Football Game Preview: Habersham Central Raiders vs. Statesboro Blue Devils + Official Tickets

Habersham Central has won three straight games at home, while Statesboro has won three straight on the road, but those streaks won't matter much on Friday. After each having a week off, the two teams will shake off the rust and duke it out at 7:30 p.m. Given that the two teams suffered a loss in their last games, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this game.

Habersham Central had been on a five-game streak of scoring at least 31 points, but Jackson County put an end to it last Friday. The Raiders had to suffer through a 53-6 loss at the hands of the Panthers. The contest marked the Raiders' lowest-scoring matchup so far this season.

Meanwhile, Statesboro fought the good fight in their overtime game against Effingham County last Friday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They and the Rebels were almost perfectly matched up, but they suffered a 42-41 loss. The Blue Devils' defeat signaled the end of their five-game winning streak.

Habersham Central will need to focus on slowing down Beckham Jarrard, one of several Statesboro players who made an impact when they last played. He threw for 119 yards and a pair of TDs, and also rushed for 48 yards and one touchdown. Keon Childers was Jarrard's top target, picking up three receiving yards.

Habersham Central's loss was their first in the region, dropping their region record down to 5-1 and their overall record down to 7-3. As for Statesboro, their defeat dropped their record down to an identical 7-3.

Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Habersham Central has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 188.9 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Statesboro struggles in that department as they've been averaging 231.4 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.