Week 3 featured a number of blowouts by our local teams, but Habersham Central’s nail-biter over Franklin proved to be one of the best games across northeast Georgia. Entering week four, Habersham, Rabun, Dawson, Commerce and Union remain perfect in 2016. Highlighting Friday’s matchups will be an intense matchup of archrivals Habersham Central and Stephens County in Toccoa.
BLITZ Game of the Week
Stephens County (2-1; 0-0 8-AAAA) vs Habersham Central (3-0; 0-0 8-AAAAAA)
WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: Toccoa, GA (Stephens County High School)
HIGHLIGHTS: Check for highlights on BLITZ website (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter) for score updates and game highlights
PREVIOUS HIGHLIGHTS:
Week 0: Habersham/East Hall | Week 1: Lumpkin/White
Week 2: Rabun/Stephens | Week 2: White/Habersham
Week 3: Rabun/White | Week 3: Habersham/Franklin
The Raiders (3-0; 0-0 8-AAAAAA) outlasted Franklin County 21-14 to earn their third straight win in week three action. The 3-0 start is the first time since 1990 for Habersham. Despite taking down East Hall, White County and Franklin, perhaps the biggest test for the Raiders will come in Friday’s road contest against their bitter rivals, Stephens County.
The Indians hold the all-time lead in the series (27-11-1), including winners of 11 straight, the latest coming in 2013. The last time Habersham Central won the meeting was in 1996, before all of the current players were even born. Things could change on Friday night, as Habersham is riding momentum it hasn’t seen in quite some time.
A big question will be, who will the Raiders go to in the running game if Michael Babers isn’t healthy? Babers was hurt in the win over Franklin and sat out the majority of the game. The running game found some success with Aaron Galloway, but being without its star back proved difficult for Habersham Central.
Babers and senior QB Cole Wilbanks are having solid seasons, along with two-way senior Jake Jones. As always, the players to keep an eye on for Stephens (2-1; 0-0 8-AAAA) includes Jackson Bell, AJ Curry and AJ Howard among other playmakers.
Highlights of the Habersham/Stephens game will be provided by BLITZ, and shared with HIGH 5 SPORTS at 11 p.m. on Fox 5.
Friday Night Full Slate (Week 4)
Stephens Co vs Habersham Central [HIGHLIGHTS/RECAP AVAILABLE FOLLOWING GAME]
White Co vs #10 North Hall
Dawson Co @ West Hall
Lumpkin Co vs Chestatee
Banks Co vs Union Co
Towns Co vs Riverside
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Flowery Branch vs #9 Jefferson
East Hall vs Jackson Co
