When it comes to high school football in Hall County, no series compares to North Hall against Gainesville. But this year the rivalry may be based more on history than the state of the two teams.
The Red Elephants enter this contest on a roll, winning their first three games easily and have surrendered only 20 points all season. That point total came last Friday against White County when Gainesville’s first team defense gave up its lone offensive touchdown to the Warriors.
The Trojans on the other hand are coming off a bye week that followed a 35-7 loss to Buford in Week 2. North Hall will have its work cut out Friday as it tries to avenge the 35-0 loss the Red Elephants handed to the Trojans last season.
Other games around the area are: East Jackson at Union County, Fannin County at Dawson County, Flowery Branch at Chestatee, Gilmer at East Hall, Hayesville, N.C. at Towns County, Jefferson at Oglethorpe County, Johnson at Pickens, Loganville at Habersham Central, North Oconee at Riverside Military, Prince Avenue at Jackson County, Rabun County at Banks County and White County at West Hall.
Atlanta Braves
With the 2009 season winding down, the Braves have two crucial series this week that could either make or break their season. Faltering down the stretch, Atlanta plays host to New York and Philadelphia this week with the goal of keeping its playoff hopes alive. The Braves are virtually out of it in terms of winning the NL East, but a good week against the Mets and the Phillies could get them back into the Wild Card race.
College football
Fresh off their big wins in the second week of the season, the Georgia Bulldogs and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will try to keep the wins coming this week.
Georgia, which defeated South Carolina on Saturday to open SEC play, travels to Fayetteville, Ark. to take on a Razorback team that will have two weeks to prepare for the Bulldogs.
The Yellow Jackets, who survived a comeback attempt by Clemson on Thursday, head to South Beach to take on the Miami Hurricanes. Miami won its season opener Sept. 7 against Florida State and will have 10 days to prepare for Georgia Tech’s triple-option offense.
Atlanta Falcons
While the North Hall-Gainesville rivalry will consume this part of the state Friday, every Falcons fans are focused on taking out division rival Carolina on Sunday in the Georgia Dome.
The Falcons put up 45 points on the Panthers the last time these two teams met in the Dome, snapping the three-game, series win streak of Carolina.
Kickoff for Sunday’s game is scheduled for 1 p.m.