The early-season GHSA Football schedule is starting to heat up, and this week brings four intriguing matchups featuring teams looking to make a statement. Sequoyah will have its hands full with a Lee County team that is bringing a punishing ground game to Hickory Flat, while Troup and Calhoun square off in a battle that could be decided by which team wins the battle in the trenches. Jefferson travels to Fort Valley to take on a Peach County squad that has been lighting up the scoreboard, and North Gwinnett looks to keep its momentum rolling against a Walton team loaded with offensive weapons. This is Pari I of our weekly feature, Eight Greats Across the State. Four games, four very different challenges—and each one should tell us a little more about where these teams stand as the season begins to take shape.
As always, thank you to the Georgia Helmet Project for the artwork. You can find them here: https://www.gahelmetproject.com/ As well as the High School Football Historians Association for all of their historical data. You can find them here: https://hsfha.org/
Sequoyah vs Lee County: Sequoyah enters Friday night’s matchup with Lee County riding the momentum of an impressive defensive performance, but the Chiefs will face perhaps their biggest challenge of the young season when the Trojans bring one of the state’s most physical rushing attacks to Hickory Flat.
Trouo vs Calhoun: The Troup Tigers have opened the season 2-0 and will look to keep their momentum going when they take on a Calhoun team looking to bounce back from a close loss to Greater Atlanta Christian. Troup has relied heavily on its rushing attack early in the season, while Calhoun will need to find some offensive consistency and get its key playmakers back on the field.
Peach County vs Jefferson: The Jefferson Dragons picked up their first win of the season last week, but they will face a much tougher challenge when they travel to Fort Valley to take on a Peach County team that has dominated its first two opponents. The Trojans have been especially impressive on the ground, while Jefferson will look to its efficient passing game to keep pace.
North Gwinnett vs Walton: The North Gwinnett Bulldogs are off to an impressive start, following up their upset win over Grayson with a shutout victory over Collins Hill. Now, the Bulldogs will face a Walton team coming off its first win of the season. North Gwinnett has been impressive on both sides of the football, but Walton has plenty of firepower of its own, particularly through the air.
The Skinny
The Sequoyah Chiefs used a swarming defense to force four turnovers and converted two of those takeaways into touchdowns as they defeated Lambert handily. The Chiefs also recorded five sacks, constantly harassing the Lambert quarterback and making life difficult for the Braves’ offense.
Offensively, Nolan Shakar opened things up a little more through the air, throwing for 229 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Shakar has now thrown for 339 yards and three touchdowns through two games, while Trace Washington has tallied 242 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Robert Van Alstyne leads the Chiefs with 11 receptions for 117 yards and appears to be developing a strong rapport with Shakar. Sequoyah’s defense has already recorded five sacks and forced four turnovers on the season. Drew Williamsleads the Chiefs with 24 total tackles, while Brady Streeter has recorded 23.
Newcomers Brody Bohannon and Danny Palmese have also been welcome additions to the secondary. The two safeties have combined for 29 total tackles through the first two games and will likely play a major role Friday night against Lee County’s physical rushing attack.
The Lee County Trojans come into Hickory Flat for the first time on the heels of two very impressive victories. Lee County shut out Hapeville Charter in Week 1 before knocking off nationally ranked Carol City out of Miami last week in Leesburg.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this Lee County team is the size and physicality of its offensive line, anchored by Shavezz Dixon. The Trojans boast one of the biggest lines of scrimmage in high school football, with Larry Mosley (6-foot-3, 305 pounds), London Mayes (6-foot-4, 317 pounds), Larry Jackson (6-foot-3, 285 pounds) and Jeremiah Jackson (6-foot-1, 305 pounds) leading the way.
That massive offensive line has helped Lee County average just under 200 yards per game on the ground. Jordan Bushhas carried the ball 30 times for 171 yards and two touchdowns, while Dominique Ball has 151 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries.
Quarterback Cohen Lawson has been extremely efficient through the air, completing 74 percent of his passes for 296 yards without throwing an interception. Jaden Upshaw has been his primary target, leading the Trojans with 14 receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown.
Keys to the Game
Sequoyah Chiefs
- Stop the run. This is the obvious key for Sequoyah. The Chiefs will have to find a way to slow down Bush and Ball before Lee County can establish its physical rushing attack.
- Win first and second down. Sequoyah can’t consistently put itself in third-and-long situations against a Lee County offense that can control the game with its offensive line.
- Shakar must protect the football. The Chiefs have created turnovers on defense, but they can’t afford to give Lee County extra possessions. Shakar will have to take care of the football against a Trojans defense that will undoubtedly look to pressure him.
- Washington needs a big night. Expect Sequoyah to lean heavily on Trace Washington and the running game in an effort to control the clock and limit Lee County’s offensive possessions.
Lee County Trojans
- Establish the ground game. With the size of the offensive line and the production of Bush and Ball, Lee County will look to impose its will from the opening kickoff.
- Make Sequoyah one-dimensional. If the Trojans can slow Washington and force the Chiefs to rely heavily on the passing game, they can put significant pressure on Shakar.
- Pressure Shakar. Sequoyah’s quarterback has been productive early, but Lee County will likely try to disrupt his rhythm and force him into difficult decisions.
- Take advantage of the secondary. Upshaw gives Lawson a dangerous weapon on the outside, and Lee County will need to take advantage of opportunities when Sequoyah brings its safeties into the box.
Sequoyah will have to find a way to stop the run, and this Lee County team appears to be even more dynamic than the Coffee team the Chiefs faced two seasons ago. The Sequoyah secondary will have to be aggressive in run support, but at the same time, the Chiefs can’t lose sight of Upshaw in the passing game.
Offensively, Sequoyah will need Shakar to continue making good decisions while Washington will need to have a big day on the ground. Expect the Chiefs to emphasize ball control and try to shorten the game, limiting the number of possessions available to the high-powered Lee County offense. Even with that approach, we believe Lee County is simply too strong this season.
Prediction: Lee County by 13
The Skinny
The Troup Tigers outlasted their region rival LaGrange last week to move to 2-0 on the young season. It has been a pretty simple formula on offense for the Tigers in the early going: feed the ball to Javarris Warner. The senior running back once again crossed the 100-yard mark last week and now has 436 yards on 49 carries with four touchdowns through two games. Troup has attempted just 21 passes in two games and has yet to throw a touchdown, but that hasn’t slowed down the Tiger express.
The Tigers have been more than capable of controlling games on the ground, and their defense has done its part as well. Troup has recorded 4.5 sacks and forced two turnovers while allowing just 10 points through two games, including a Week 1 shutout. Senior linebacker K.J. McQueen leads the Tigers with nine total tackles and will be a key piece of a Troup defense that has been impressive in the early going.
The Calhoun Yellow Jackets will look to rebound after dropping a close game to Greater Atlanta Christian last week. Drew Huff was efficient at quarterback, completing 4-of-7 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. Huff also contributed 52 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. Hudson Chadwick led the Jackets’ rushing attack with 57 yards, while Tony Reid added 17 yards.
Calhoun’s offense was without the services of Trace Hawkins and Isaiah Nalls, two key pieces of the Yellow Jackets’ offense. Their status for this game remains unknown, and their availability could have a significant impact on the matchup. Defensively, Huff has been active all over the field. He leads Calhoun with 22 total tackles and also has the team’s only interception through two games.
Keys to the Game
Troup Tigers
- Feed Warner. Troup has found a formula that works. Warner has been nearly unstoppable through two games, and the Tigers will look to keep him heavily involved.
- Control the clock. A strong rushing attack can keep Calhoun’s offense on the sideline and limit the number of possessions the Yellow Jackets receive.
- Force Calhoun to throw. Troup’s defense has been stingy early and will look to make Calhoun one-dimensional.
- Take advantage of play-action opportunities. With Calhoun likely loading the box to stop Warner, Troup should have opportunities to hit some big plays through the air.
Calhoun Yellow Jackets
- Stop Warner. Easier said than done, but Calhoun must find a way to slow down Troup’s star running back.
- Get healthy. The availability of Hawkins and Nalls could be critical for a Calhoun offense that needs more weapons.
- Huff needs to make plays. Whether through the air or on the ground, Huff will likely need to be a difference-maker for the Yellow Jackets.
- Win the turnover battle. Against a team that wants to control the clock and pound the football, extra possessions could be extremely valuable.
We expect both Troup and Calhoun to focus heavily on the ground game. With both teams likely looking to establish the run, there should be opportunities for some play-action passes as defenses key in on stopping the rushing attack. Calhoun is a talented football team, but with some uncertainty surrounding a couple of key offensive players, a punishing Troup ground game might be too much for the Yellow Jackets to overcome.
We expect Calhoun to keep this one close, much like the Yellow Jackets have done in their first two games, but Troup’s ability to control the line of scrimmage and keep the ball moving should be the difference.
Prediction: Troup by 6
The Skinny
Peach County Trojans
The Peach County Trojans have dominated their first two opponents this season, outscoring them 105-43. The Trojans have shown the ability to mix the run and pass, but it has been their powerful ground game that has fueled the offense. Ashton Barton and Zion Ellison have been a dynamic one-two punch in the Peach County backfield. Barton has rushed for 263 yards and six touchdowns, while Ellison has added 256 yards and five touchdowns. Through two games, the duo has combined for 519 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Quarterback Caiden Ivory has also been productive, throwing for 231 yards and two touchdowns in the Trojans’ Week 1 victory. His top targets have been Jash Reis and Tristan Brown, who combined for eight receptions and 175 yards in that opening-game win. With a balanced offense and two productive backs leading the way, Peach County has shown it can put points on the board in a hurry.
Jefferson Dragons
The Jefferson Dragons picked up their first win of the season last week, defeating Anderson-Westside out of South Carolina. The Dragons received a tremendous all-around performance from Carter Perrin, who scored on special teams, returned an interception for a defensive touchdown and also found the end zone as a receiver. His ability to impact the game in multiple phases gives Jefferson another weapon to account for.
Quarterback Boone Horne was extremely efficient through the air, completing 78 percent of his passes last week. The Dragons will need another efficient performance from Horne as they travel to Fort Valley to face a Peach County defense that will undoubtedly be focused on slowing down Jefferson’s passing attack. The Dragons have also found a nice complement to their passing game in big C.J. Hayes, giving Jefferson another way to move the football and keep defenses from sitting back against Horne.
Keys to the Game
Peach County Trojans
- Keep feeding the backs. Barton and Ellison have been extremely productive, and Peach County will look to establish the run early.
- Stay balanced. Ivory’s ability to make plays through the air should keep Jefferson from loading the box.
- Limit big plays. Perrin is capable of changing the game in multiple phases, so Peach County will need to know where he is at all times.
- Control the line of scrimmage. If the Trojans win up front, their rushing attack could make for a long night for Jefferson.
Jefferson Dragons
- Horne must be efficient. Jefferson will need another strong performance from its quarterback to keep pace with the Trojans.
- Find ways to slow the run. Barton and Ellison present one of the biggest challenges the Dragons have faced this season.
- Get Hayes involved. Jefferson needs a strong performance from C.J. Hayes to complement the passing game.
- Win the field-position battle. Against an offense as explosive as Peach County’s, Jefferson can’t afford to give the Trojans short fields.
The Dragons will need another efficient performance from Boone Horne as they travel to Fort Valley. Jefferson has certainly found a nice complement to its passing game with C.J. Hayes, and that could help the Dragons keep the Peach County defense honest.
The bigger challenge, however, will come on the other side of the ball. Peach County will test the Jefferson defense with a ground attack led by Ashton Barton and Zion Ellison, who have already combined for 11 touchdowns this season. We believe Jefferson will keep this one close and make the Trojans work for it, but Peach County’s talented running backs will ultimately prove to be the difference.
Prediction: Peach County by 5
The Skinny
The North Gwinnett Bulldogs followed up their upset win over Grayson with a shutout victory over Collins Hill, putting together an impressive start to the season. Quarterback Elam Rahman has thrown for 204 yards and four touchdowns, while Evan Hawkins has emerged as the Bulldogs’ leading receiver with eight catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. Christian Jackson has been a major red-zone weapon, leading North Gwinnett with three touchdown receptions.
Meanwhile, Stephan Brown leads the Bulldogs’ rushing attack with 188 yards and a team-high two touchdowns. North Gwinnett has shown the ability to move the football in multiple ways, giving Walton plenty to prepare for. Defensively, Jake Godfree has been all over the field. He leads the Bulldogs with 22 total tackles and six tackles for loss. Godfree and defensive end Jackson Hayes share the team lead with three sacks apiece.
North Gwinnett has been particularly disruptive defensively, forcing seven turnovers and recording 10 sacks through the early part of the season
The Walton Raiders picked up their first win of the season last week, having little trouble with North Clayton. Junior quarterback Christian Peacock has been productive through the air, throwing for 542 yards and five touchdowns. Peacock has also been effective on the ground, leading the Raiders with 75 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Christian Govea will likely join Peacock in the backfield. Govea has rushed for 61 yards on 17 carries, giving Walton another option to keep the Bulldogs’ defense from focusing exclusively on Peacock. The Raiders have plenty of weapons in the passing game. Jordan Peacock has caught 12 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns, while Aiden Opore has 11 receptions for 186 yards and a touchdown. The duo has quickly established itself as the primary target combination for the Walton offense.
Defensively, Christian Lavette leads the Raiders with 20 total tackles, while Garrison Muller has recorded a team-high 12 solo tackles. Walton has also recorded four sacks and forced four turnovers.
Keys to the Game
North Gwinnett Bulldogs
- Slow down Peacock and Opore. Walton’s receiving duo has been extremely productive, and North Gwinnett can’t allow either receiver to take over the game.
- Pressure the quarterback. The Bulldogs have already recorded 10 sacks, and that pass rush could be a major factor against Walton’s offense.
- Make Walton run the football. North Gwinnett needs to force the Raiders to sustain long drives rather than allowing big plays through the air.
- Continue creating turnovers. The Bulldogs have forced seven turnovers already and will look to keep that defensive pressure going.
Walton Raiders
- Protect Peacock. North Gwinnett’s pass rush has been one of its biggest strengths, so Walton must keep its quarterback clean.
- Get the running game going. The question is whether Walton can mix in enough of the ground game to keep North Gwinnett from teeing off on the passing attack.
- Get the ball to its playmakers. Peacock and Opore need to continue getting opportunities downfield.
- Slow down North Gwinnett’s offense. Easier said than done, but Walton’s defense will have to find a way to keep the Bulldogs from controlling the game.
The Bulldogs have to find a way to slow down the Walton receiving duo of Jordan Peacock and Aiden Opore. Both have been extremely productive early in the season, and North Gwinnett can’t afford to give them easy opportunities down the field. The question is whether Walton will be able to mix in the ground game enough to keep North Gwinnett honest. If the Raiders become too one-dimensional, the Bulldogs’ pass rush could make for a long night.
On the other side, Walton’s defense will have the difficult task of slowing down a North Gwinnett offense that has been efficient and explosive. That’s easier said than done. North Gwinnett’s defensive pressure and ability to create turnovers should ultimately be the difference.
Prediction: North Gwinnett by 10