
So, we officially turn the page to Week 6, with three Games2Watch that will change the region standings in three regions when it's over on Friday.
To follow scores and more this week, follow our Friday Game Night X for scores, stories and highlights.
NORTH FORSYTH at LAMBERT
Records: Raiders (3-1, 1-0 Region 6-6A); Longhorns (2-2, 1-0 Region 6-6A)
Last week: North Forsyth beat South Forsyth, 49-14; Lambert beat West Forsyth, 13-0
Where: Lambert Stadium, Suwanee
Time: 7:30 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: NORTH FORSYTH: QB Eli Seaney (47-76, 461 yards, 5TDs passing; 24-111 rushing); RB Darron Parry (41-194 yards rushing, 6 TDs), RB Colton Constable (24-222, 1 TD), WR Brady Holbrook (14-158 yards rec., 1 TD), A Adams (3-73 yards rec., 2 TDs), WR Nate Gravitt (15-114 yards rec., 1 TD), DB Colter Vela (24 tkls), LB Ben Gardner (20 tkls, 3 TFLs), LB Cole Simpson (19 tkls, 3 TFLs), DB CJ Lenyszyn (19 tkls, 2 TFLs), DB Parker Smaltz (17 tkls, 1 TFLs); LAMBERT: QB Ethan Daughtery 59-for-96, 703 yards, 6 TDs), RB Jesse Brooks (50-164 yards rushing, 3 TDs), RB/DB Harrison Richards (29-131 yards rushing, 1 TD, 19 tkls), 14-105 yards rushing, 1 TD), WR Christian Smith (15-270 yards rec, 1 TD), WR Carter Chung (16-155 yards rec., 1 TD), WR Matthew Franatovich (12-152 yards rec, 4 TDs), LB Branson Brooks (33 tkls), H Lee (19 tkls), FS TJ Losurdo (18 tkls), LB Luke Lemoine (18 tkls).
WHY WATCH IT: Anytime you have two Forsyth County programs playing each other, which is more often than not, it's a battle. Expect this one to be nothing less than a dogfight. Lambert brings in the more tested roster, having played No. 7 Mill Creek and No. 5 Walton. They lost both by an average of 30 points. Meanwhile, the Raiders have quietly strolled through its first four games, 3-1, and are a touchdown away from being 4-0. Since the Creekview loss, the Raiders have reeled off back-to-back wins, averaging 32 points per game. Last week, they hammered rival South Forsyth, 49-14, in Raider Valley. In the past, the Raiders have whiffed in games with a ton of meaning. Sure, it's just the second region game, but a win on Thursday means they remain at the top of the region standings. NoFo's offense can score, and the defense is pretty good, especially the secondary. Playing a team like Lambert, who loves to throw the ball, secondary play and a solid pass rush will be key for the Raiders. Lambert wants this win just as bad, and with this one on the Longhorns' turf, the crowd will be all jacked up for this one. The Raiders must bring their A-game to get out of Suwanee with the win.
CLARKE CENTRAL at JACKSON COUNTY
Records: Gladiators (1-3, 0-0 Region 8-5A); Panthers (3-1, 0-0 Region 8-5A)
Last week: Clarke Central was off; Jackson County beat Madison County, 21-7
Where: Panther Stadium, Hoschton
Time: 7:30 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: CLARKE CENTRAL: QB Hezekiah Millender (42-for-67, 822 yards passing, 9 TDs, 1 INT, 42-190 yards rushing, 2 TDs), RB Corey Watkins Jr (51-22 yards rushing, 4 TDs), WR 10-340 yards rec., 3 TDs), WR Xayvian Berry (11-222 yards rec., 2 TDs), WR Troy Rucker (3-90 yards rec., 1 TD), LB Skylier Walter Jr. (26 tkls), CB Tekit Gill (17 tkls), DE Kelin Fanning (17 tkls, 4 TFLs, DT Anthony Lonon Jr. (16 tkls, 4 TFLs, 3 sacks); JACKSON COUNTY: QB RJ Knapp III (39-for-69, 588 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs, 25-173 yards rushing), RB Daylan Maxwell (58-314 yards rushing, 4 TDs, 6-101 yards rec., 1 TD), WR Robert Spry (11-182 yards rec., 1 TD), WR Caden Daniels (7-110 yards rec., 2 TDs), WR Silas McDaniel (8-98 yards rec., 2 TDs), LB Luke Mobbs (47 tkls, 5 TFLs), DL Deacon Wiley (34 tkls, 3 TFLs), LB Maher Magness (34 tkls, 1 TFL), S Cooper Gailey (33 tkls, 1 TFL), DE Josh Mendoza (26 tkls, 7 TFLs, 2 sacks)
WHY WATCH IT: Can Jackson County beat Clarke Central? Yes. Will they? I can't answer that question. The Panthers are 0-8 all-time against the Gladiators, including the most recent loss in 2021, 34-30 at home. Jackson County will be on the road for this one, and there's a ton riding on this game for both teams. It's the Region 8-5A opener, and a start in the right direction is imperative for each team, but more importantly, Jackson County's region title hopes. Yes, I said region title hopes. I'm still not totally sold on Jackson County as a contender, but when you look at the parity in this region, you have to count them in as a contender. Clarke Central can also throw its hat in the ring. They're the third-highest-scoring offense in the region, and they've played a brutal non-region schedule, with losses to top-five opponents Jefferson and North Oconee. But they beat Oconee County, who hammered top-five Stephens County last week. Both Clarke Central and Jackson County lost big to Jefferson. So, again, I have no clue, and you probably don't either. That's why this game is a game to watch. There's so much uncertainty about what to expect. Clarke Central can run and pass. Jackson County, as well. Could this be a shoot-out, or could this be a sloppy, defensive battle? The Glads are giving up close to 30 points per game. Can Jackson County's offense take advantage? If they do, pick your poison, rush, or pass because the Glads have been suspectable to both. But wait, there's more. So have the Panthers. So, I give up. I can't choose. I also can't give you any more information on this game or this region. There could be a line out the door for the top spot in the region. Regardless, one of these two teams will be at the top when Friday is in the books.
NORTH HALL at WHITE COUNTY
Records: Trojans (2-2, 1-0 Region 6-3A); Warriors (2-2, 1-0 Region 6-3A)
Last week: North Hall beat Chestatee, 28-14; White County beat Pickens, 24-7
Where: White County Stadium, Cleveland
Radio: WDUN 102.9 FM; WRWH AM/FM
Time: 7:30 p.m.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: NORTH HALL: QB Smith McGarvey (34-for-60, 361 yards passing, 5 TDs, 3 INTs, 18-103 yards rushing, 3 TDs); QB Alex Schlieman (28-for-41, 299 yards passing, 1 TD, 2 INTs), RB/DB Parker Carlton (41-288 yards rushing, 4 TDs, 42 tkls, 1 TFL), RB Luke Jenkins (26-159 yards rushing), WR Cole Cable (16-164 yards rec., 3 TDs), WR Luke Jenkins 18-147 yards rec.), WR Ty Kemp (18-258 yards rec., 3 TDs); DB Charlie Dyer (29 tkls, 1 TFL), DB Walker Davis (34 tkls), DL Matt Arceo (19 tkls, 3 TFLs); WHITE COUNTY: QB Tripp Nix (68-for-109, 971 yards passing, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, 40-248 yards rushing, 6 TDs), RB Noel Lammers (66-244 yards rushing, 6 TDs), LB Jon Scott (49 tkls, 5 sacks, 4 TFLs, 1 INT), DB Zach Godrey (46 tkls), LB Bryce Dockery (26 tkls), DB Cade Dockery (23 tkls, 1 TFL)
WHY WATCH IT: Where to start with this one? It's one of Northeast Georgia's oldest rivalries, and over the last decade and a half, it's been a pretty good one. They've split the last 14 meetings, with North Hall winning a turnover and a high-scoring affair at The Brickyard last year. It's no secret that there's no love loss between the two arch-rivals, and now that it's a region game ... again ... it only adds more fuel to the fire. If I'm the Warriors, I'm calling in the calvary ... feet on the ground, if you will. Why? The Trojans haven't been very good against the run, giving up almost 200 yards per game, and with Tripp Nix's dual-threat capabilities and Noah Lammers' rushing ability, a porous run defense could mean trouble for the Trojans. North Hall also has firepower and has been a team that takes what you give them. In other words, they haven't tried to push a square peg into a round hole. Sure, they'll throw the ball, but so far this year, behind running backs Parker Carlton and Luke Jenkins, as well as QB Smith McGarvey, the Trojans are averaging 220 rushing yards per game over the last two games and have scored 11 of their 15 offensive TDs on the ground. So, in closing, it's North Hall-White County, and nothing will surprise me. But I'll leave you with these questions: Will the defense be the headline? Will this be another high-scoring affair, or will it come down to something no one expected? Who's up for a game of Chess?
PREP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, September 19 & 20
Thursday, September 19
North Forsyth at Lambert*
Friday, September 20
Athens Academy at Commerce*
Buford at Discovery*
Butler at Towns County
Chestatee at Lumpkin County*
Clarke Central at Jackson County*
East Hall at East Jackson
Flowery Branch at Eastside*
Franklin County at West Hall
Johnson at GAC*
Lanier at Gainesville*
North Hall at White County*
North Murray at Union County*
North Oconee at East Forsyth*
Pickens at Dawson County*
Rabun County at Banks County*
(Cherokee Bluff, Habersham Central, Jefferson, Lakeview Academy, Lanier Christian and Riverside Prep all are off)
PREP FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD, September 13
Athens Christian 50, Riverside Prep 18*
Buford 31, Douglas County 14
Cherokee Bluff 42, Banks County 0
Carrollton 45, Gainesville 16
GAC 19, Lumpkin County 13*
Georgia Force 25, Lanier Christian 17
Habersham Central 56, Loganville 21*
Jackson County 21, Madison County 7
Lakeview Academy 34, George Walton 31*
North Forsyth 49, South Forsyth 14*
North Hall 28, Chestatee 14*
North Oconee 35, Jefferson 0
Rabun County 24, Bremen 21
Rockmart 26, Union County 12*
White County 24, Pickens 7*
PREP FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD, September 12
Ware Shoals (SC) 28, Towns County 12
