GA Weekly Rewind: Gainesville Rebounds, Jackson County Flexes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>*Use code "jackson30" for 30% off your PRZ subscription*</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each week, the landscape in GA starts to settle, and we get a clearer picture of who is legit and who is not. Week 4 had a little bit of everything, including one of the highest-scoring games in GAHSFB history, a Gainesville rebound, a statement win from Jackson County, and several upset wins. Here is a rewind. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Gainesville gets back on track...</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I said earlier in the week that Gainesville would win a tight, low-scoring affair, and that is exactly what happened. Gainesville opened the year 0-2, delaying some of the buzz we expected out of this team. They were in wounded dog mode and desperately needed a win, and were finally able to get it over a talented McEachern squad. Gainesville has struggled to protect during the first portion of the season, but I thought they did a better job on Friday of getting the ball out and letting their playmakers run. [player_tooltip player_id='885409' first='Kharim' last='Hughley'] has been excellent running the football, both by design and in the scramble. '27 RB Jordan Brown has played well and is contributing in the pass game. He had a run late to ice the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gainesville defense has been elite all year and is pursuing the ball at a high level. The LBs and safeties have both been fun to watch. Jamarcus Sims, [player_tooltip player_id='2098539' first='Darryn' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='1256345' first='Chance' last='Davis'], and [player_tooltip player_id='734231' first='Jeremiah' last='Proctor'] really stand out. [player_tooltip player_id='1158144' first='Zachary' last='Ingram'] was a standout at corner. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gainesville will host Oceanside Collegiate Academy (SC) on Friday. Something to monitor here is an injury to [player_tooltip player_id='885409' first='Kharim' last='Hughley']. McEachern will aim to snap a two-game losing streak against North Atlanta. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jackson County flexes its muscles...</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson County flexes its muscles with a major win over North Oconee, 20-14. Ever since an upset victory over Milton in the playoffs last year, Jackson County has been rolling, and this win will go down as one of the best in school history. The power balance in the region shakes up a little, as North Oconee has been the standard in that area of the state for years now. It was another ridiculous performance from '27 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1584819' first='Daylan' last='Maxwell'], who took 25 carries for 248 yards and 2 TDs. Everyone in that stadium, on both sidelines, knew who the game was going to run through, and nothing could be done to stop it. To make matters worse, [player_tooltip player_id='438058' first='Ben' last='Musser'] added 81 yards on 13 carries. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson County heads to Mountain View next week, where the Bears will have the daunting task of stopping this rushing attack. North Oconee isn't going anywhere, and they draw a reeling Calhoun squad on Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Central-Carroll's historic win...</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central-Carroll upset Houston County in OT, winning 73-66 in what will go down as one of the highest-scoring games in GAHSFB history. West Georgia QB commit [player_tooltip player_id='262739' first='JR' last='Harris'] has produced since his freshman year on varsity, but he is reaching new heights as a senior and is one of the most productive QBs in the state. On the other side, '27 RB [player_tooltip player_id='703811' first='Austin' last='Stinson'] went over 400 yards on the ground. Houston County will have to have a short memory, as they play host to 4-0 Westlake. Central has an open week ahead of their September 25th trip to Harris County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Prince Avenue Introduces Themselves</em></strong>...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prince Avenue as a program doesn't have to prove anything to anybody, but coming into this game with just 1 game under their belt, there was some uncertainty around what this particular team would look like. They welcomed a red-hot Greater Atlanta Christian team and blew them out 38-15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PACS welcomed back Florida RB commit Jerry Beard, who didn't skip a beat as they leaned on him for yards in the run game. I thought he did an excellent job of playing patiently and taking what he was given. This was my first full-game look at [player_tooltip player_id='1399717' first='Gavin' last='Hollum'], and the intrigue is understandable. He would like a few throws back, but he made several wow plays and proved he can play both within and outside of the pocket. He does all of this on a prototype frame with good arm strength, too. [player_tooltip player_id='1096368' first='Hudson' last='Hill'] had a good game at receiver, as usual. I thought his concentration in tight areas was extremely impressive. GAC was overwhelmed in general by the PACS defense. They closed space quickly on the ball, and anything in the run game was stopped before it could get going. GAC was able to find some offense in the second half, which they will look to carry with them to next week's game against Landmark Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prince Avenue stays home next week and draws Trinity Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Next man up for Lee County...</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lee County had some absences at RB, which opened the door for 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1146207' first='Jaquavian' last='Sheard'] to break out. He did exactly that, taking 23 carries for over 200 yards and adding 4 TDs. I love how he creates yards, and he offers something a little different than the other Lee County backs. I love how Lee County gets their playmakers involved. They are now 4-0 and have played 5 consecutive quarters of elite offense. Colquitt County falls to 2-2 and is 0-2 against ranked opponents. They have something on offense in [player_tooltip player_id='1602341' first='Khi' last='Mitchell']. [player_tooltip player_id='1695100' first='Tucker' last='Saporita'] is starting to emerge at TE, too. They welcome Lincoln (FL) this weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lee County is 4-0 and will battle Thomas County Central on September 25th in what will be one of the marquee matchups of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Statement win from Pope...</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pope was a perceived underdog against Woodstock, but won in blowout fashion, 36-14, to surpass their win total from 2025. Pope ran down the throat of this Woodstock defense, rattling off explosive TD runs to put the game away in the second half. '27 SE LA QB commit [player_tooltip player_id='662028' first='Hudson' last='Marinko'] can really go. His battery mate, [player_tooltip player_id='1404742' first='Ivan' last='Darden'], had a productive game of his own. Those two will need to remain consistent down the stretch, as Pope stares down River Ridge, then a gauntlet of Sequoyah, Lassiter, Creekview, Rome, and Kell. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Thomasville gets payback...</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year, Worth County won on the final play in dramatic fashion to knock off Thomasville. This year, Thomasville gets their payback, knocking off the defending state champions 30-16. As expected, [player_tooltip player_id='2119691' first='Christian' last='Hayes'] was the focus here offensively for Thomasville. He rallied off 111 rushing yards and found the end zone 4 times. This Thomasville defense was able to hold a potent passing attack at bay, allowing just 153 yards through the air. Thomasville heads south to play Seminole County (FL) on Friday. Worth County will look to get back on track against Fitzgerald County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Well hello... Creekview, Allatoona, Heritage-Conyers</em></strong>, Wesleyan, South Forsyth</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Creekview </strong>knocked off Rome for the first time in 11 years, marking a major shuffle in the balance of power in that region. <strong>Allatoona </strong>upset Sprayberry in OT for their first win of the year, overcoming a one-possession loss two weeks ago to South Forsyth. <strong>Wesleyan </strong>was on the ropes early against the red-hot North Cobb Christian, but rallied to a 35-31 comeback victory. <strong>Heritage-Conyers</strong> pulled off an upset win over Shiloh 28-24. They are 2-0, and have already surpassed their 2025 win total. <strong>Dalton </strong>held off a late comeback attempt from Calhoun to improve to 4-0. <strong>Kell </strong>was able to survive a Lassiter upset bid, 34-28. <strong>South Forsyth </strong>knocked off Centennial 28-20 in a battle of two emerging programs in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Consequential Games of the Week</em></strong> <strong><em>to Watch</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson County at Mountain View</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Creekview at Kell</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cass at Villa Rica</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Paulding at Marietta</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Troup at Spalding</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->