It’s time to kick off another football season for the Habersham Central Raiders, who are coming off a solid 5-5 season that saw them finish one region win shy of a state playoff berth.
For the Raiders and third year head coach Benji Harrison, this season should see more strides and hopefully a well-earned trip to the state playoffs. But it’s the whole cliche here: take it one game at a time.
RELATED: Football Friday Forecast
Here are the details for tonight’s Week 0 game at East Hall:
TIME: 7:30 pm kickoff
PLACE: East Hall
LAST MEETING: Raiders won 45-13 in the 2016 season opener in Mt. Airy
ALL-TIME RECORD: Raiders have won 2 of 3
RECORDS: Habersham 5-5 last year; East Hall 3-7
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
The Habersham/East Hall matchup is not a common occurence. Habersham used the opener last season to pound out a 45-13 win that was a foreshadowing of things to come, as the Raiders got off to a school record 3-0 start. The Vikings and Raiders met in both 1984 and 1985 as well, when Larry Black was the head coach. Habersham Central won the first-ever meeting before dropping the ’85 contest.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
HABERSHAM CENTRAL:
AJ Curry (SR QB): Stephens Co transfer set for electric season under center
Jim Barnett (SR WR/CB): Went from Habersham to Gainesville and now back at Central, one of the more explosive and athletic players in the region. Was Gainesville’s leading receiver last year
Trey Wetherton (SR WR): Caught a pair of TDs through the air in the scrimmage win over Banks County
Carson Moore (SR CB): Key returning defensive back will likely be a leading tackler and break up some passes. He will demand respect from opposing quarterbacks looking to throw in his direction. 51 tackles a year ago
Baylor Henshaw (SR RB): Could get a lot of carries in the running game, and remains to be seen how big of a factor he will be this year.
Carson Taylor (SR OLB): One of top tacklers from 2016 (82) and knows how to keep the quarterbacks uncomfortable and get in the backfield (15 TFL)
Garrett Kinsey (SR MLB): Big-time pass rusher. 79 tackles, 2 sacks in 2016. Should be even better this season. Kinsey and Taylor form a solid linebacker unit that can stop the run and disrupt the passing game by getting to the quarterback.
Other notable players: SR Karl Fail, SR Bryce Tanner, SR Hunter Ingle, JR Andrew Lovell
EAST HALL:
Austin Parker (SR QB): Dual-threat QB with a solid arm (2,600 pass yds, 300 rush yds, 30 total TD)
Sedrion Morse (SR WR): Top Vikings receiver in 2016 (927 yds, 11 TD)
Amir Ellison (SR WR): Another top target for Parker
Markese Jackson (SR ATH): Do-it-all playmaker
Offensive Line: All five boys up front return from last season
