Top Area games for Friday September 27

Georgia-

 

Lumpkin @ White County

Lumpkin -2.5

The 3-2 Lumpkin County Indians will travel to the 2-3 White County Warriors on Friday night for a Region 6AAA clash. Both teams are 1-1 in Region play, with White County’s loss coming last week vs North Hall and Lumpkin’s lone Region blemish coming 2 weeks ago Vs GAC. Last season it took triple overtime to decide the winner of this one, as Lumpkin’s Cal Faulkner scored 5 TDs to lead the Indians to victory. This year I imagine we see much of the same as qbs Cal Faulkner and Tripp Nix battle it out through the air and on the ground. Whoever of those two guys plays the best and gets the most out of their Oline will win this game.

 

Pickens @ North Hall

North Hall -11

Pickens has surpassed my expectations already this season with the way they’ve played. Sitting at 3-2 with Losses to Gilmer and White County, the Dragons will have to Find a way to knock off either North Hall, Lumpkin, or GAC if they want to make the playoffs in the first year under first year Head Coach Craig Bennett. 2 score underdogs heading into this one in Gainesville, if Pickens can keep it close into the 4th then who knows what can happen.

 

Chattooga @ Gordon Lee

Chattooga -4.5

Chattooga and their run game led by one of the states top rushers Zayden Cook has been tough for any team to handle up to this point. The 5-0 Indians will travel to Chickamauga for Friday Nights contest as they take on Gordon Lee in this region bout. I see this one being closer than some might think, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it was a one score game heading into the final quarter.

 

North Carolina-

 

Franklin @ Tuscola

Franklin -21

The Panthers have been on a tear to kick off the 2024 season, and that is thanks to the OLine and RB Brallon Hervey. Hervey is averaging 96 yards per game on the ground and has tallied 9 trips to touchdown town on the year. While Franklin should handle this Tuscola team pretty easily, you never know what can happen in conference play.

 

Cherokee @ Robbinsville

Robbinsville -19

Call me crazy, but I see this being a very close game Friday night. With the way Cherokee moves the ball through the air, if they can limit turnovers, they should be able put some points on the board. Now if they return to the stumbing, fumbling Braves we have seen at certain times this season then this could get out of hand fast, but if they maintain their composure and play Cherokee football then I see this coming down to the wire. Robbinsville is coming off of an emotional loss 3 hours away in Trion, Georgia last week, so we will see if they’re still feeling the effects of that hangover come kickoff time. I look for Bryce Adams and Jonathan Saylor to be the difference makers for their teams in this one. Whoever takes care of the football will come out on top.

 

Swain vs Madison

Swain -33

One of these teams will end their losing streak when they take the field Thursday night. Swain has sputtered out of the gate, but they have the talent and coaching to be competitive in the Smoky Mountain Conference. This is a “get-right” game for the Devils, and they badly need this one to boost their confidence.