Forsyth County will be visible from space Friday night as 4 of our 5 public schools host games on their respective campuses. Here’s the Sports Freak’s takes and predictions on all five games.
PINECREST ACADEMY AT SOUTH FORSYTH
In the biggest injustice thus far in the young season, South Forsyth was denied entry into the Georgia Sportswriters Top Ten after their thrilling opening game victory over 2nd ranked Roswell in the Corky Kell Classic at Georgia State Stadium. The Class AAAAAAA Top Ten is actually 11, as two are tied at # 10. And no less that 3 of those teams; Norcross, Brookwood and McEachern, LOST their openers to start 0-1. Seems like South should’ve slipped in there somewhere. This week the War Eagles host their little brother on Peachtree Parkway. Is this a trap game? Class A Pinecrest Academy faces an uphill task, but is not being overlooked by South Head Coach Jeff Arnette. “This is a game that our kids will not take for granted. They all know each other, many are neighbors. Our guys want to win this one as much as any other.” South will be led by a defense that sacked Roswell’s quarterback six time, including 3 and a half by Sr. defensive end Ryan LaFlamme. In a glimpse of the future is now, Sophomore LB Zach Burchfield had 9 tackles. Cal Morris leads a patient War Eagle offense that holds on to the football. 365 SPORTS FREAK PREDICTION: This game will be close for the first ten minutes as adrenalyn carries the day. But in the end the size and depth of South Forsyth will wear down the Paladins and keep the War Eagles undefeated. South Forsyth 42 Pinecrest 10
MOUNTAIN VIEW AT LAMBERT
Lambert Head Coach Louis Daniel knows he has a target on his back after leading his Longhorns to the school’s first ever Region title. But Mountain View is coming off their best season in twenty years. Both squads lose talented players from the previous playoff quality teams, but return a large base. Lambert has a host of seniors who broke out as sophomores two seasons ago and are ready to leave their mark, including all everything DB Marcus Chatelain, who should see time on both sides of the ball. This is the season opener for Lambert, as well as the home opener. Mountain View comes in to the Corral following an opening 71-0 win over overmatched Osborne. But the victory shows the Bears still feature the high powered offense they unveiled last season. It will be up to Chatelain and the rest of the Longhorns defense to slow them down and give their offense the ball so they can control the clock. 365 SPORTS FREAK’S PREDICITON: Mountain View found some rhythm last season and became another Gwinnett County program to be reckoned with. But Lambert has momentum, too, and the home crowd and a stingy defense will pull this one out late. LAMBERT 28 MOUNTAIN VIEW 14
DAWSON COUNTY AT FORSYTH CENTRAL
Forsyth Central welcomes traditional rival Dawson County into the Dog Pound Friday night. These two schools have been facing off since Forsyth Central High was Forsyth COUNTY High, but it’s a little different today with Central a AAAAAAA Big Dawg and Dawson County a AAAA. It should be a good warm up for Central Head Coach Frank Hepler. Coach Hep loves to run his offense through a multi talented quarterback, and he has that this year in Senior Brad Thiltgen, who’s been the Bulldog’s starter since his Sophomore season. Dawson County will bring some moxie, but Central needs to shut them down early and put up some big numbers against the smaller school if they want to build some confidence and momentum for the bigger fish coming up on their schedule. 365 SPORTS FREAK PREDICITON: The Bulldogs need the first half to find themselves against the pesky and hungry Tiger squad, but in the end the defense rises to the challenge and the offense comes together to make it respectable and set the table for the season. FORSYTH CENTRAL 38 DAWSON COUNTY 24
WEST FORSYTH AT PACE ACADEMY
Wolverine Head Coach Shawn Cahill won his first game as the Head Man at West with a convincing 31-14 victory over rival Wolverine squad Woodstock. Quarterback Zach Burns showed that his summer of hard work in anticipation of his first start paid off, completing 70% of his passes, and throwing for a touchdown and running for another. Tight end Ben Bresnehan, the Vanderbilt commitment, played his usual outstanding game, catching everything thrown his way, and running backs Saxby Waxer and Jordan Hollyfield protected the ball while pounding the Woodstock defense for first down after first down. But the real hero of the game was the West Forsyth defensive backfield. Led by co-captains Cade Vila and Robbie Wneck, the Wolverines intercepted Woodstock pre-season all region 4 QB Garrett Bass 4 times and harassed him into multiple bad throws. Now the Wolverines travel to Pace Academy for a rematch of last year’s lightning interrupted affair. The game was called an hour after halftime as persistent lightning kept the teams from taking the field. Pace had a narrow halftime lead and West never got the chance to challenge. West will need a complete game from Burns and another memorable performance from Bresnehan to pull out a win over this talented private school. 365 SPORTS FREAK PREDICTION: West QB Burns delivered a solid performance against Woodstock while shaking off a hip pointer suffered in the first quarter. On a couple of throws under pressure, Burns tried to throw off his back foot and the result was the predictable floating duck. He got away with that vs Woodstock but might not be so lucky if he tries it against the swift footed Pace Academy secondary. But with Bresnehan always ready to bail his team out of trouble with his remarkable speed and hands, West might be on their way. Something’s brewing on Drew Road, and this is the first exclamation point for Coach Cahill’s team. WEST FORSYTH 34 PACE ADADEMY 28
JOHNS CREEK AT NORTH FORSYTH Forsyth Sports 365 Game of the Week
After a playoff appearance last season, Johns Creek Head Coach Matt Kemper left the Gladiators for the greener pastures of Roswell. Hello South Forsyth. New Johns Creek Head Coach Matt Helmerich didn’t find things much easier in his debut, taking on perennial power Lassiter and losing 45-21. North Forsyth went down 14-0 early, but found room to run against Sequoyah in their season opener in Canton, rushing for more than 200 yards. And QB Ben Bayles threw for over a hundred yards and three touchdowns. But turnovers doomed the Raiders in a close 28-26 Sequoyah win. Head Coach Robert Craft sees a hungry Johns Creek squad coming into the house, but knows Military Night and a rowdy crowd at the home opener in Raider Valley will be a rough chariot ride for the Gladiators. This is Forsyth Sports 365″s Game fo the Week. Well be podcasting LIVE frm Raider Valley starting at @ 6:30. Log on to our homepage at forsythsports365.com to catch all the exciting action of Forsyth County High School football. brought to you by the Feet First Foundation and Mattress Firm/Foster Kids. 365 SPORTS FREAK PREDICITON: North Forsyth needs a win in their home opener to get the bad taste of turnovers out of their mouths and set Raider Nation back on the right path to glory. Expect to see this week’s focus on hanging on to the football to pay off. NORTH FORSYTH 28 JOHNS CREEK 21