…The Lambert Longhorns visit the Alpharetta Raiders in a game with major playoff implications from Region 6.

There were, and quite frankly still are, many questions surrounding the 2015 Lambert Longhorns. With the graduation of Drew Cole, the men from Forsyth County are starting a fourth full-time starter in the last three years, under center. They also graduated top defensive lineman Trevor McSwain; and leading linebackers Addison Schimmelpfinning (2014: 100 T/ 17.5 TFL) and Will Dunavant. Also gone is one of their top offensive weapons in running back Trevor O’Brien. This small list makes up arguably four of the Horns top eight players from 2014.

Now, having delivered all of that negativity, Lambert is looking at far more positivity this year. In the option based offense run by the team for years, the offensive line is so very important; and that aspect provides their brightest spot. Returning is four offensive line starters led by Sean Bailey. They also have a stable of running backs that are tough and fit the offense nicely. Defensively, Justyn Jean-Felix is a big play ball hawk. Plus, they possess one of the top long snappers in the state as Anthony Ratliff has committed to Penn State.

So far, the Longhorns are off to a good start. They lost their opener, a rivalry game, to a more talented Lanier team 17-7. Since, they have taken down two region teams- Johns Creek and Chattahoochee- and they have scored 77 points in the process. Last week, versus Centennial, the Horns went for nearly 400 yards on the ground with Brian Wright and Harrison Pomfret combining for 260 yards.

Last year, the first for Head Coach Louis Daniel, the Longhorns started 1-3 before reeling off six straight wins to finish second in the region. In five full seasons of football, Lambert has reached the playoffs all but one season; and that year, they finished 5-5.

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Alpharetta is the two-time defending Region 6 champion. In fact, they had been ridiculously dominant in the process. Entering last week, the Raiders had not lost a region contest since September 21, 2012; and the result was a 23-game winning streak.

At the end of play last Friday night, fans of the North Fulton club were in shock as their streak came to a fiery crash landing in a surprising loss to Johns Creek 42-39.

Graduated is the second greatest class in school history: Andrew Butcher, Austin King, Ryan Kopec, James Marbaugh, Rustin Sutter, and Lem Cobbs.

The focus for the Raiders is to improve each week and they certainly have talented players to build around. New quarterback Matt Downing has shown flashes of big play potential. Versus West Forsyth, he was 20-of-28 passing for 233 yards and three touchdowns.

However, his status moving forward is in serious doubt. Last week, in that ugly loss to Johns Creek, he suffered a broken finger-according to the AJC and Alpharetta coaches.

Linebacker Jordan Johnson had 7.5 tackles – 3.5 for losses – and broke up two passes in a victory over Milton. One x-factor this year could be the play of sophomore running back Nolan Edmonds, who transferred in from Lovett in the off-season.

Head Coach Jacob Nichols, also enters his second year, posted a 10-2 season last year; after spending two years as the offensive coordinator.

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Obviously, these two school athletic programs know each other very well. They have become pretty fierce rivals in a multitude of sports. On the gridiron, the Raiders have yet to be beaten by Lambert; owning a 3-0 all-time record.

Don’t forget to join us for the pregame show at 7 and the kickoff at 7:30. It’s the Nalley Lexus of Roswell Friday Night Football Game of the Week, this Friday on 1230/1340…