Oconee County vs. Spalding is an intriguing cross-region matchup on the Week 3 slate between two solid Class AAAA programs, and the game should help solve a lot of unanswered questions about the programs. Both teams are currently 1-1 and both teams have already played two hard-fought, four-quarter battles to open their seasons. Region 8-AAAA Oconee County scored an impressive 20-13 win over former Class AAAA resident Jefferson in the season opener, but dropped a 17-10 loss to rival Clarke Central this past Friday. Junior quarterback Max Johnson is one of the state’s top passers, and Class of 2020 prospects, but there is no doubt that the pieces of this Warriors offense are still coming together around him early into this season. Johnson will enter this game having completed 29-of-63 pass attempts (46%) for 445 yards with one touchdown through the air and one on the ground. Region 2-AAAA Spalding lost 19-13 to Griffin and battled past Carver-Atlanta 36-33 this past Saturday. The Jaguars offense has remained one dimensional with little success coming through the air. They’ve averaged just 73 passing yards per game, less than half of the 2017 season’s average output per game. The ground game has been especially effective, however, with seniors Kheann Connor and Joshua Reddick each averaging 100 rushing yards per game.
Blessed Trinity at Woodward Academy
Defending state champion Blessed Trinity has shown utter dominance two weeks into the 2018 season. The offense has been in control and the defense has been able shutdown St. Pius and South Forsyth in consecutive weeks, effectively enough that is has put both games out of reach by the half. Woodward Academy has put up 44 points per game offensively, but the defensive vulnerabilities are still in question. Westminster lit the War Eagles up 56-31 in their season opener. Friday’s matchup is going to be a big one, and it will prove what type of potential Woodward Academy has this year. For Blessed Trinity, it is an opportunity for the Titans to showoff some of their own offensive firepower, as well as that championship defense against one of the classification’s highest scoring teams.
Dalton at Northwest Whitfield
Northwest Whitfield opened the year with a 34-6 win over Coahulla Creek and rested last week on the bye. Now, the Bruins take on Class AAAAAA’s Dalton, the No. 4 ranked team in its classification. This will be the 36th all-time meeting between the schools and Northwest Whitfield has dropped nine consecutive, 13 of the last 14 and 30 of the 35. Even so, each of the last four meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less. Keep an eye on Northwest Whitfield this Friday, to see if this year’s Bruins team can finally claim a victory against Dalton.
Clarke Central at Flowery Branch
Flowery Branch defeated East Hall 70-6 in its season opener, and what marked the Falcons’ first game since being bumped down a classification into AAAA. Flowery Branch is a serious contender this season and Ben Hall’s group defeated Clarke Central 32-14 last season when the teams met. Flowery Branch rested last week with a bye, but expect the Falcons to make some more noise this Friday against a Gladiators team fresh off last week’s win over Oconee County.
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