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High school football notebook: Offensive performances steal the show
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In its first five games this season, Lakeview Academy scored a combined 41 points on the way to a 1-4 record.

Last Friday against North Cobb Christian, the Lions (2-4) surpassed that total en route to a 49-22 win. The offense surpassed its season high in points (21) in the first quarter alone with 28.

Lakeview did nearly all of its damage on the ground, with 455 yards of total offense and 436 on the ground.

Running back Matt Askounis (151 yards) and quarterback Ted Reynolds (147 yards) led the way.

Lakeview tied the program record for points scored in a game. Last season the Lions beat North Cobb Christian 49-21.

The Lakeview offense may not be through yet. Last year the Lions scored a combined 103 points in their final three games of the season.

Having once again scored 49 against the Eagles, the final two Lakeview opponents of the season could be in for a tough night on defense, starting with Georgia Military College Friday night.

MILESTONES AT BOBBY GRUHN FIELD: Gainesville (6-1, 3-0 Region 8-AAA South) Sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson surpassed 2,000 yards of total offense and 1,600 yards passing last Friday in a 41-21 win over Monroe Area. Watson threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns and added 78 yards rushing to take down the Purple Hurricanes (5-2, 2-1).

The sophomore now leads the area with 1,677 yards passing and 21 touchdowns through the air, along with 408 yards rushing and six more touchdowns.

As a freshman Watson recorded 1,759 yards passing and 17 touchdowns throughout the entire 10-game regular season and added 485 yards rushing and four scores. As well as he’s been playing this season, Watson is poised to shatter his freshman stats.

With Watson leading the way, Gainesville coach Bruce Miller tallied his 100th win of his Red Elephants coaching career. Miller is 168-100 overall as a head coach in Georgia, including stops at Cass and North Forsyth, according to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association.

The high-scoring Gainesville offense also reached a somewhat surprising milestone with its first 100-yard rusher.

Sophomore running back Rayshon Thomas eclipsed that mark with 104 yards and two touchdowns against Monroe Area.

TROJANS SENIOR CROSS STARTS FAST: North Hall running back Imani Cross is second in the area in rushing with 1,245 yards and 17 touchdowns after tallying another 225 yards and four scores on just 11 carries to lead the Trojans to a 49-0 win over Lumpkin County last Friday.

But it’s what he has done in the first half that has been so impressive. Against the Indians, the University of Tennessee verbal commit had over 200 yards rushing by halftime, the second time this year he has done so.

REGION LEADERS SEPARATING: In regions and subregions around the area, local teams separated themselves from the pack in a crucial week of play.

In Region 8-AAAA, Flowery Branch (7-0, 7-0 Region 8-AAAA) held off Heritage (7-1, 7-1) in a battle of the final two unbeaten teams in the region, leaving the Falcons alone at the top.

In Region 8-AAA South, Gainesville is alone atop the subregion after handing Monroe Area its first subregion loss.

In Region 8-AA North, Banks County stands alone at 3-0 in the subregion after defeating Rabun County 40-28 last Friday, while East Hall fell to 2-1 in the North with a 35-19 loss at the hands of Fannin County.

OFFENSES STALLED: Two of the top three scoring offenses in the area were held far below their average points totals for the season.

Flowery Branch, which averaged 53 points per game entering Friday night’s game at Heritage, could only manage 21, half of their next lowest total of the year, in 21-13 win. Flowery Branch defeated Apalachee 42-20 on Sept. 9.

Jefferson (5-2, 2-2 8-AA South), which entered their matchup against undefeated Elbert County averaging 42.3 points per game, was shutout 14-0, the first time the Dragons failed to score in a game since falling 21-0 to White County to open the 2005 season.

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