Thankfully, football has arrived

The long drought ended Friday when football returned with both the Lamar County Trojans and the Pike County Pirates back in action. It had been far too long without real football. There is just nothing like Friday night football and knowing the college action will follow the next day.The Pirates easily dispatched Central-Talbotton 34-6 on the road. They travel to Fayette County this Friday. Their home opener is Sept. 6 against Greenville.Lamar County was one of the surprise teams in the state Friday as they wore out Mt. Zion, the state’s #7 Class A team, 27-6. LC made multiple mistakes but still held the Eagles scoreless until just 12 seconds remained on the game clock. They play at Hogansville this Friday.Lamar and Pike clash in the annual Battle of Potato Creek Sept. 20 in Zebulon in what promises to be a war.All football fans are excited about the dawn of college football season except, perhaps, those who root for Florida and Miami. Those two played one of the ugliest primetime games in history in the much-hyped Week Zero game Saturday night. Flipper Franks has not improved at all as a QB and the Gators are definitely not the #8 team in the country despite winning 24-20.Miami gave up 10 sacks. The Mark Richt influence is still strong with that team which lacks offensive line talent, tackled poorly and had to call an offensive timeout coming out of a TV timeout to get the proper personnel on the field. Those are Pastor Poochkick trademarks.Everybody else gets underway this week. Georgia Tech travels to #1 Clemson Thursday night (an ACC trademark) where it is a 36-point underdog. New Tech coach Geoff Collins and his team have embraced the 404/Waffle House culture, whatever that means.It won’t matter. Bet Clemson and the over. The Tigers will scatter, smother and cover, hanging 50 on the Jackets – in the first half.Georgia opens at Vanderbilt Saturday evening, getting right into SEC East action on opening night. The Dogs are three touchdown favorites. I think it will be much worse than that – something along the lines of 51-14 or 55-17.There are three UGA newcomers to watch who have been killing it in practice. Running back Zamir White, wide receiver George Pickens and defensive lineman Travon Walker from nearby at Upson-Lee High School. Each will establish himself as a future superstar in this game.I am interested in three other games. At the top of the list is Auburn vs. Oregon Saturday night at Texas Stadium. Auburn is a three-point favorite but I’m not sure why. The Ducks are more highly rated in both polls. Oregon has a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback in Justin Herbert. Auburn no so much.I think the Gus Bus hits the ditch early and Oregon pulls away for a late win.Two other games will feature five star quarterbacks Jake Fromm ran out of Athens.Washington vs. Eastern Washington will give us the first glimpse of Jacob Eason at the controls for the Huskies. Ohio State vs. Florida Atlantic will put Buckeye quarterback Justin Fields under the microscope.I think Eason will put up some big numbers but Fields is tougher to read. He has the skills but there is a whiff of prima donna about him. We shall see.The high school football landscape has altered by the time you wake up each Saturday. College football brings surprises for the rest of the day and occasionally on Thursday (but not this one).It’s a great time of year. Enjoy it!