Looking at what the 5 undefeated Athens-area high school football teams have coming up
Five high school football teams in the Athens-area remain undefeated as the regular season heads into Week 6, and all five will encounter different levels of opponents the rest of the way in 2023.
While it's become the norm for programs like Prince Avenue, North Oconee and Jefferson to have successful seasons, Bethlehem Christian had nine straight losing seasons before coach Bruce Lane steadily built the program into a winner.
And East Jackson hasn't been 4-0 since 2009.
"It's about us and getting better every day," East Jackson coach Cameron Pettus said. "We have great practices, great workouts, take care of our schoolwork, do everything we need to do, so we're not really worried about anything else. I think that's something our staff and coaches do a great job of preaching. ... We know it's going to be tough, tough games ahead of us, but we're looking forward to that challenge. ... Effort and gratitude daily, that's what we believe in."
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Here's what each undefeated Athens-area high school football team has coming up on the schedule:
East Jackson (4-0)
Pettus has East Jackson off to its best start in more than a decade with wins against Oglethorpe County, Social Circle, West Hall and Franklin County.
Sept. 22 @ Johnson (1-3)
Johnson won their first game in four years on Sept. 1 against East Hall. The program had been 0-32 since Oct. 11, 2019. Last season, they were one of the five teams the Eagles defeated, 45-0 at home.
Sept. 29 @ Banks County (4-0)
Banks County is also off to a great start. Last year, the Eagles defeated the Leopards 55-24 at home.
Oct. 6 @ Fellowship Christian (2-1)
The Eagles were defeated by the Paladins 30-14 last season, who ended up going to the state playoff semifinals. This season, Fellowship Christian has a new coach, John Thompson, had two tough tests against Lovett and Rabun County before they face East Jackson.
Oct. 20 vs. Union County (4-1)
The Eagles were defeated by the Panthers last season, 21-17. The Panthers are currently outscoring their opponents 218-73, including a 42-7 win against West Hall last week.
Oct. 27 vs. Providence Christian (4-0)
Providence Christian was the last team the Eagles beat in 2022, 41-34 in a high-scoring affair. Last year, Providence Christian, located in Lilburn, went winless in the region and won just two games, so this season is off to a much start.
Nov. 3 @ Athens Academy (2-2)
Closing out the regular season, the Eagles will play Athens Academy. Last season, the Spartans defeated the Eagles, 34-7, one of eight regular-season victories for Athens Academy on the season. This year, the Spartans got off a 1-2 start with losses to Mobile Christian and rival Prince Avenue Christian, but bounced back with a 59-13 win against Mount Pisgah Christian.
Prince Avenue (5-0)
The Wolverines have won 19 straight games, including going undefeated last season to win a state title.
Sept. 22 @ Pensacola Christian (Fla.) (3-0)
This is another new opponent for the Wolverines. The two teams have never met before, and both are dominant in their areas of their respective states. Last season, the Crusaders went 10-2 in their Floridia district, while the Wolverines have been undefeated since they started the 2022 season. Greg Vandagriff said he's chasing higher caliber games for his team and isn't afraid to leave the state to find matchups.
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Sept. 29 @ Mary Persons (3-1)
Last season, the Bulldogs came to Athens to visit the Wolverines and lost 47-14. Mary Persons is off to a 3-1 start, including a 35-14 win against Haralson County two weeks ago.
Oct. 20 @ Oglethorpe County (1-3)
The Wolverines will have plenty of time to prepare for the Patriots, taking their bye weeks consecutively after Week 7 to rest and recharge. They'll have played games in three different states by the time region matchups begin. Last year, the Wolverines beat the Patriots 56-17.
Oct. 27 @ Jasper County (3-2)
The Hurricanes are off to a semi-better start than last year, when they lost to the Wolverines 62-6. Last season Jasper County finished 1-2 in the region with a win against Oglethorpe County. While beating Prince Avenue will be a tough task, the Hurricanes will compete with Oglethorpe County and Social Circle for second place in region 5A Division I.
Nov. 3 vs. Social Circle (1-3)
Closing out the season, the Wolverines will host the Redskins, who they took down 48-21 to close out 2022. Last season, the game against Prince Avenue was one of four total that Social Circle lost. This year, the Redskins started 0-3 before bouncing back with a win against Loganville Christian on Sept. 8.
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Bethlehem Christian (5-0)
Bruce Lane has completely transformed this GISA school in his four years at the helm at Bethlehem Christian. They went from a 1-10 team in 2019 to 2-8 in '20, 7-5 in '21 and 10-2 last season. Now they're off to a 5-0 start this season.
Sept. 22 vs. King's Ridge Christian (2-1)
The Knights beat King's Ridge Christian, 48-21, last season.
Sept. 29 @ Lakeview Academy (2-2)
Last season, the Knights wrecked Lakeview 24-7. This game will be the first region test for Bethlehem Christian, who finished second in the region last season behind George Walton Academy.
Oct. 13 vs. Riverside Military Academy (0-4)
Riverside has been on a losing streak since Sept. 10, 2021 under head coach Nicholas Garrett. Last year, Bethlehem Christian beat them 41-7 on the road.
Oct. 20 @ Loganville Christian (1-3)
The Lions are having a rough time this season, being outscored by their opponents 102-63 through the first four games. Last year, they lost to the Knights 41-6.
11/03 vs. George Walton Academy (2-3)
Closing out the season, the Knights will come in off a bye week to face the Bulldogs. Last year, they were beat 28-7. In a regular-season finale that could determine the region winner, George Walton figures to be among Bethlehem's toughest opponents on the schedule.
Jefferson (4-0)
Jefferson continues to be one of the premier programs in the state. The Dragons are off to a 4-0 start and haven't lost more than two regular-season games in a year since 2010.
Sept. 22 vs. Clarke Central (3-1)
Clarke Central has wins this against Cedar Shoals, Oconee County and South Forsyth. A 24-7 loss to Gainesville is the only blemish on the Gladiators resume, setting up a good measuring stick matchup against Jefferson to kick off region play. Last year Jefferson defeated the Gladiators 17-7.
Sept. 29 @ Winder-Barrow (4-1)
Winder-Barrow went 3-3 through six games last season, and this year, they're 4-1 with wins against Apalachee, King, Salem and Loganville to begin region play. The Bulldoggs finished 2-4 in region play last season, but should be in the hunt for a better finish this time around.
Oct. 13 vs. Flowery Branch (2-2)
The Dragons have a bye week before this matchup. Last year, they defeated the Falcons 27-0 as Flowery Branch struggled to a 1-5 finish in region play. The Falcons started this season 2-0 before dropping two in a row to Stephens County and Lambert.
Oct. 20 @ Loganville (2-3)
This matchup will feature a familiar face on the opposite sideline. Former Jefferson coach Gene Cathcart is in his first season leading Loganville, with wins against Discovery and Apalachee and losses Monroe Area, Peachtree Ridge and Winder-Barrow to begin region play. Last season the Red Devils finished 5-1 against region foes, second behind Jefferson. The Dragons won last year's meeting 42-6.
Oct. 27 vs. Heritage (2-2)
Heritage went 2-8 last season, including a a 49-6 loss to Jefferson. The Patriots already have two wins in four games this season, against Salem and Rockdale County. They'll look for positive moments in region play after finishing 0-6 last year.
Nov. 2 @ Eastside (2-2)
Closing out the regular season, Jefferson will play Eastside on a Thursday night. The Dragons won last year's meeting 35-7. This season, Eastside has two shutout victories against Luella and Alcovy and two lopsided losses to Ola and Newton.
North Oconee (3-0)
The Titans are off to another strong start after going undefeated during the regular season in 2022. Dating back to 2021, North Oconee has won 19 straight regular season games.
Sept. 22 vs. Chestatee (0-4)
Last season, the Titans defeated the War Eagles 52-7. The Titans used their bye weeks early this season, so they don't have any rest between their next seven games. But Chestatee is being outscored 184-31 so far, so this should be an ideal matchup for North Oconee to carry on its winning streak.
Sept. 29 @ North Hall (4-0)
Last season, North Oconee obliterated the Trojans 70-7. This season, however, North Hall is off to a 4-0 start, including region wins against Walnut Grove and East Hall.
Oct. 6 vs. Cedar Shoals (1-3)
Cedar Shoals started this season with three losses before bouncing back with a 14-6 win against Walnut Grove last week. North Oconee won last year's meeting 55-12.
Oct. 13 @ East Forsyth (3-0)
East Forsyth is off to a strong start with wins against Seckinger, Cedar Shoals and Walnut Grove. Last season, North Oconee beat the Broncos 48-0.
Oct. 20 vs. Walnut Grove (1-3)
Walnut Grove is off to a slow start this season with losses to Jasper County, North Hall and Cedar Shoals. A 40-0 win against Chattahoochee County Sept. 1 is the lone bright spot on the resume so far. North Oconee won last year's matchup 44-0.
Oct. 27 @ East Hall (2-2)
East Hall is off to a 2-2 start, including one win (Chestatee) and one loss (at North Hall) in region play. North Oconee won last season's meeting 83-0.
Nov. 3 vs. Cherokee Bluff (1-3)
Closing out the regular season, the Titans will host Cherokee Bluff. Last year, North Oconee won 42-7 and made it all the way to the state playoff semifinals.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Looking at what each undefeated Athens-area football team has left
