Gwinnett Daily Post

Peachtree Ridge's Bryson Sellers

Peachtree Ridge Lions (7-AAAAAA)

Coach: Mark Fleetwood

Record: 1-3 (1-1)

Last week: Lost 20-10 to Mill Creek

Habersham Central Raiders (7-AAAAAA)

Coach: Stuart Cunningham

Record: 0-4 (0-2)

Last week: Lost 24-14 to Mountain View

It’s a long time coming, but Friday is a little homecoming for Peachtree Ridge head coach Mark Fleetwood.

Fleetwood was the head coach at Habersham Central in the mid 1990s, long enough removed to have little understanding of the Raiders players, but full knowledge of the football atmosphere in Habersham.

“Football is really big in Habersham County,” he said.

And Fleetwood made it more clear that despite the zero wins so far, he knows his Peacthree Ridge team can’t overlook any region opponent.

“Our (record) isn’t very good, either,” Fleetwood said.

But in spite of the record, Fleetwood remains optimistic about the Lions’ season, even after they let a lead slip away a week ago against Mill Creek.

“There were some things last week that, I guess, for me, it’s putting together four quarters, that’s what I’d like to see. We didn’t put together a full game,” Fleetwood said. “They looked back and saw the penalties and evaluated ourselves. We had a lot more to do with that loss than we probably realized during the game.”

Quarterback Bryson Sellers continues to progress, connecting on 18 of 31 passes last week for 181 yards and a score. Without a few dropped passes, Fleetwood said that percentage could easily shoot up. And the Lions moved the ball effectively, led by Walden Davis’ hybrid attack with 18 yards on the ground and 67 through the air.

“That is something to build off of,” Fleetwood said. “In the first half we were acting like we were ready to play. In the second half, third quarter, things slowed down for us.”

Last meeting: First meeting

Directions to Habersham Central High School: I-85 north to I-985 north, which turns into Ga. Hwy. 365. Get off on Clarksville exit, or Ga. Hwy. 197 and go toward Clarksville. At stop sign, turn right and school is on right.