While Week “Zero” marked the opening night for some teams, Week 1 allows everyone else to get in on the fun of the 2017 football season.
Habersham Central and Towns County both get the week off after convincing wins in their season openers, while almost everyone else across the Northeast Georgia region is in action.
BLITZ Game of the Week
#5 Rabun County Wildcats (2016: 11-1; 2A State Playoffs Quarterfinals; 8-AA) vs #9 Mt. Pisgah Patriots (2016: 6-5; State Playoffs Rnd 1; 8-A)
WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: Tiger, GA (Rabun County High School)
HIGHLIGHTS: Check for highlights on BLITZ website (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter) for score updates and game highlights, also on High 5 Sports at 11 p.m. on Fox 5.
This game features already the first of a handful of ranked opponents going at it! Should make for a great Friday night under the lights with both teams bringing back solid senior dual threat quarterbacks. This is the fourth straight season these teams have squared off, with Mt. Pisgah winning in 2014 and Rabun in 2015 (35-10). Last year’s game was called due to lightning in the second quarter, therefore didn’t count as final, despite Rabun up 21-14.
Mt. Pisgah Christian already has a warmup game under its belt after playing in Week 0. The Patriots beat Holy Innocents’ 49-35, while QB Jacob Cendoya passed for 346 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns. He was 15-of-22 passing and had 17 rushing attempts. Kai Williams had seven catches for 169 yards and a touchdown and another 31 yards rushing. David Woodward had five catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns.
Cendoya will face perhaps the state’s top dual threat quarterbacks in Bailey Fisher, a highly-touted prospect beginning his final season at Rabun County. The Cats are looking for a third straight quarterfinals berth this year, and hopefully go beyond that. Since the arrival of coach Lee Shaw, the team has not failed to make the state playoffs in five seasons.
PLAYERS to WATCH:
Rabun County (2016 stats)
Bailey Fisher (SR QB): 2,671 pass yds, 29 TD, 6 INT; 1,029 rush yds, 21 TD
Austin Jones (JR WR): 41 rec, 636 yds, 6 TD; 83 tackles, 2.5 TFL; 4 INT, 3 Fumble Rec, 2 Forced Fumbles
Braxton Hicks (SO WR): 19 rec, 403 yds, 8 TD
Dillon Nichols (SR WR): 15 rec, 191 yds, 1 TD
Cole Keener (SR WR): 25 rec, 504 yds, 5 TD
Gavyn Jones (SR): 92 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1 sack
Dawson Henricks (SR): 79 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 2 sacks
Mt. Pisgah (2017 stats [1 game])
Jacob Cendoya (SR QB): 346 pass yds, 4 TD; 155 rush yds, 3 TD
Kai Williams (SR WR): 7 rec, 169 yds, TD; 31 rush yds
Ty Murphy (SR WR):
David Woodward (SR WR): 5 rec, 125 yds, 2 TD
Highlights of the Rabun/Mt. Pisgah game will be provided by BLITZ, and shared with HIGH 5 SPORTS at 11 p.m. on Fox 5.
Friday Night Full Slate (Week 1)
White Co vs Lumpkin Co
Dawson Co @ Forsyth Central
Union Co @ Gilmer
Rabun Co vs Mt. Pisgah
Banks Co vs Commerce
Stephens Co vs Franklin Co
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Gainesville @ Alpharetta
North Hall vs Flowery Branch
West Hall vs Johnson
Chestatee vs East Hall
