Woodstock, Etowah Ready for Another Towne Lake Shootout

Scouting the Wolverines

The Woodstock Wolverines begin the 2026 season with a new head coach, as Justin Pearce takes over the program. Coach Pearce is no stranger to the Wolverines, having been promoted from within after spending the past three seasons tutoring senior quarterback Graham Burmeister.

Burmeister enters the season as the leading returning passer in Cherokee County after throwing for more than 1,800 yards and 19 touchdowns during the 2025 campaign. He was also Woodstock's leading rusher, rushing for 704 yards. He will be joined in the backfield by fellow senior Xay Murphy, who rushed for 318 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Leading the receiving corps will be Ryan Hubbard, who led the Wolverines in every major receiving category in 2025, finishing with 66 receptions for 698 yards and seven touchdowns. D.J. Wilson should add depth to the receiving unit, while Parker Angel will anchor the offensive line.

Defensively, Djabril Ba is primed for another big season. Ba led the team with 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss last year. He will need to continue being a dominant force as the Wolverines replace several key pieces from last year's defense.

Scouting the Eagles

Similar to their neighborhood rivals, the Etowah Eagles return a gunslinging quarterback in Zeke Douglass. Douglass threw for 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns last season while also leading the Eagles in rushing with 747 yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

Douglass will have his primary receiving target back in Walker Hughes, who caught 31 passes for 662 yards and two touchdowns a year ago. The Eagles will likely lean on Nick Pacini to help add depth to an inexperienced receiving unit.

Kingston Ceaser appears poised for a big season in the backfield after showing flashes of his potential in 2025. Defensively, the Eagles have plenty of holes to fill following graduation. Ben Gebhart, who recorded 54 total tackles and two tackles for loss, and Reggie Bruell, who finished with 32 tackles, six tackles for loss, and a sack, should provide some much-needed leadership.

Keys to the Game

Woodstock

• Establish the ground game with Graham Burmeister and Xay Murphy.

• Protect Burmeister and allow him to take advantage of an experienced group of skill players.

• Get Ryan Hubbard involved early and often.

• Rely on Djabril Ba to create pressure and disrupt Etowah's offense.

Etowah

• Find a way to slow down Woodstock's rushing attack.

• Give Zeke Douglass time to operate and take advantage of his ability both through the air and on the ground.

• Get Walker Hughes involved and create opportunities for the Eagles' other receivers.

• Replace lost defensive production through effort, discipline, and swarm tackling.

Pundit's Pick

The Battle of Towne Lake enters its 26th edition this Friday night, and the rivalry has already produced plenty of memorable moments. Last season, the Eagles outlasted Woodstock in an overtime thriller, and we expect more fireworks this time around. Etowah's defense will have to fly around the field to contain Woodstock's ground game, while the Wolverines will have the difficult task of trying to keep Zeke Douglass from taking over the game.We expect another back-and-forth slugfest, but this time, the Wolverines get the last word at home.

Prediction

Woodstock by 3