Good news out of Tiger, where it appears Rabun County replaced Walhalla (S.C.) with Murphy (N.C.) and return to action Friday after missing last week’s showdown at ELCA with Covid. That will allow AJC Super 11 selection Gunner Stockton to resume chasing state records.
For a preview of the Fitzgerald-Dodge County game, the GHSF Daily’s top 10 games here.
Vidalia Indians at Bleckley County Royals
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Royal Stadium, Cochran
Records, rankings: Vidalia is 0-1 and unranked, Bleckley County is 3-0 and No. 7.
Last meeting: Bleckley County won 56-15 in the first round of the 2020 Class 2A playoffs.
Maxwell’s projection: Bleckley County by 11
Notes: Friday marks the third time these teams have played in the last 12 months, and the Royals are 2-0, with those wins opening and then ending the Indians’ season. The 2021 Royals are using two quarterbacks — junior Eli Mullis and senior James Teston — and they’ve put up nearly identical stats. Despite significant turnover, the Royals appear to be playing at the same high level that got them to the quarterfinals as a No. 4 seed last year. The Indians lost their opener last week 17-14 to Emanuel County Institute, ending their one-week stay in the rankings. They’re looking to avoid an 0-2 start for the second year in a row after losses to ECI and the Royals to start last season. Following the Bleckley County loss, the Indians would go on a seven-game win streak to claim Region 2.
Cook Hornets at Brooks County Trojans
When, where: 7:30 p.m., Veterans Stadium, Quitman
Records, rankings: Cook is 1-1 and unranked in 2A, Brooks County is 0-1 and No. 2 in 1A Public.
Last meeting: Brooks County won 25-20 in 2020.
Maxwell’s projection: Brooks County by 14
Notes: Last year, the Hornets came into this contest fresh off an upset win over 1A Public’s No. 1 Irwin County, which pushed them to 1-1 with a lopsided loss to Ware County. This year they also lost to Ware County lopsidedly, but replaced Irwin County with an upset win of 1A Public’s No. 5 Pelham (24-20). They’re still unranked, and didn’t enter the rankings until later in the season last year, but a win here could change that. The Trojans, formerly of Region 1-2A, lost their opener to Thomasville 42-34 on Aug. 20 and haven’t played since. Their Aug. 27 game with Cairo was Covid canceled. The Trojans finished the last two seasons as state runners-up, first in 2A in 2019, then last year in 1A Public.
Heard County Braves at Darlington Tigers
When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Chris Hunter Stadium, Rome
Records, rankings: The Braves are 3-0 and No. 10 in 2A, the Tigers are 1-1 and unranked in 1A Private.
Last meeting: The Braves won 35-30 in 2020.
Watch the game: NFHS Network
Maxwell’s projection: Heard County by 6
Notes: It was just last year that the Braves beat the Tigers to move to 4-0 and into the rankings, reaching as high as No. 6 before a three-game losing streak defined their season as up-and-down. They finished 7-5 in Tim Barron’s 19th and final season. This year under Shane Lasseter, they’re again off to a 3-0 start, including last week’s 22-7 win over 1A Public’s No. 7 Manchester, which propelled them into the rankings. The Tigers were ranked No. 7 heading into the season but dropped from the polls with an opening 14-13 loss to 1A Public’s No. 9 Whitefield Academy. They rebounded last week with a 35-14 win over 1A Private’s unranked St. Francis.
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