There’s usually a mile-long list of complaints when a school gets a talented quarterback as a transfer. The complaints get louder when the new kid is pretty good and the team starts winning.
That’s not what happened at Oconee County.
That’s because the new kid is quarterback Zeb Noland, who transferred from Stephens County. But there are no complaints, because Zeb Noland came along when his father, Travis Noland, was hired as the head football coach in the spring.
Noland started as a sophomore at Stephens County, where his father coached for nine years, compiling a 73-30 record and eight trips to the playoffs.
Because of the timing of the coaching change, the Warriors didn’t get a chance to have spring practice. It made the switch of offenses dicey; Oconee changed from a spread to a multiple attack that is partial to long scoring drives.
The transition has been helped by Zeb Noland’s familiarity with the x’s and o’s behind the offense. Noland threw for 140 yards against Oglethorpe in the opener and 207 against Athens Christian. Last week Oconee won 7-0 when Putnam County refused to return to the field after a lengthy lightning delay.
Oconee hasn’t had a winning season since 2004 and hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2008. The school’s football success was slowed when North Oconee High School opened and began to compete in 2004.
Oconee will learn more in Friday’s game at Greene County (1-2) in the renewal of an old rivalry. Greene County leads the series 16-4, but the two haven’t played since 1991 when they competed in the same region.
Here are four other games to watch on Friday night:
Washington County at Burke County: Top-ranked Washington County may get one of its rare tests this season tonight when the Golden Hawks travel to play Class AAAA No. 5 Burke County.
Washington County (3-0) has yet to be tested. Coach Joel Ingram’s team has won its three games by average margin of 32.3 points.
The Waco Kids have simply flashed too much offensive punch behind quarterback A.J. Gray, a Georgia Tech commitment who has thrown for 522 yards and five touchdowns. Gray also has 15 tackles and returned two interceptions for touchdowns as the starting cornerback.
Burke County (2-2) leads the series 5-4 and won the last meeting 28-20 in 2011.
Elbert County at Laney: Elbert lost its first game last week and dropped out of the state rankings. Even worse, the Blue Devils (2-1) may have lost quarterback Mecole Hardman for an extended period of time.
Hardman, a junior who is receiving multiple big-time college offers, injured his knee on the first series last week against No. 6 Westminster. He has been dealing with an MCL issue all season and did not practice this week.
The Blue Devils travel to play Laney (2-1), which also lost to Westminster earlier in the season.
Laney has beaten Dublin, the No. 10 team in Class AA, and Albany on the road. The Wildcats open the Region 3-AAA schedule on Oct. 3 against No. 1-ranked Washington County.
Laney put the hammer on Albany 54-6 last week. The Wildcats scored on all but two possession of the first half and led 42-0, with two of the touchdowns coming off turnovers. Vincente Thompkins ran for three touchdowns and scored another on a 47-yard interception return.
Central Macon vs. Westside: Just like that little ram that keeps butting that dam, Central Macon keeps pounding away at rival Westside, hoping to one day break through. Westside leads the series 12-0 and only twice has Central managed to come within 10 points.
Cedric Hollingshed leads the Westside (3-0) attack. The running back rushed for 952 yards and six touchdowns last year and has been Mr. Dependable this season. His late score against Harris County was the difference in the game.
Central (2-1) is led by junior Derrick Evans, a versatile three-year starter who has been playing quarterback this season, and Bobby Cummings, an all-area quality wide receiver and defensive back. Coach Jesse Hicks, starting his third season, believes this could be the season the Chargers have a breakthrough.
Fannin County at Union County: This is a mountain showdown between two old rivals. Fannin, under first-year coach Jim Pavao, is off to a 2-1 start for the first time since 2011. The Rebels, who start Region 7-AAA play in two weeks, is hopeful of making the playoffs for the first time since 2010.
Fannin is led by Tyler Beavers, who ran for 68 yards and two touchdowns and caught 10 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown against Armuchee.
Union County, which plays in Region 8-AA, is off to a 3-0 start. The Panthers are led by quarterback Joseph Mancuso, who has generated 134 points in the undefeated start. Mancuso threw for three touchdowns and ran for an 81-yard touchdown in last week’s 49-20 win over Andrews, N.C.
Fannin County leads the series 13-9 and won last year’s meeting 43-35 to break a two-game Union winning streak.
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