Tonight marks the end of the road in 2016 for our beloved Raiders, as well as a few others. Many teams are looking to nail down playoff seeding, while a top-10 matchup for a region title highlights Week 11!
The Habersham Central Raiders (4-5; 0-4) were knocked out of playoff contention last Friday in a heartbreaking 35-28 loss at Winder-Barrow. However, the Raiders would love to finish the season at .500 with a win at home over Apalachee, breaking a four game losing streak in the process. Other teams finishing their season tonight include White County and Towns County.
With Rabun County locking up it third straight region title and Stephens, Commerce and Banks punching a ticket to the playoffs already, there is little intrigue left for us in Week 11. However, the two games that have the most on the line include our Game of the Week at Dawson County, and the Union/Lumpkin matchup that features a playoff spot up for grabs.
BLITZ Game of the Week
#9 Dawson County Tigers (7-1; 5-0 7-AAA) vs #1 GAC Spartans (8-1; 5-0 7-AAA)
WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: Dawsonville, GA (Dawson 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
Week 8: Union/North Hall | Week 9: Elbert/Rabun
Week 10: Jefferson/Stephens
All the excitement you want in a high school football game exists at Dawson County tonight. The Tigers (7-1; 5-0) host the #1-ranked GAC Spartans (8-1; 5-0) for a true Week 11 region championhip game. Both teams have long secured a spot in the state playoffs, as well as a home-field first round game. However, the #9 Tigers look for their second straight region title.
The Spartans, however, are a talent that no team in the region has been able to defend. Senior quarterback Davis Mills is a talent this area hasn’t seen since Deshaun Watson of Gainesville. Mills, a 4-star Stanford commit, is rated as the #4 QB in the country. Despite missing three games this season to injury, Mills, who was originally supposed to be out until last week, has put together another monster season.
Mills’ junior campaign led him to many of the nation’s top colleges knocking on his door. He passed for 2,821 yards and 25 touchdowns to seven interceptions last year, adding 577 rushing yards and 14 more scores. This season, he’s put up 1,331 yards passing and 20 TDs, and his impeccible command is evidenced by his “0” interceptions thrown this season and 69% completion rate, ten percentage points better than last year.
With his knee injury holding him out, he’s run the ball far less frequently this season, but still has managed 154 yards and three touchdowns. And he doesn’t have to run much with his passing game opening up lanes for juniors Kyler McMichael (957 yds, 12 TD) and Alex Boglin (299 yds, 5 TD).
Dawson’s QB is a rare talent as well; Coey Watson. The junior also has had exceptional command on his passes, throwing for 1,440 yards and 14 touchdowns to just two interceptions while completing 60% of his pass attempts. The dual threat has a team-high 555 yards and 14 TD on the ground as well. He’s complimented in the run game by seniors Payton Myers (515 yds, 9 TD), Taylor Cronan (302 yds, 1 TD) and Nasser Clark (144 yds, 2 TD).
Watson’s passing targets include seniors Austin Young (698 yds, 7 TD), Kolton Brumbelow (289 yds, 1 TD) and Nick Murphy (271 yds, 5 TD). Brumbelow is a game-changer on special teams as well, with three kickoff returns for 90+ yard touchdowns on the season. Despite all these playmakers, the most pivotal will be the hoss on the flip side of the ball, senior Luke Martin.
Martin’s 20+ tackles per game lead the entire state, as he’s tallied some 130 tackles and has a stat sheet littered with numbers. Martin and the Dawson secondary will need to have their best game to date in order to withstand the Spartans’ elite passing game.
The Tigers and Spartans have met six times previously, with GAC holding a current five-game win streak in the series from 2001-05. Dawson won the first-ever meeting in 2000 but hasn’t won since.
Highlights of the Dawson/GAC game will be provided by BLITZ, and shared with HIGH 5 SPORTS at 11 p.m. on Fox 5.
Feature Photo by Bobby Escoe
Friday Night Full Slate (Week 11)
#9 Dawson vs #1 GAC
#3 Rabun @ Monticello
#9 Commerce vs George Walton
Union vs Lumpkin
Stephens vs North Oconee
Banks @ #10 Elbert
Habersham Central vs Apalachee
Towns vs Providence Christian
White @ #9 Marist
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#1 Buford vs Flowery Branch
#4 Jefferson @ Oconee
West Hall @ #6 Blessed Trinity
East Hall vs Fannin
Johnson vs #10 Loganville
BYE WEEK
North Hall
Chestatee
