This is the week we’ve all been waiting for. Habersham Central has gone 4-1 in the first half of the season, but the season essentially begins tonight when the Raiders take on the Red Elephants on the home turf.
Although it’s been quite awhile, the Raiders and Red Elephants are no strangers. The last meeting between the two came in 2001, a game in which Gainesville won 16-7. Despite Gainesville having the 13-11 lead in the series all-time, Hab Central won four straight from 1989-2000. The old-time rivals played each other often throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, and the rivalry was never more intense than it was in 1974 and 1984.
In both of those seasons, the two teams squared off twice. Once in the regular season, and again in a region title game. In 1974, the Raiders took a 17-7 regular season win, but fell in the final by a 7-6 score. In 1984, Habersham won 14-10 in the regular season and this time took care of the region final as well in a 13-6 game.
Fast forward to present time, and these longtime foes will renew a once-intense rivalry. Michael Babers has had plenty of time to get healthy, and he’ll be the key to wearing down the Gainesville defense. The Red Elephants are enduring one of their toughest season in recent memory, starting out 2-3 overall. The three losses have come to great competition in Alpharetta, Jefferson and Marist, all state power teams.
The Red Elephants, led by coach Bruce Miller, have not won since September 2. They had back-to-back bye weeks before dropping a heart-breaker at Jefferson and dropping a home game to Marist last week. However, much like Habersham Central, all the records and stats can now be thrown away, as region play provides a clean slate for all teams.
The Raiders are fresh off their final bye week, and the 4-1 start to the season was about as good as you could have asked for. A win over Gainesville would be the signature win this team has been looking for, but it won’t come easy. As if the matchup wasn’t already highly anticipated, it does come with a little extra drama.
Gainesville top receiving target Jim Barnett is actually a former Raider himself, playing for Habersham Central from 2014-15 before transferring out. As a junior, he’s having a breakout year, catching 21 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. His return to Raider Stadium may create some extra incentive for the Raiders to beat the Red Elephants, as he is friends with many of the Habersham players.
By The Numbers
Gainesville…………………………HabershamCentral
2-3 (0-0)……………….Record……………………….4-1 (0-0)
17.2………………….Pts Per Game………………….28.4
21.4………………….Pts Allowed…………………….18.2
Stat Leaders
Gainesville
Passing
DJ Irons – 860 yds, 6 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
KD Smith – 113 yds, 2 TD
Receiving
Jim Barnett – 268 yds, 3 TD
Martavious Davis – 219 yds, 2 TD
Andy Hayes – 145 yds
Defensive
Tyree Robinson – 76 tackles, 3 INT
Joshua Harrison – 69 tackles, 5 TFL, 4 sacks
Keith Harris – 68 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks, FRec
Kris Montague – 62 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks, FRec
Habersham Central
Passing
Cole Wilbanks – 1,035 yds, 11 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Michael Babers – 345 yds, 5 TD
Aaron Galloway – 251 yds, 1 TD
Receiving
Aaron Wood – 312 yds, 2 TD
Jake Jones – 280 yds, 5 TD
Trey Hurt – 137 yds, 3 TD
Karl Fail – 132 yds, 1 TD
Defensive
Dawson Landers – 54 tackles, Forced Fumble
Garrett Kinsey – 51 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack
Carson Taylor – 42 tackles, 8 TFL, 1 sack, 2 FumRec
Jake Jones – 39 tackles, 6 TFL, Forced Fumble
Dylan Holcomb – 38 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 FumRec
Austin Frady – 31 tackles, 8 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles, 1 Blk Kick
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
Week 4: Stephens/Habersham | Week 5: Jefferson/Gainesville
Week 6: North Hall/Dawson
Friday Night Full Slate (Week 7)
#5 Rabun County @ Putnam
#10 Dawson County vs Union County
Habersham Central vs Gainesville
#10 Stephens County @ St. Pius X
#6 Commerce vs Providence Christian
Lumpkin County vs North Hall
White County vs #6 Blessed Trinity
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#1 Buford vs Johnson
Chestatee vs West Hall
Flowery Branch @ Walnut Grove
East Hall vs #1 GAC
BYE WEEK
Banks County
Towns County
#4 Jefferson
