Three key contests set for broadcast on another big week for prep football

Last week's high school football games showed us all that very little is certain this season -- and that 2014 will bring plenty of surprises.<br /> <br /> Just imagine what this week holds in store.<br /> <br /> The various outlets of Jacobs Media will be on hand to keep you informed of the latest eye-openers as the seconds tick away on Week 3.<br /> <br /> Three battles will feature on the airwaves, including Gainesville's shot at a rebound.<br /> <br /> The Red Elephants opened the season with a 39-0 loss at Grayson and have had a week to ruminate on the outcome -- meaning that Gainesville will be amped to put the result behind it when Winder-Barrow comes calling on Friday in a contest broadcast live on 1240 AM.<br /> <br /> The Bulldoggs will enter the showdown looking for their own statement after moving to 1-1 on the season thanks to a 26-20 defeat of Apalachee in Week 2. Winder showed plenty of heart in the victory, as well as ability with players like running back Cece Green (235 yards rushing vs. Apalachee) making big impacts in the first win for coach Heath Webb.<br /> <br /> Gainesville has lost just two Region 8-AAAAA contests in two years, and the Red Elephants will be itching to maintain their dominant showings -- especially in front of their home fans for the first time in 2014. And you can bet Gainesville's coaching staff will have spent the last two weeks tweaking and improving in preparation for Week 3.<br /> <br /> Another team looking for a rebound this week is North Hall.<br /> <br /> The Trojans' young squad absorbed a tough 48-8 loss to a stellar Jefferson squad this past week in their season opener. North Hall showed plenty of grit in maintaining its fight after a slow start that saw them trail 28-0 after the first quarter. And the Trojans will build on that fight as they prepare to battle a West Hall team that has not allowed a point yet this season in a game broadcast live on AM 550.<br /> <br /> The Spartans (2-0) have outscored Johnson and Chestatee by a combined 59-0 this season and will get their second straight home contest on Friday. Beyond defense, West Hall has also shown a dominant ground game -- 10 different backs carries the ball in last week's defeat of Chestatee.<br /> <br /> Yet Spartans coach Tony Lotti has already warned that North Hall will be another step up from what his team has faced so far and that West Hall must raise its game if it wants to move to 3-0.<br /> <br /> The final game to be broadcast live on Friday will feature two squads looking to break a sequence of tough luck.<br /> <br /> Johnson just missed out on its first victory of the campaign last week, falling 28-24 at the death to Banks County. The Knights (0-3) have shown plenty of signs of improvement over last season and will be looking for the win that might start the turnaround in the win/loss column.<br /> <br /> With that in mind, Johnson will travel to face a Lumpkin County team that has also shown plenty of promise this season in a game that will air on 102.9 FM.<br /> <br /> The Indians (0-2) dropped a 15-8 game at Model to start the season, despite out-gaining the hosts, and watched a number of strong drives denied last week in a 28-7 loss to Union County. Turnovers proved key in the loss, and both teams will be wary of sloppy play to help break through this week.<br /> <br /> But those three contests are nowhere near the full story on Friday's slate.<br /> <br /> Access North Georgia's <a href="http://www.accessnorthga.com/fridaygamenight"><b>Friday Game Night</b></a> will be keeping a close eye on several other battles -- including Flowery Branch at Lanier in what could be a defining showdown in Region 8-AAAAA.<br /> <br /> The Longhorns (2-0, 1-0 Region 8-AAAAA) are looking to make hay in their first season in the region and have already made waves with a win at perennial playoff program Clarke Central last week.<br /> <br /> Flowery Branch (1-0), meanwhile, had a week off to prep for the contest after blanking Chestatee 29-0 in the Falcons' opener on Aug. 31. It is a mouth-watering contest, and Friday Game Night will be there in person to take it all in.<br /> <br /> Another intriguing match-up comes in Jefferson, where the high-flying Dragons (3-0) will take on their oldest and bitterest foe in Commerce (2-0). The two teams have squared off in every season since 1951 -- 63 straight years.<br /> <br /> The Tigers enter the face-off on the back of two hard-fought wins while establishing some new standouts in its vaunted rushing attack, and while Commerce owns a sizable edge in the history of the series -- 42-21-5 -- the Tigers will be looking to buck a recent trend: Jefferson has won six of the last seven contests.<br /> <br /> The Dragons have been almost untouchable so far, out-scoring opponents 139-29 -- though Jefferson coaches and players will expect their toughest fight so far from a fired-up Tigers squad.<br /> <br /> It's going to be another big week. And we can't wait.<br /> <br /> <b>WEEK 3 PREP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, Sept. 12</b><br /> Andrews, N.C. (0-3) at Union County (2-0)<br /> Apalachee (0-2) at Salem (1-1)<br /> Armuchee (1-2) at Fannin County (1-1)<br /> Blue Ridge, S.C. (2-0) at Stephens County (1-1)<br /> Chestatee (0-2) at Pepperell (0-2)<br /> Commerce (2-0) at Jefferson (3-0)<br /> Dawson County (0-2) at Heritage, Catoosa (1-1)<br /> East Jackson (1-1) at Banks County (1-1)<br /> Flowery Branch (1-0) at Lanier (2-0)<br /> Jackson County (0-2) at Rabun County (1-2)<br /> Johnson (0-3) at Lumpkin County (0-2) -- <b>Radio: 102.9 FM</b><br /> Lakeview Academy (0-2) at Towns County (0-2)<br /> North Hall (0-1) at West Hall (2-0) -- <b>Radio: AM 550</b><br /> Northview (2-0) at North Forsyth (0-2)<br /> Pace Academy (1-2) at White County (1-1)<br /> Riverside Military (1-0) at Hapeville Charter (0-2)<br /> South Forsyth (1-1) at Habersham Central (0-2)<br /> Winder-Barrow (1-1) at Gainesville (0-1) -- <b>Radio: 1240 AM</b>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/9/279301