With region play in full swing across the area, there appears to be some must-see games in Northeast Georgia, highlighted by a Panthers/Trojans matchup in what should be a brisk Blairsville fall night!
Habersham Central looks to rebound from a 24-7 loss to Gainesville in a pivotal region game against Lanier on the road, while Dawson County looks to stretch its three-game win streak. Lumpkin and Union are both coming off crippling losses, while Rabun maintains a perfect 5-0 record heading into Week 8 action. Commerce snapped a two-game losing streak last week and will look to also continue its winning ways, and Stephens County battles Madison and puts its four-game win streak to the test.
BLITZ Game of the Week
Union County Panthers (5-2; 1-2 7-AAA) vs North Hall Trojans (5-2; 2-1 7-AAA)
WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: Blairsville, GA (Union 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.
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 | Week 7: Habersham/Gainesville
North Hall travels to Union in a game that features two 5-2 records. This game is bigger than meets the eye. The Panthers, who are a perfect 3-0 at home this year, need this win in a big way after falling hard to Dawson County in Week 7. With losses to the Tigers and #1-ranked GAC on September 23, Union sits at 1-2 in a tough region 7-AAA. The 4-0 start to the season has been slowed by the two defeats in the last three contests.
North Hall, who also has fallen to Dawson back in Week 6, and will likely fall to GAC in Week 9, also needs this win badly. With GAC a shoe-in to take the region crown (unless Dawson can beat it in the final week of the season), Dawson now has the inside edge over both North Hall and Union as the #2 seed after beating both handily in successive weeks. That leaves virtually two spots open for grabs to make the state playoffs, and the Trojans and Panthers are both teams that should be those final two. A loss for North Hall would not be the end of the world, but if Union loses its third region game, it will need to essentially win out to stay alive.
Lumpkin appears to be the biggest threat to grabbing one of the four spots as well, currently standing at 1-1 in region play heading into a Week 8 contest at GAC. Fannin and East Hall are both winless in the region so are not considered a factor for the time being.
The Panthers and Trojans are meeting for the first time since 1967, when Union won 38-6. The Panthers won also in 1966 (20-0) and in 1957 (32-0) in the only other meetings.
Union’s dual threat junior QB Cole Wright will be the straw that stirs the drink for the Panthers. He’s totaled 927 passing yards and 8 TD, while rushing for 735 yards and 8 scores. This dual attack can give North Hall problems, much like Coey Watson for Dawson did at the Brickyard in Week 6. Senior running back Bo Lynch is also a playmaker for Union, tallying 434 yards and 9 touchdowns, and 111 receiving yards with another score.
North Hall again will lean on running back Kyle Bacus (904 yds, 11 TD) and Maddox Turner (233 yds, 4 TD; 108 receiving yds). Senior quarterback Jackson Madonna rarely will throw the ball, but does have 242 yards and 3 touchdown passes to his credit.
Highlights of the North Hall/Dawson game will be provided by BLITZ, and shared with HIGH 5 SPORTS at 11 p.m. on Fox 5.
Friday Night Full Slate (Week 8)
Habersham Central @ Lanier
Dawson Co @ Fannin Co
Lumpkin Co @ #1 GAC
Union Co vs North Hall
#4 Rabun Co vs Social Circle
Banks Co vs Oglethorpe
#10 Commerce @ Riverside
Towns Co @ Athens Christian
#9 Stephens Co vs Madison
—
Gainesville vs Dacula
Flowery Branch vs Loganville
#1 Buford @ Cedar Shoals
Johnson vs Clarke Central
Chestatee @ Blessed Trinity
West Hall vs #8 Marist
#5 Jefferson @ North Oconee
