This week the Football Fridays in Georgia team will head to the southside to bring you the game between Crisp County and Westlake. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

Crisp County opened the season with a 17-6 over Dooly County. Westake lost 21-17 to North Cobb. 

Each team has a new coach this season. Westlake brought in Kennesaw State assistant Rico Zackery to replace Bobby May, who took the job at Kell. Crisp County promoted offensive coordinator Lawrence Smith, a former NFL player, to replace Miguel Patrick, who became an assistant at Ohio State.

Westlake went 10-3 last season and reached the Class 7A quarterfinal before losing to Carrollton. The Lions’ top returners are Clemson commit Avieon Terrell, a defensive back and brother of Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, quarterback R.J. Johnson III, who threw for 2,673 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2021, running back Jai’den Thomas and linebacker Jerico Washington.

Crisp County went 9-4 last season and reached the Class 3A quarterfinal before losing to eventual champion Cedar Grove. The Cougars feature a top recruit in A.J. Brown, who threw for 17 touchdowns in 2021, and receiver/returner Trae Walker. Top returners on defense are lineman Amir Dwight and Region 3 defensive player of the year Julian Fox.

The two programs have met only once, that coming in the second round of the 2001 playoffs. Crisp County won that game 41-29.