Week 2 included some shocking results, as a few state-ranked teams took losses! Here’s what happened…
#2 Stephens County 38, #9 Elbert County 21
The Indians won a 38-21 final in a top-10 billing. Jonah Swinton picked off 2 passes from Jayvyn Hickman in the first 3 minutes of the game, and Tripp Underwood threw 5 TD passes and totaled 315 passing yards. Luke Waters had a 19-yd FG before Hickman threw a TD pass to Dakhovin Winn. Underwood responded with a 76-yd TD to Davon Swinton. Hickman responded with a 23-yd TD to Brady Dickerson, but the battle continued as Underwood found Jonah Swinton for a 17-yd score and the 17-14 lead. The Indians added to it in the third on an 11-yd TD from Underwood to Zykemian Durham. He threw another score later to Brock Tankersley.
#2 Jefferson 38, Jackson County 3
Total domination for the Dragons. Gavin Markey was back and healthy, and threw a TD pass to Dallas Russell early in the second to push Jefferson ahead 7-3. They’d never relinquish. Dashawn Keith recorded a pick six moments later. Just before the half, Markey hit Talan Childress for a TD and the 21-3 lead. Taylor McCall had a 39-yd FG early in the third, and Markey put up a 99-yd rushing TD for the 31-3 lead. Russell polished off the scoring with a TD run late in the third.
Fannin County 28, #3 Rabun County 7
Without Ty Truelove and working exclusively from the wildcat, Rabun County couldn’t generate much. Reid Giles had the lone TD on the Wildcats’ opening drive. From there, Fannin controlled the game.
East Jackson 14, #6 Commerce 13
The Tigers got on the board in the second on a Tysean Wiggins 6-yd TD to tie the game at 7 apiece. Wiggins scored again a bit later for the 13-7 advantage, which held til the break. That score even held up entering the fourth. The Eagles mounted a comeback, scoring in the final period to claim their first-ever win over Commerce.
Flowery Branch 23, Habersham Central 13
The Raiders dropped a second straight game, this time at The Branch. The Falcons went ahead 16-0 midway through the opening quarter. The defense buckled down in the second, as the score remained there at the half. Antonio Cantrell got the Raiders on the board with a TD run, but the 2-point try was no good as Habersham trailed 16-6, which last til the fourth. Paris Wilbanks came in at QB and scored early in the fourth on the ground to pull within 16-13 with 9:40 left in the game, but Flowery Branch added a score late for good measure.
East Forsyth 38, Dawson County 7
The Tigers couldn’t get much going on either side of the ball, falling 38-7 against East Forsyth. Though it was only 7-0 after the first, the second proved huge for East Forsyth as they added a couple more for the 21-0 halftime lead. It reached 31-0 until early in the fourth when Preston Bannister connected with Chatham Barnett on a 20-yd TD. East Forsyth added another score late.
Gilmer 33, Union County 0
The Panthers struggled in a 33-0 final against Gilmer on the road to open the season.
Towns County 14, Riverside 0
The Indians were ahead 7-0 over Riverside entering the break, and went on to win 14-0. Towns County had 4 TDs get called back, and missed a field goal. This marks the first time the Indians have started 2-0 since 2008.
Bye Weeks
Banks County
#10 Lumpkin County
White County
Other Area Scores
- #1 Buford 29, #3 Benedictine 28
- Franklin County 68, Johnson 7
- East Hall 40, Oglethorpe County 7
- West Hall 34, Northview 0 (not final)
- Madison County 37, #10 Hart County 36
- Lakeview 52, Creekside Christian 6
- #6 Wesleyan 24, North Hall 21
- #2 Gainesville 31, #5 Moody (AL) 7 (Thursday)
- Cherokee Bluff 49, Apalachee 7
- BYE: Chestatee
