Jefferson’s Colby Clark earned the Fan Vote for Player of the Week, capturing 4,375 votes, edging out Rabun’s Braxton Hicks (2,774). There were a total of 9,424 votes. Along with Clark, BLITZ picks both Hicks and White County’s J Ben Haynes as Co-Players of the Week.

COLBY CLARK (FAN VOTE)

Senior Colby Clark is having himself his best season yet for the #6 Dragons. For Clark, it’s not about the passing yards, as Jefferson runs the option. It’s in how he runs the offense, has no off switch, and his production with whatever amount of carries/passes he attempts.

In his most recent performance, a big region win at Morgan County, Clark rushed for 193 yards and 4 touchdowns, and completed just one pass – a 24-yard TD! Clark has now tallied 3,196 total yards in his career (shortened by missing a bulk of last season) and 49 TD. The now 2-time Player of the Week this season has completed 18-of-35 passes for 373 yards and 6 TD against no interceptions, and has 434 rushing yards on just 35 attempts, with 11 going for touchdowns. That’s 807 total yards and 17 TD this season. His TD total is already the most he’s ever had in a single season, besting 14 last year and 15 as a freshman. His career numbers includes: 1,369 passing yards and 16 TD, and 1,827 rushing yards with 33 TD.

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BRAXTON HICKS (BLITZ PICK)

Braxton Hicks has been deserving of this award on so many occasions. He will settle for a second career Player of the Week award after a big-time performance in a win at Elbert County. In the Granite Bowl, the senior wideout and D-I recruit went off for 140 receiving yards on just 3 CATCHES, scoring once. On the other side, he collected a few tackles as well.

A four-year starter, Hicks is now knocking on the door of history. He has 2,914 receiving yards to go with 37 TD. Just a couple/few more catches puts him in ELITE company of 3,000-yard receivers. That would place him in the top 10 in state history. He currently is atop Rabun County’s career receiving list.

Check out his numbers by season:

YEAR	REC	YDS	TD	Y/G	AVG	LNG
2016	19	403	8	36.6	21.2	75
2017	44	829	12	55.3	18.8	69
2018	55	1,042	14	80.2	18.9	65
2019	30	640	3	91.4	21.3	74
TOTAL	148	2,914	37	63.3	19.7	75

His career-year in 2018 is looking smaller by the game during his monster 2019 senior season. He’s now recorded 8 100-yard games in his career, and 3 this season. His single-game record is 182, set in the region title game last year against Union County. On defense, Hicks has 41 career tackles (1 for loss), 5 interceptions (93 yds), 8 pass deflections, a forced fumble, and a recovered fumble (36 yds). All-purpose yardage is 3,043 for receiving yards, interception yards, and fumble return yards. He has 38 total TD (37 receiving, 1 fumble recovery).

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J BEN HAYNES (BLITZ PICK)

J Ben Haynes claims his second Player of the Week award this season. We called it prior to his last game and predicted almost exactly (we guessed 250-plus yards and 4-plus TD). He outdid us by 8 yards and 2 TD. What a game for the junior QB in a big-time clutch region win for White County over West Hall, as he passed for 173 yards and 3 TD, and rushed for 85 yards and 3 TD, accounting for all 6 Warrior touchdowns. Check out Haynes’ numbers by season:

YEAR	PASS YDS	PASS TD	RUSH YDS	RUSH TD	TOTAL TD
2017	1,808	15	37	1	16
2018	1,351	9	301	2	11
2019	1,468	10	649	14	24
TOTAL	4,627	34	987	17	51

A look at the chart shows his impact as a freshman, and his slight regression last season as a sophomore, although he found his ability to run the ball. He’s taken his game to a new level this season, which begs the question “How good will he be next year?”

Feature Photo by Brian Westerholt / Sports on Film