On Friday in McDonough, No. 2 Rabun County was to play 1A Private’s No. 2 ELCA in a showdown of two of the state’s best teams.
However, Covid had other plans:
As the Wildcats’ release reads, they’re looking to make up for two lost games. Keep in mind, Wildcats quarterback and Super 11 selection Gunner Stockton is chasing numerous state records and any games the Wildcats can’t play will impact his mark on history.
Before the cancellation was announced, Brian Carter from Blitz joined Episode 27 of The Class 2A Blogcast to discuss Rabun County, and you can listen here.
As what will now unfortunately be standard language moving forward, Rabun County’s cancellation is one of a growing number of games to be cancelled across the state. Here’s this week’s list of 2A teams that have cancelled, postponed, forfeited or created new games in Week 3 thus far, as compiled by GHSF Daily:
Canceled:
- Brantley County vs. Jeff Davis
- Chattooga vs. Sonoraville
- KIPP Atlanta vs. Chamblee
- Early County vs. Mitchell County
- Temple vs. Heritage
As AllOnGeorgia reported, Chattooga has a Covid-infected player in a Chattanooga ICU.
Keep an eye on Region 4, where Josey and Laney postponed their matchup. With the GHSA no longer exempting Covid forfeits from losses, if the game can’t be made up Josey would take the loss as the team impacted by Covid. With 4-2A being an eight-team region, there is limited time for all members to play seven league games.
Postponed:
- Josey vs. Laney
New games:
- Jenkins at Jeff Davis
- Sonoraville vs. Fannin County
Here are the spotlighted games for Week 3:
Jenkins Warriors at Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Pinelands, Hazlehurst
Records, rankings: Jenkins is 1-0 and unranked in 4A, Jeff Davis is 2-0 and No. 10 in 2A.
Last meeting: Never played
Maxwell’s projection: Jeff Davis by 2
Notes: As mentioned above, this is a new game created when Brantley County canceled on Jeff Davis, and Windsor Forest canceled on Jenkins. The schools are two hours apart. The Blue Devils are coming off a bye following their season-opening 56-0 win over 3A’s unranked Groves. That marked the debut of Blue Devils coach Tony Welch, the program’s third coach in three years. They went 4-4 last year in coach Gene Clemons’ only season, their first non-winning season since 2013. They still made the playoffs for a fifth consecutive year. The Yellow Jackets are ranked for the first time since 1997 and were facing a second straight cancelled game had they not found Jenkins as a replacement. Last week they picked up a forfeit win over Atkinson County. They won their opener 41-0 over 4A’s Rutland for their first season-opening shutout since 2013. The Jackets hope they don’t repeat 2013, however, as that team finished 1-9.
Riverside Military Eagles at Druid Hills Red Devils
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, North DeKalb Stadium, Chamblee
Records, rankings: Riverside Military is 0-0 and unranked in 2A, Druid Hills is 0-2 and unranked in 4A.
Last meeting: Never played
Maxwell’s projection: Riverside Military by 21
Notes: There’s nothing on paper that stands out with regards to the matchup, but this will mark the Eagles’ return to football after cancelling all of 2020 and the first two games of this season. When the Eagles sat out last year, it marked the first time since 1907 the program didn’t have a season. This is coach Nicholas Garrett’s fifth year leading the program. After going 2-8 his debut season in 2017, Garrett and the Eagles went 6-6 and won their first GHSA playoff game in school history, 24-14 over George Walton in the 1A Private playoffs. Friday’s game will also mark the Eagles’ return to 2A, where they competed from 2008-09 and 2012-2015. The Eagles’ last game was a 42-0 win over Providence Christian on Nov. 8, 2019. The Red Devils have been outscored 89-0 this season in losses to unranked opponents Stone Mountain of 5A, and Redan (3A). Frederick Greene is the program’s third coach in three seasons. The Blue Devils haven’t had a winning season since 1993.
Swainsboro Tigers at Statesboro Blue Devils
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Womack Field, Statesboro
Records, rankings: Swainsboro is 1-1 and unranked in 2A, Statesboro is 1-0 and unranked in 6A.
Last meeting: Swainsboro won 12-6 in 2020.
Watch the game: NFHS Network
Maxwell’s projection: Statesboro by 7
Notes: This battle of the ‘Boros 45 minutes apart began almost 100 years ago to the day of Friday’s matchup. On Sept. 25, 1921, Swainsboro defeated Statesboro 25-0. When the two met last year, it renewed the rivalry after seven years off. Statesboro leads the series 38-18-4. The Tigers, who finished 4-7 last year, are looking to get back on track after suffering their first losing season since 2016. They dropped their opener 31-20 to 1A Public’s No. 8 Metter, then rebounded with a 7-0 win over Jefferson County in a region crossover game. The Blue Devils have reached the playoffs in each of the past three seasons despite not having a winning record since 2013. They beat 5A’s unranked Wayne County 21-7 on Aug. 21 are are coming off a bye.
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