GAME PREVIEW: Parkview at North Gwinnett

One of the top games in Georgia this weekend features two strong 7A teams in Gwinnett County. Parkview, a historic program back on the rise, heads to Suwannee to take on a North Gwinnett squad with recent championship history.   There will be D1 talent all over the field, and it should be a great game to watch for folks who make it to the game.   Here are some top players to know in this important 7A matchup...   North Gwinnett:   [player_tooltip player_id='34064' first='Kayden' last='McDonald'] - DL   One of the top overall defensive line prospects in the country for the 2023 class, McDonald is a dominant interior lineman who has lived in the backfield his entire career at North Gwinnett. At 6-foot-3 310-pounds, he's lightning quick off the fall and already has 11 TFLs and five sacks on the season. He closes running lanes, gets after the quarterback, and will need to be double-teamed on Friday night if Parkview wants to keep him from having a monster game.   [player_tooltip player_id='220720' first='Grant' last='Godfrey'] - LB   An SEC commitment headed to play at Kentucky, Godfrey is a long, athletic linebacker who certainly looks like an SEC-caliber defender. He's smart, instinctive, and knows how to deliver a big hit. He's terrific against the run, can get sideline to sideline, and a weapon on the blitz as well. He's the team's leading tackler with 27 total tackles, 6 TFLs, and 4 sacks on the season. Look for him to do his best to stop a strong Panthers rushing attack.   [player_tooltip player_id='320356' first='Tyler' last='Walton'] - EDGE   Another quality defender, Walton is a terrific pass rusher who is headed to Wake Forest next year. A long, athletic EDGE rusher at 6-foot-5 230-pounds, Walton is quick off the snap and knows how to get to the quarterback in a hurry. His long frame allows him to shed blocks with ease and his motor allows him to not only get after the quarterback, but chase down running backs as well. He was known as an under the radar prospect early this year, but eventually his junior tape made it to college coaches around the country, leading to multiple D1 offers. He's tough to block and he'll look to make a big impact in the trenches against a big, tough Parkview offensive line.   Julian Walters - RB   A promising junior back who is getting better and better each game, Walters has been very productive so far this year, averaging 200 yard per game through the first three games of the year. He's a quick back with good vision, burst, and quickness. He runs with toughness, balance, and looks to be on his way to a solid junior year. If the Bulldogs want to come out with a victory, they'll need a strong game from Walters on the ground.   Parkview   [player_tooltip player_id='165717' first='Mike' last='Matthews'] - ATH   One of the top two-way players in the state, Matthews is a borderline five-star in the 2024 class and one of the best overall players in Georgia. He's long, athletic, and has great ball skills. He's a true playmaker on both sides of the ball who will be all over the field on Friday night. He's an impact defender in the secondary, and he's tough to stop at receiver. He's a fun player to watch and I expect him to make a LOT of plays with the ball in his hands against North Gwinnett.   [player_tooltip player_id='137441' first='Jalyn' last='Crawford'] - DB   Another tremendous defensive back for Parkview, Crawford has length, quickness, and great cover skills on the outside. It's going to be tough for North Gwinnett to have success through the air, especially on Crawford's side. He's a guy who can play on an island and also help out in the run game. He's tough, shows good footwork, he's fundamentally sound, and it's led to offers from LSU, Arkansas, Louisville, among others. He's one of the top prospects in the game and he's going to prove why on Friday night.   [player_tooltip player_id='407505' first='Khyair' last='Spain'] - RB   One of the top breakout running backs across the state, Spain has shows D1 potential through his first two games and is off to a tremendous start to his junior season. In week one against Johns Creek, running behind an excellent offensive line, Spain took off for 144 yards and two touchdowns. He ran hard, broke tackles, and showed why he's one of the top running backs in Gwinnett County this year. In week two against Shiloh, Spain ran for 191 yards and led Parkview to another comfortable win. Look for him to carry the ball early and often. He'll be going up against a tough North Gwinnett defensive line, so that will be a matchup to watch closely.

One of the top games in Georgia this weekend features two strong 7A teams in Gwinnett County. Parkview, a historic program back on the rise, heads to Suwannee to take on a North Gwinnett squad with recent championship history.