North Murray and Murray face off for the 11th time
North Murray and Murray County have met 10 times on the football field, and the Mountaineers have won each meeting.
North Murray will look to make it 11-0 Friday night, while Murray is hoping this is the year to beat the Neers.
The rivalry game is set to be played Friday night at 7:30 at Murray County High.
In recent years, North Murray has sported a high-powered, high-scoring offense, and Murray County has been unable to slow it down. The Mountaineers have scored at least 48 against their rivals in each of the last four seasons.
But the North Murray offense looks a little different this year. The Mountaineers have won two of their three games, but a slower-paced, more run-heavy offense has led to some lower scores. A 22-point outing in the opener against Dalton was North Murray’s highest scoring game so far, and the Neers are averaging 18 points per game.
But, the Indians have struggled to limit opposing offenses so far this year. The 1-3 Indians have given up at least 42 points in each of their losses, but did hold Southeast Whitfield to 14 in a 34-14 win.
On the other side of the ball, North Murray has paired its new offensive style with a defense that is also doing a better job of limiting its opponents’ scoring. In each of the Mountaineers’ two wins, North Murray has held its opponents to single digits. The Neers only did that twice all of last regular season. The Murray offense that has been limited to 14 points or fewer in each game save for the 34 in the Southeast win.
Dalton’s first region game is on the road at state-ranked Cartersville
After an 0-4 record during non-region play, the Dalton Catamounts step into a Region 7-4A schedule that is packed with tough competition.
Dalton opens its region slate Friday night at 7:30 against a Cartersville team that is ranked No. 2 in the state.
Cartersville has rolled to a 4-0 start, winning each game by at least 22 points, the closest game for them so far a 35-13 win over a Calhoun team that shared a region with Dalton and Cartersville for the previous two seasons.
Dalton has struggled offensively, being shut out in two games and being held to single digits in another, but the Catamount offense found some more success in last week’s game against Rabun County.
Dalton hung around with Rabun into the third quarter before the Wildcats pulled away. Dalton’s Elijah Long had 96 rushing yards — the top performance by a Catamount rusher this season — and Nash Smith broke off a 35-yard rushing score. The Dalton offense will face a tough task against a Cartersville team that has allowed just 19 points all season.
On offense, quarterback Nate Russell has some good weapons to throw to, including Georgia Tech commit Jamauri Brice. A pair of backs, Jacaiden Leonard and Baylon Long, have at least 229 rushing yards apiece.
Coahulla Creek and Sonoraville battle for first win
Coahulla Creek is hoping an off week can provide the jump start it needs to get its offense going.
After two road games and an open date on the schedule, Coahulla Creek returns for a home game for the first time since its season opener.
Coahulla plays Sonoraville Friday night at home at 7:30.
The game pits two teams entering at 0-3 overall and 0-1 in Region 7-2A and in search of their first win.
Creek dropped to Northwest Whitfield 35-0, Chattooga 28-0 and North Cobb Christian 48-0.
With a new-look offense that includes a bevy of new starters, the Colts have yet to put up any points on the board this year, but quarterback Waelyn Baliles, running back Tyler Douglas and wide receiver Wyatt Mann have had the offense moving more in the last two games.
Sonoraville’s 0-3 looks a little different, with the Phoenix playing in and falling in three competitive games. Sonoraville fell at Model in overtime to start the season, then lost to Pickens by three. Against North Cobb Christian in their Region 7-2A opener last week, Sonoraville fell 24-17.
Christian Heritage starts region play with Dade County
After a 2-1 start and a bye week, the Christian Heritage Lions are ready to begin Region 7-A DI action.
Christian Heritage opens region play with a game Friday at 7:30 against Dade County.
Dade County comes in at 1-2, having recovered from back-to-back losses to Ringgold and Trion to start the year to drill LaFayette 35-0 in its last outing on Aug. 30. Dade is also coming off a bye week.
Christian Heritage bounced back from its own season-opening loss to roll over Cherokee Christian and then held off Pepperell 21-14.
The Lions start a region slate against a region that is made up of seven other schools that are all public schools. With the new GHSA playoff format this year, Christian Heritage will compete for a Region 7-A DI championship alongside its region mates, but, when it comes to the playoffs, Christian Heritage would split off to take part in a bracket made up of the private schools in Class A-3A, should the Lions qualify for the postseason.