Coming off deep runs in the postseason a year ago, both second-ranked Gainesville and third-ranked Flowery Branch entered the new season with high expectations and questions on defense.
The Falcons, following an appearance in the state finals, needed replacements for two Georgia Tech players on the line, and had seven new starters on defense.
Gainesville, a 2008 quarterfinalist, boasts a wealth of well-known talent, but had to replace all three members of last year’s very productive starting defensive linemen.
Both proved to be capable of the tasks Friday night with strong defensive outings.
Gainesville held a Chestatee team that prides itself on its ground game to 87 rushing yards and 109 total on 50 snaps in the Red Elephants’ 34-0 win. Flowery Branch clamped down on Stephens County’s balanced offense, especially in the first half, en route to 38-8 win.
Gotta be doing something right
It has been a while since Jackson County fans were treated to the kind offensive show the Panthers put on Friday night in Fairburn, where the visiting Panthers scored 37 first-half points en route to a 44-0 win over Our Lady of Mercy.
No Panther team had even scored 30 points in a game since 2003, and the previous high under third-year coach Billy Kirk was 23.
Running back Charles Smothers and quarterback Alex Crawford led the offense, combining for five touchdowns, but the Panther defense was just as impressive, limiting Our Lady of Mercy to 19 yards of offense.
Who needs an Air Raid?
The shift to the spread offense came quickly to Northeast Georgia high school fields in recent years. But local teams haven’t given up on the run, by any means.
Not surprisingly, teams like Lumpkin County, North Hall and Lakeview piled up solid yardage on the ground in Week 1.
But Flowery Branch, Gainesville and Jefferson, three teams known for spreading the field in shotgun formations, played ball control football on Friday as well.
Flowery Branch led the way, churning out 300 rushing yards on 41 carries. Gainesville showed good balance, rushing for 247 while passing for 190, and favoring the run (32 carries) to the pass (23 attempts) in play selection.
Jefferson turned 296 rushing yards on 51 carries in to a 30-13 win over rival Commerce, passing only six times.
Running backs Zach Allen and Lucas Redd, allowed coach T. McFerrin to play conservatively on offense, and Darius Minor proved the threat of a pass is still a dangerous one. The senior quarterback completed five of his six attempts for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Minor also added to the Dragons’ rushing total with a 59-yard scoring run in the second half.
Lumpkin County churned out nearly 200 rushing yards in a 13-0 win over Dawson County, while Lakeview piled up 208 in a 21-20 loss to Fellowship Christian.