Football season is here! Our Game of the Week is none other than White County versus Stephens County scrimmage on Friday night in Cleveland. Proximity rivals square off in a game that means nothing officially, but gives both programs a chance to reveal their 2018 identities.

The Warriors are coming off a seven-win season that saw them make the playoffs and nearly topple powerhouse Jefferson in the first round. Tim Cokely’s first season was historic because he took over a 1-9 program and increased the offensive output by over 20 points per game from the previous season. Gone now are power running back Kaleb Crane and running mate Bailey Anderson, as well as a good number of wideouts that had success in 2017.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS: Be looking for highlights post-game late tonight as well as a story recapping the scrimmage. BLITZ has you covered!

The Indians have a complete turnover from long-time QB Jackson Bell, RB Hassan Brown, FB/LB Cole Beitzel and many others. Cayden Maxwell (WR/CB) is the most pivotal returning player under a new head coach in Wesley Tankersley.

Our Prediction: J Ben Haynes has a solid night at QB while in the game for the Warriors, connecting with Cody Versluis for an early touchdown. Someone emerges for Stephens County as the newest running back and quarterback of the future. The score doesn’t matter here, but we’re also thinking these teams get a little physical with the starters in.

Here’s everything you need to know for the scrimmage:

TIME: 7:30 pm kickoff
PLACE: White County High School / Cleveland, GA
LAST MEETING: Stephens won 21-20 in 2015
ALL-TIME RECORD: Stephens County 3, White County 1
RECORDS: White County (0-0; 0-0 in 7-AAAA); Stephens County (0-0; 0-0 in 8-AAAA)

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

These teams are close in proximity, but haven’t met very many times in the regular season. This game will not provide any recordable stats or results, but it’s interesting to note that Stephens County has a three-game win streak in the series, winning in 2015, 2014 and 2011. The lone loss came in 2010 when the Warriors had a stellar Sweet 16 team led by all-time great Ashely Lowery and the Stephens County Indians had all-time great RB Chaz Thornton. Ironically, BLITZ was at two such matchups in this history:

OCT 15, 2010 – #10 White Co 21, #9 Stephens Co 14
OCT 14, 2011 – #10 Stephens Co 25, White Co 14

TEAM LEADERS/PLAYERS to WATCH (2017 stats if provided)

WHITE COUNTY:

PASSING
J Ben Haynes: 1,808 pass yds, 15 TD, 6 INT (125/204; 61%)

RECEIVING
Cody Versluis

DEFENSE
Jay Lepkoske

STEPHENS COUNTY:

PASSING
Gabriel White: 33 pass yds

RUSHING
Nikko Beady: 79 rush yds

RECEIVING
Cayden Maxwell: 35 rec, 533 yds, 3 TD
Kamon Taylor: 10 rec, 112 yds, 2 TD

TACKLES
Charles Cochran: 64 tkl, 5 TFL
Kamon Taylor: 50 tkl, 3 TFL
Demarcus Knox: 35 tkl, 4 TFL

SACKS
Garrison Walker: 2 Sacks
Charles Cochran: 1 Sack

INTERCEPTIONS
Kamon Taylor & Cayden Maxwell: 1 INT each