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Football: Preview of week four's high school games
West Forsyth's Eli Orr (58) and teammates wrap up a Woodstock player Friday, Aug. 18, 2017.
Forsyth Central at
Meadowcreek
Forsyth Central defensive back Jacob Walters returns an interception for a gain against Dawson County on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017.
- photo by Brian Paglia
When, where:
Friday, 7:30 p.m., at Meadowcreek Community Stadium in Norcross.
Records, rankings:
Central is 0-2 overall, 0-0 in Region 5-7A and unranked in Class 7A;
Meadowcreek is 2-0, 0-0 in Region 7 and unranked.
Series history:
Central leads 1-0.
Last meeting:
Central won 63-28 in 2016.
What to know: Central’s
63 points against Meadowcreek last season were the second-most in a single game
for the Bulldogs’ history, but it’s been a much different story this year – Central
is scoreless through two games in losses to Dawson County (9-0) and River Ridge
(7-0). Its defense is a different matter. The Bulldogs are allowing just eight
points a game despite integrating a host of new contributors, like defensive
back Jacob Walters, who already has two interceptions. But that unit will have
its most unique challenge of the season in trying to stop Meadowcreek running
back Chauncey Williams. The senior is coming off a dynamic performance last
week in the Mustangs’ 51-36 victory over Duluth in which he had 565 all-purpose
yards: 330 rushing, 145 returning and 90 receiving to go along with five
touchdowns. The win improved Meadowcreek to 2-0 for the first time since 1993.
Central is hoping to avoid starting the season 0-3 for the first time since
2013.
Horizon Christian at
Creekside Christian
Horizon Christian's Wesley Harris is tackled after making a catch against Lanier Christian on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017.
- photo by Brian Paglia
When, where: Friday,
7:30 p.m., in McDonough
Records, rankings:
Horizon is 0-3 overall and 0-0 in GICAA Division II North; Creekside is 2-1 and
0-0 in GICAA Division II East
Last meeting: Creekside
won 38-6 in 2016.
What to know: As
the Warriors’ struggles to start the season mount, they now take on one of the
GICAA’s top teams. Creekside was the GICAA Division II state runner-up last
season and hasn’t slowed down this season. After a season-opening loss to Tift
Area Academy, the Cougars are coming off back-to-back shutout wins against
Dawson Christian (70-0) and East Atlanta (38-0). Horizon, meanwhile, has been
out-scored 113-19 this season.
Lambert at Cherokee
Lambert quarterback Bobby Gabriel tries to elude Collins Hill's D'Ante Carr on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. /// Photo by Kevin O'Brien
When, where:
Friday, 7:30 p.m., at Tommy Baker Field in Canton.
Records, rankings:
Lambert is 0-2 overall, 0-0 in Region 5-7A and unranked in Class 7A; Cherokee
is 0-3, 0-0 in Region 4 and unranked.
Series history:
Cherokee leads 1-0.
Last meeting: Cherokee
won 50-36 in 2016.
What to know: A
pair of winless teams meet looking to get things on track. After last season’s
milestone season, Lambert is 0-2 for the first time in school history with
losses to Mountain View (31-13) and Collins Hill (24-6). After reaching the
second round of the state playoffs, Cherokee is 0-3 for the first time since
2010 with lopsided losses to North Cobb (44-6), Sequoyah (34-0) and Creekview
(30-0). One of the brightest spots for Lambert has been kicker Bryce
Christensen, who is 4-for-4 on field goals, 6-for-7 on touchbacks for kickoffs
and is averaging 45.3 yards on seven punts. Even more encouraging has been the
emergence of junior linebacker Chris Taylor who has 25 tackles through two
games. Cherokee replaced 18 starters, nine on both sides, and it’s particularly
struggled on offense in averaging just 145 yards a game with six turnovers (two
interceptions, four fumbles).
South Forsyth at
South Gwinnett
South Forsyth running back Jared Honey finds a big hole to run through against Centennial on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017.
- photo by Micah Green
When, where:
Friday, 7:30 p.m., at South Gwinnett Community Stadium in Snellville.
Records, rankings:
South 3-0 overall, 0-0 in Region 5-7A and ranked No. 10 in Class 7A; South
Gwinnett is 1-2, 0-0 in Region 8 and unranked.
Series history: South
Gwinnett leads 4-3.
Last meeting:
South Forsyth won 39-20 in 2016.
What to know: The
War Eagles are one of Class 7A’s ascendant teams after jumping into the latest Georgia
Sports Writers Association’s poll this week at No. 10. Which means the teams’
roles are reversed in this meeting – last season, South was unranked when it
upset No. 6 South Gwinnett, 39-20, at home. The War Eagles have looked the part
of a complete team so far, though their past two wins against Pinecrest Academy
(56-10) and Centennial (45-14) are against winless teams. South Gwinnett should
be the best barometer for the War Eagles since their season-opener against
Roswell. The Comets have two top-20 recruits on defense in defensive tackle
Robert Cooper (Florida State) and defensive end Justin Mascoll (Clemson), and
new head coach Steve Davenport has taken teams at Decatur and
Woodland-Stockbridge on deep state playoff runs before.
West Forsyth at
Hillgrove
West Forsyth’s Abraham Camara stuffs a Woodstock wide receiver Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. (Photo by Michael Chung)
When, where:
Friday, 7:30 p.m., at Cobb Energy Hillgrove Stadium in Powder Springs.
Records, rankings:
West is 2-0 overall, 0-0 in Region 5-7A and unranked in Class 7A; Hillgrove is 0-2,
0-0 in Region 3 and unranked.
Series history:
West leads 2-0.
Last meeting:
West won 56-35 in 2016.
What to know: The
Shawn Cahill era couldn’t be off to a better start. West has noteworthy wins
against state playoff contenders Woodstock (31-13) and Pace Academy (21-14).
Senior quarterback Zach Burns has been poised so far in his first year as a
starter with plenty of help in the backfield from the likes of Saxby Waxer,
Stephon Bland and Cade Vela. Linebacker Ryan Wnek has started to become a
breakout candidate with four tackles for loss and an interception through two
games. Now West faces another state playoff contender in Hillgrove. Don’t let
their 0-2 record fool you. The Hawks’ losses have come against state powerhouses
Buford (48-17) and North Gwinnett (33-9). They have premium talent like senior
tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo (committed to Maryland) and junior defensive back
Jaylen McCullough (offers from Alabama, Florida State, Florida, Georgia, etc.).