Six of our coverage-area teams and even three other locals (North Hall, Flowery Branch, Buford) are among the top-10 in terms of offensive output in their respective classifications as we hit the halfway point of the season.
Below is each team’s standing, average and reasons why their offenses are so ridiculously good (ALPHA ORDER)!
BUFORD
CLASS: 5A
RECORD: 3-2
STATE RANK: #2
POINTS PER GAME: 38.0 // 7th in 5A
REASONS FOR SUCCESS: Derrian Brown…the senior running back has 848 yards in five games, which puts him in the top 10 in that category in the state. Brown is helped exceedingly by senior 4-star Ohio State commit Harry Miller (29th on ESPN 300 list) on the offensive line. Brown (#192 on ESPN 300 list) is also a 4-star Texas commit.
COMMERCE
CLASS: 1A PUBLIC
RECORD: 5-0
STATE RANK: #3
POINTS PER GAME: 39.4 // 9th in 1A
REASONS FOR SUCCESS: Just so many weapons. Commerce has always had a strong run game and many pieces to utilize. It makes it very difficult for defenses to stop. You have guys like Nate Ray, Caleb Mason, Dylan Deaton and others just toting the rock with a straight up relentless attack.
DAWSON COUNTY
CLASS: 3A
RECORD: 5-0
STATE RANK: #9
POINTS PER GAME: 41.8 // 4th in 3A
REASONS FOR SUCCESS: That O-Line! Of course it helps having two legit next level runners in dual threat QB Sevaughn Clark (all-state) and Ahmad Kamara, but that line has been, is and always will be what makes the machine run. Those guys don’t get enough credit, but Clay Martinez, Justin Butler, Mathew McCracken, Chandler Cates and Ethan Smith have been unbelievable this year, leading the offense to 2,005 rushing yards already and have only allowed two sacks!
FLOWERY BRANCH
CLASS: 4A
RECORD: 4-0
STATE RANK: #5
POINTS PER GAME: 37.25 // 9th in 4A
REASONS FOR SUCCESS: Junior QB Elijah Gainey and sophomore Jaizen Ellingham have the future looking better than ever with 1,000 yards between the two of them already in just four games.
HABERSHAM CENTRAL
CLASS: 6A
RECORD: 3-2
STATE RANK: N/A
POINTS PER GAME: 33.4 // 10th in 6A
REASONS FOR SUCCESS: Tre Luttrell’s 1,115 passing yards and 332 rushing yards (16 total TD) is the first thing you notice. His receiving corp is as dangerous as any with Donovan Curry (469 yds), DonDon Bailey (298) and Tarin Westbrook (145) having fantastic years. The run game of Luttrell, Tracey Lowery (351) and Jackson Clouatre (251) complement the pass game really well.
JEFFERSON
CLASS: 3A
RECORD: 4-1
STATE RANK: #7
POINTS PER GAME: 40.8 // 5th in 3A
REASONS FOR SUCCESS: Just behind Dawson County, and very similar in style. Colby Clark gets his rushing yards, as does guys like Donsha Gaither, Kade McNally and others, but those guys up front straight up bully the opposing defensive line. Jefferson is also stacked with D-I players on both sides, highlighted by tight end Garmon Randolph (4-star uncommitted TE; #288 on ESPN 300). It’s also helpful that Jefferson put up 70 in its last game against East Jackson in a 70-0 unprecedented score.
NORTH HALL
CLASS: 3A
RECORD: 5-0
STATE RANK: #10
POINTS PER GAME: 42.4 // 3rd in 3A
REASONS FOR SUCCESS: 1,545 rushing yards, led by Daniel Jackson (423 yds, 8 TD), Drew Faulkner (291, 5), David Seavey (276, 8; 287 pass yds, 2 TD), JT Fair (224), Jacob Dickey (205, 3) is an unbelievably stable of backs. Try stopping one guy, the rest will get you.
RABUN COUNTY
CLASS: 2A
RECORD: 4-1
STATE RANK: #3
POINTS PER GAME: 37.4 // 7th in 2A
REASONS FOR SUCCESS: It starts with center Shawn Lovell, a gritty, tough, mean player who is far underrated, and then goes to freshman Class of 2022 QB Gunner Stockton, who has 999 pass yards and 289 rushing yards with 15 total TDs. Add in Austin Jones as one of the best in the state in being able to flip a game with a punt return, reception or play made on defense. Can’t go without mentioning the rest of the beastly O-Line and offensive weapons Braxton Hicks and Brison Beck among others. Plus, it’s a Lee Shaw offense, which means we’re always going to see plenty of points lighting up the scoreboard.
UNION COUNTY
CLASS: 2A
RECORD: 5-0
STATE RANK: N/A
POINTS PER GAME: 44.4 // 2nd in 2A
REASONS FOR SUCCESS: These guys are insane on offense! Pierson Allison, a first-year junior QB, is putting up video game numbers (1,233 pass yds, 350 rush yds, 14 total TDs). Chad Buzzard (325 rush yds, 7 TD) and Johan Daniel (158, 4) join Allison for 942 rushing yards. This is a very balanced offense with talented receivers Sawyer Drake (334, 4), Kyle Morlock (325, 1), Kanon Hemphill (216, 2) and Cayden Rich (188) leading the way.
Feature photo: HCHS QB Tre’ Luttrell (Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham)
