Honor roll
Jessel Curry, Buford: Seven carries for 49 yards, two interceptions for 63 yards and a touchdown in a win against Decatur.
Darrian Smith, Buford: 20 carries for 90 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Decatur.
Ben Souther, Chestatee: Nine carries for 163 yards and four touchdowns in a win against Pickens.
Keaton Summerlin, Chestatee: 65-yard interception return for a touchdown against Pickens.
James Kibbler, Chestatee: 17 tackles against Pickens.
Imani Cross, Flowery Branch: 12 carries for 161 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a win against Johnson.
Connor Shaw, Flowery Branch: 11-for-19 and 146 passing yards; 15 carries for 111 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Johnson.
Daunte Carr, Gainesville: Eight tackles, one interception, a fumble recovery and a pass break up in a win against West Hall.
Blake Sims, Gainesville: 7-for-9 passing, 164 passing yards for three touchdowns, and two carries for 69 yards and a touchdown against West Hall.
Tai-ler Jones, Gainesville: Three receptions for 128 yards and three touchdowns (one rushing) against West Hall.
Teryan Rucker, Gainesville: Eight carries for 127 yards and a touchdown against West Hall.
Kevin Ellison, Habersham Central: 92 yards rushing and a touchdown in a win against Winder-Barrow.
Keylan Myers, Habersham Central: 12 tackles with a fumble recovery against Winder-Barrow.
Lucas Redd, Jefferson: 30 yards rushing and two touchdowns in a win against Union County.
Darius Minor, Jefferson: 4-for-4 passing for 115 yards and a touchdown; 129 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Union County.
Charlie McClure, Jefferson: 12 tackles and a fumble recovery against Union County.
Anthony Prophet, Johnson: 18 carries for 163 yards and 113 passing yards with a touchdown in a loss to Flowery Branch.
Skylar Donovan, Lumpkin County: 11 tackles with a forced fumble in a loss to Gilmer.
Lance Chuvala, Lumpkin County: 14 tackles and a fumble recovery against Gilmer.
Joe Boonstra, North Georgia Christian: 150 passing yards and three touchdowns, 80 rushing yards and a touchdown and a 70-yard touchdown run off an interception in a win against Praise Academy.
Jordan Chaffin, North Hall: Six carries for 127 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Creekview.
Peyton Wilhoite, North Hall: 12 carries for 114 yards and a touchdown against Creekview.
Robert Humphrey, North Hall: Eight carries for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Creekview.
Kolt Owenby, Union County: 19-for-35 passing for 189 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to Jefferson.
Blake Gowder, Union County: Six receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns against Jefferson.
Shunquez Stephens, West Hall: 17-for-27 passing for 105 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns; 16 carries for 48 yards in a loss to Gainesville.
Football is often overshadowed by the physicality of the sport, and many seldom stop to think about the mental aspect of the game and the pressure that follows the teams both on and off the field.
“I’m not used to this. I’m not used to this,” Habersham Central’s David Griffin said nervously when asked about his performance last Friday against the Bulldoggs in Winder.
After rushing for 282 yards and five touchdowns for the Raiders (3-2, 3-2 Region 8-AAAA), one would not expect to see Griffin, who led Habersham Central to a 42-35 win over Winder-Barrow, anxious about anything, much less a casual conversation, even a taped one.
“I couldn’t have done it without the line so I dedicate that to them,” said a modest Griffin of his first breakout game.
The Raiders running back went into last week’s contest with three touchdowns on the season, but left with 317 total offensive yards, more than half of his total yards gained this year.
Habersham Central graduate Tavarres King, now a redshirt freshman at the University of Georgia, was a home run threat in receiving for the Raiders program for four seasons.
Now with Griffin churning out the yardage last Friday, the Raiders may have found a threat on the ground.
Raiders coach Stuart Cunningham chalked the difference in Griffin’s play up to serendipity.
“Our quarterback was sick so that gave us more reason to try and run the ball earlier in the game a lot more and he ended up having a great night,” Cunningham said of the junior.
Griffin proved he can handle pressure on the field, running in the game-winning touchdown against the Bulldoggs in a back-and-forth game that entered the fourth quarter tied 28-28.
When asked about what to expect in the future, Griffin kept a cool head and said, “I’m going to play my hardest and hopefully good things will come of that too.”
Habersham Cental plays host to Madison County at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Larry Black Memorial Stadium in Mount Airy.