Last Friday wasn't the opening-game performance the Sonoraville Phoenix were looking for.

Sonoraville hosted Pickens County, and fell 50-21 in the season opener.

But what's done is done. Now, the Phoenix will look to get back on track in Week 2 when they host another non-region foe, Gilmer.

The Bobcats are coming off a season-opening win over Fannin County, 45-6, at home.

For the Phoenix, there were some bright spots. Senior running back Jackson Murray had 133 yards rushing in the loss with two TDs. His longest run of the night was a 62-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

He also had a receiving TD on a 25-yard connection from quarterback Tyler Harris in the first half.

Harris finished the game going 17-for-37 for 108 yards with a TD and an interception.

Sonoraville opened the game with some intensity, scoring to take a 7-0 lead on the 25-yard connection between Harris and Murray.

After that, however, Pickens took advantage of several mistakes by the home team, scoring 36 unanswered points to lead 36-7 at the half.

Sonoraville will look to start fast and sustain that this week with another tough visiting team coming to town.

They will also try to eliminate penalties, which were a problem against Pickens last Friday. Tensions rose at the end of the first half, with two fights almost breaking out in the game.

Another bright spot in the loss was the kicking of senior Matt Edgar, who went 3-for-3 on extra points.

The Phoenix will be trying to avoid their first 0-2 start since 2007, which was the school's second year of varsity football, and this will be the first meeting between Sonoraville and Gilmer.

The first game could've been growing pains as it was the first time Sonoraville has used their recently-installed spread offense in a game.

Coach Roger Gentry said the change was made in the spring because the offense would fit Sonoraville's personnel better than the more traditional offense that has been used the last few years, which was led by the school's all-time leading rusher Shaqeal McAfee, who graduated last year.

The offense should become more familiar and routine to the players the more time they have in games with it as it depends heavily on timing and rhythm.

The defense is also going through some changes early in the season with several new starters getting their first varsity experience.

Prediction:

It was tough sledding in Week 1 for Sonoraville, but that's why you schedule non-region games at the first of the season, to get much-needed experience for the region schedule.

The new offense will take some time to get in rhythm, and the more you run it, the better it will get.

The Phoenix will play better this Friday, but still come up short.

Score:

Gilmer 35, Sonoraville 21