In what proved to be two totally different ball games, there was one underlying assessment to be taken from each - both Bowdon and Bremen made quite the statement in their respective Region 6-A openers Friday night.

The Red Devils won a 12-6 slugfest over what many tabbed as a preseason region favorite in Darlington, while the Blue Devils spoiled Walker’s homecoming in a hurry, taking a 42-0 lead into the locker room at halftime and allowing the continuous clock to tick away in a 42-6 Bremen blowout.

Bowdon coach Dwight Hochstetler said following the Tigers’ opening touchdown drive to start the game, his Red Devils (4-0, 1-0 Region 6-A) played the best defense they have all season to this point - allowing just three first downs in the first half and four in the second.

And, more importantly, they didn’t give up the big play against a big-play offense.

“Yeah, after that first series, where Darlington just took it down the field and scored, I thought our defense played extremely well,” Hochstetler said. “I think our kids realized that Darlington came here to play and our kids strapped the chin straps on tighter and, defensively, we couldn’t ask for a better performance.”

For Bremen coach Ricky Tolleson, he had several areas of play to pick from that stood out.

Defensively, the Blue Devils (4-1, 1-0 Region 6-A) sacked Walker quarterback Brian McPherson three times, while also intercepting the Wolverine signal-caller on three occasions.

Meanwhile, the offense, led by senior quarterback Clayton McIntosh, didn’t miss a beat, scoring a touchdown on every first-half possession of the game, racking up roughly 360 yards of offense in that time.

McIntosh had almost 200 total yards, completing 3-of-5 attempts for 99 yards and rushing for 87 yards on nine carries.

He finished with 192 total yards, 102 coming through the air, and another 90 on the ground, to boot.

“I think it was just an overall great team effort,” Tolleson said. “Our first region game on the road and I think our kids were well prepared and I thought our lines of scrimmage just stood out. Anytime you open region play with a decisive victory, it’s a good thing. We got out of there injury-free, and that’s much better than what we’ve been having.”

Bremen will have an open week coming up before playing host to Darlington on Oct. 10. Tolleson said the open week couldn’t come at a better time with all the injuries his team has endured through five games this year.

“We need it,” Tolleson said. “We went through a pretty grueling schedule and we need a week off to get some that possibly do have a chance on playing, back on the field.”

Bowdon will hit the road next week to take on Mt. Zion (4-1, 0-1 Region 6-A), which dropped its first game of the year to Trion Friday night, 42-21.

His name is Eastland ... but

Mike Ledford knew Ringgold fullback Martez Eastland was the real deal, and the monster back certainly doesn’t run east or west - just straight north.

Eastland proved to be the difference in the Lions winning their third straight contest and sitting at 2-3 right now, scoring a pair of first-half touchdowns and leading the charge on the game-winning drive that set up the last-second field goal for Ringgold’s 17-14 win.

“We knew Ringgold and that big ol’ 34 what they could do to us, and they did,” the first-year Lion coach said. “Our defense did a great job keeping (Eastland) from running rampant all night. Our defense has played outstanding all year, and I thought they played great (Friday). They were overmatched sometimes by that big ol’ kid. But they played their fannies off. They played with intensity, and I’m proud of them.”

Mullins done for season

The Lions received some tough news upon learning that sophomore running back/defensive back Dee Mullins will be lost for the season after suffering a broken ankle in practice this past week.

Mullins had been a strong performer for the Lions early this season and has shown plenty of promise for the future. Ledford said he is hopeful the young player will get back to full strength and bounce back from the injury for his next two years of action.

“He was playing just an outstanding football year for us,” Ledford said.

Family ties

Carrollton coach Rayvan Teague, who is originally from the Chattanooga, Tenn., area, has known first-year Heritage, Catoosa coach Tim James for a long time and said he will get that program on its feet in the next few years.

And while there were several eyebrows raised this year when James didn’t opt to play a junior-varsity schedule as opposed to a region one - Region 6-AAA, no less - like most first-year programs do, Teague believes he will eventually build the Generals into a winner.

“I think that program will develop into a good one,” Teague said of the 0-5 Generals, who his team beat 58-0 Friday night at Grisham Stadium. “It reminds me a lot of Ringgold and Lakeview Ft. Oglethorpe, which are the other two schools up there. They’re going to have good parental support. They built them a 44-million-dollar facility up there, so it’s a growing area.”

Teague said it should actually get a little interesting if the Trojans come across Heritage in future years.

Having several cousins that live in the area, he said their children will be attending Heritage, possibly even suiting up against his Trojans one day.

“So I’ll have to check up on that,” he joked.

No counting sheep on this night

Winning helps in many walks of life and Friday night it gave Frank Vohun the best night of sleep he’s had in quite some time.

“You’re exactly right now,” the Haralson County High School football coach said regarding his team’s 49-25 homecoming triumph over Southeast Whitfield. “(A win) feels pretty good when you’re 0-4. Matter of fact, it feels great. The kids finally put it together. Hopefully, it’s the first of many good things that will happen to the kids.”

Vohun said it should serve as a solid confidence-booster with Region 6B-AAA play beginning next week when the Rebels head to Central.

“Hopefully, that’ll build their confidence enough where they can do that again,” Vohun said. “And if they can, that would be great.”

Open dates

Both Villa Rica and Temple were off Friday night, as the Tigers are gearing up for the Region 7A-AA schedule, which begins next week at Rockmart, while the Wildcats will play host to Alexander next Friday night.