Football is back in the Peach State, and what a debut it was.
Below are the nominees for player of the week from Week 1 action, each with outstanding performances for their teams last Friday night.
For future polls, please nominate players by contacting Sara Tidwell via email (stidwell@gannett.com) or messaging @saramtidwell on X. Students can be added to this list until they have won it.
The poll will be open until Sunday, Aug. 24, at 5 p.m.
Athens Banner-Herald high school football player of the week: Week 1
Andrew Beard, Prince Avenue Christian
The junior running back scored three touchdowns for the Wolverines against Callaway.
Hudson Hill, Prince Avenue Christian
The junior wide receiver scored an 87-yard touchdown on a deep pass for the Wolverines against Callaway.
Ben Musser, Prince Avenue Christian
The junior quarterback threw a touchdown pass to Hill and carried himself 58-yards into the end zone for another score for the Wolverines against Callaway.
Chip Dickens, Prince Avenue Christian
The junior defensive back intercepted a Callaway pass for the Wolverines.
Brice Williamson, Prince Avenue Christian
The senior tight end scored the game-winning touchdown for the Wolverines against Callaway.
JT Doster, North Oconee
The senior running back scored three touchdowns for the Titans against Oconee County.
Braxton Goolsby, North Oconee
The senior wide receiver scored a touchdown for the Titans against Oconee County.
Harrison Faulkner, North Oconee
The senior quarterback threw two touchdown passes for the Titans against Oconee County.
Dallas Dickerson, North Oconee
The senior wide receiver scored a touchdown of 46-yards for the Titans against Oconee County.
Trenton Gilley, North Oconee
The senior tight end scored a touchdown for the Titans against Oconee County.
Layden Bryson, Commerce
The junior quarterback scored two touchdowns for the Tigers against Wesleyan.
Jace Lyle, Commerce
The junior running back scored a touchdown for the Tigers against Wesleyan.
Essien Lockleer, Commerce
The junior wide receiver scored a touchdown for the Tigers against Wesleyan.
Zay Prince, Athens Academy
The senior running back scored a touchdown for the Spartans against Aquinas.
Chap Chapman, Athens Academy
The senior quarterback threw a touchdown pass for the Spartans against Aquinas.
Keyon Standifer, Athens Academy
The junior wide receiver scored three touchdowns of 31-yards, 66-yards and 32-yards for the Spartans against Aquinas.
Cash Cowart, Athens Academy
The senior scored a touchdown for the Spartans against Aquinas.
Desmond Moss, Cedar Shoals
The junior running back scored a touchdown for the Jaguars against Clarke Central.
Keelin McLendon, Cedar Shoals
The junior quarterback scored a touchdown for the Jaguars against Clarke Central.
Nuhsi Valenti, Clarke Central
The senior running back scored the only touchdown for the Gladiators against Cedar Shoals.
Heinkel Mejia-Quintero, Clarke Central
The senior kicker nailed a field goal for the Gladiators against Cedar Shoals.
Shepherd Trotter, Clarke Central
The junior kicker nailed the game winning field goal for the Gladiators against Cedar Shoals.
Daylan Maxwell, Jackson County
The sophomore running back scored a touchdown for the Panthers against Flowery Branch.
Kaleb Clark, Jackson County
The sophomore running back scored a touchdown for the Panthers against Flowery Branch.
Jayson Lee, Jackson County
The sophomore running back scored a touchdown for the Panthers against Flowery Branch.
Landon Jones, Jackson County
The junior scored a touchdown for the Panthers against Flowery Branch.
Silas McDaniel, Jackson County
The senior scored a touchdown for the Panthers against Flowery Branch.
Colton Grant, Jefferson
The senior quarterback threw for two touchdowns and ran for one for the Dragons against Marist.
Jordan Robinson, Jefferson
The senior defensive end scored a touchdown for the Dragons against Marist.
Brody Crawley, Jefferson
The junior cornerback recovered a blocked punt for the Dragons against Marist.
Logan Edmunds, Jefferson
The senior wide receiver scored a touchdown for the Dragons against Marist.
George Murray III, Apalachee
The junior wide receiver scored a touchdown for the Wildcats against Chattahoochee.
Zach Bankston, Apalachee
The sophomore quarterback threw a touchdown pass for the Wildcats against Chattahoochee.
Gunner Kearns, Apalachee
The junior tight end scored a touchdown for the Wildcats against Chattahoochee.
Sharese McCowan, Apalachee
The senior running back scored a touchdown for the Wildcats against Chattahoochee.
Jason Kitchen, Apalachee
The senior defensive back intercepted a Chattahoochee pass scored for the Wildcats.
Colin Eishen, Apalachee
The junior wide receiver ran a successful two-point conversion scored a touchdown for the Wildcats against Chattahoochee.
Branturan Callahan, East Jackson
The senior wide receiver scored two touchdowns (one a kickoff return) for the Eagles against Winder-Barrow.
Deston Mitchell, East Jackson
The senior running back scored two touchdowns for the Eagles against Winder-Barrow.
Drew Richardson, East Jackson
The senior quarterback scored a touchdown for the Eagles against Winder-Barrow.
Gray Albritton, East Jackson
The senior kicker nailed the game-winning field goal as time expired for the Eagles against Winder-Barrow.
