Editor’s Note: Any and all historical information is courtesy of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association at http://www.ghsfha.org/.
FIRST DOWN: Westfield at Deerfield-Windsor
The GISA Region 3-3A Knights (7-5 overall in 2017) will take the field for the first time to open the 2018 season against the GISA Region 4-3A Hornets from Perry. DWS holds a 19-16 lead in a series that dates back to 1973. Westfield looks to bounce back after a dismal 2-9 campaign last fall. The Knights downed the Hornets 28-7 in last year’s meeting.
SECOND DOWN: Terrell County (0-1) at Monroe (1-0)
The Tornadoes return to Hugh Mills Stadium for the second of three straight games there to begin the season, this time taking on the Greenwaves. In last week’s 47-14 over Jordan, quarterback David Dillard passed for more than 170 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 110 yards and three touchdowns. Monroe leads Terrell County 16-4 in the all-time series, with the Tornadoes defeating the Greenwaves 33-14 in their last meeting in 2015. Terrell County will try for their first win of the season after losing 46-32 to Chattahoochee County last week.
THIRD DOWN: Dougherty (0-1) at Americus-Sumter (0-1)
There will be lots of “firsts” in this contest. It will be the home opener for the Panthers, who fell at Crisp County 17-14 in overtime. It’s also the GHSA Region 1-4A opener for both teams. Additionally, it’s the first-ever meeting between the two first-year head coaches at both schools, in Damien Gary at Dougherty, as well as Larry Harold at Americus-Sumter. If that wasn’t enough, the winner of this game will not only get their first win of the 2018 season but also get their first region win of the year. That’s not to mention that the winner will also get their first win under their new head coaches. The Trojans from Albany opened the 2018 season with a 47-6 loss to the Lee County in the Hamp Smith Classic at the Albany State University Coliseum last week.
FOURTH DOWN (GAME OF THE WEEK): Dr. Phillips at Lee County (1-0)-(Georgia vs. Florida State Champions Challenge)
Speaking of the Trojans from Leesburg, it’ll be a battle of first-time state champions on Saturday, as the defending GHSA Class 6A champion Lee County Trojans will play host to defending Florida Class 8A champion Dr. Phillips of Orlando. While Lee County is coming off a convincing win over this aforementioned Dougherty squad, it’s the season for the Panthers of Dr. Phillips, who finished the 2017 season at 13-2 overall, defeating Delray Beach Atlantic for the Class 8A championship. The Georgia vs. Florida State Champions Challenge should serve as a valuable measuring stick for both teams as August comes to an end, and September arrives.
Follow the Southwest Georgia Network on Twitter @swganetwork.
