One of the oldest debates along the Georgia-South Carolina border is how the football talent and following compares on both sides.

This week we’ll see an update of how four tradition-rich programs measure up with one another when Abbeville travels to Hart County, and Seneca visits The Reservation in Stephens County.

Being Week 2, there is still plenty to learn about these teams. Will Stephens County continue its solid play after upsetting Flowery Branch even after a slew of injuries? Can Seneca rebound from a last-minute field goal loss to Pendleton? How will Hart manage Abbeville’s punishing ground game led by junior fullback Dureal Elmore, Mr. 300 yards? How will Hart’s long list of young players improve from its first game to second game?

The great thing about these games is teams aren’t usually tested this early. Stephens and Abbeville are legitimate, and historically, region championship-caliber teams. And Hart and Seneca are consistent playoff contenders.

Historically, the consensus is these Georgia schools have more talent than many Upstate schools because, while there is a smaller population base per county, they are standalone schools, which brings in a higher percentage of athletes per team.

Every Georgia school draws all of the athletes from its county while Seneca has West-Oak and Walhalla, and Abbeville has Dixie.

That also helps to bolster fan bases, and create a wave of buildup to Friday night that can be splintered in Anderson County and Oconee County where allegiances are divided every week.

If there’s any question about that, walk down Hartwell, Toccoa, Elberton and Carnesville at 6:30 on a fall Friday night. Now walk around Anderson. Look at the entertainment competition between the towns.

Whether you’re in Georgia or South Carolina, rural, one-horse town programs are tough to beat because of the support and community importance.

At many of these programs where athletes are spilling out of the woodwork, there is a common pattern: everyone, from moms to grandparents, clears their schedule for Friday nights, and are usually involved in some fashion from the press box to the concession stand.

As one assistant coach told me one time, “If you don’t play football at (insert any of the above programs) you’re not worth much.”

There is no question that football is king at every one of these schools. Football coaches don’t have to recruit players from other sports because they know the athletes view football as their first priority.

Look at programs who aren’t successful, and generally it’s because there is another sport that pulls away from football.

So it’s interesting that four programs that have had success throughout the years are meeting this week. While Seneca and Stephens have tried to bolster their rivalry from the heydays of the 1960s and 70s, Hart and Abbeville are trying to get a spark in their first-ever meeting.

With Abbeville’s 18 region titles and four state championships, and Hart’s nine region crowns, how could we find a better matchup to begin a new rivalry?