The 2021-2022 high school football season kicked off tonight for teams across the state. See Northeast Georgia area scores below.
It was a dueling Raiders matchup in Danielsville Friday night as Habersham Central took on Madison County High. The Red Raiders kept control of the board, but Central rallied in the 4th to pull to within 3 points. Madison won the season opener, 28-25. Habersham has its first home game next week against Apalachee.
White County came up empty in their varsity football season opener against the Stephens County Indians. After a scoreless first quarter under the lights at the Reservation, the Warriors got on the board first thanks to an interception and touchdown by Colton Turner. But a short ten minutes later the Indians struck back with an easy walk-in touchdown to tie at seven. Darius Cannon scored on the very next play with a 95-yard kick return, but again, the Indians quickly answered with an 89-yard return of their own and a two-point conversion. Cannon brought in 7 more points for the Warriors and, at the half, White County was up 20-14, but the second half belonged to the Indians.
Stephens County put in another 20 points while White County remained scoreless, leaving the Indians with the win, 34-20.
Elsewhere in Northeast Georgia…
It was a disappointing start to his senior year for Rabun County phenom QB Gunner Stockton. The No. 1 Class 2A Rabun County Wildcats (12-2 in 2020) went up against 4A’s No. 1 Jefferson (12-1 in 2020). The Dragons kept their series streak alive, defeating the Wildcats 22-13.
Stockton, the consensus No. 4 senior in Georgia, is within reach of Deshaun Watson’s state records in combined yards (17,134) and touchdowns (214).
Jefferson QB Malaki Starks is No. 2 in Georgia. RB Sammy Brown is rated the No. 1 linebacker and No. 5 overall player on 247Sports’ first national prospect rankings for sophomores.
Rabun County, a semifinalist last season, has made six consecutive appearances in the quarterfinals or better but has yet to break through for its first state title. Jefferson lost to Marist in the Class 4A final last year and is seeking its first title since 2012.
The Wildcats return to Tiger on August 28 for their home opener against Pace Academy. Next up for Jefferson is Central Gwinnett.
Northeast Georgia area scores
Rabun County 13 – Jefferson 22
Johns Creek 26 – Gainesville 10
Rabun Gap 21 – Baylor 35
Habersham 25 – Madison County 28
Banks County 0 – Commerce 10
Cass 27 – Dawson County 19
Elbert County 21 – Hart County 54
Union County 7 – Fannin County 34
Flowery Branch 21 – St. Pius 14
Northview 0 – Forsyth Central 62
Lumpkin County 6 – Franklin County 20
Pickens County @ Gilmer postponed
Cherokee Bluff 57 – Johnson 7
North Hall 23 – Paulding County 14
White County 20 – Stephens County 34
Pinecrest @ Towns County canceled
Lakeview 13 – Mt. Paran 48
Notre Dame @ Riverside Military
Trinity Christian 59 – Athens Academy 7
Cedartown 7 – Denmark Danes 3
West Hall 14 – East Jackson 7
Oconee County 35 – North Oconee 28
Prince Avenue Christian 13 – Calvary Day 21
Buford 35 – North Cobb 27
Towns County 29 – The King’s Academy 6
Athens Christian 35 – Walker 18
Georgia High School Football Daily contributed to this report. Click here to sign up for their free email newsletter.
