McEachern win over Hillgrove One Of Georgia High School Football Key Week 10 Matchups
In what was billed as one of the most anticipated games in week 10 of Georgia High School Football matchups, the McEachern Indians took an early 14-0 lead against the Hillgrove’s staunch defensive unit, and went on to win 35-14.
The Indians not only remain undefeated, but with the victory of the Hawks, Kareem Reid’s team takes control of the Region 3-6A lead, improving to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the region.
For more on this game, and McEachern Indians Football all season and into the postseason, be sure to catch the McEachern Coaches Show with Coach Reed and Phil Jones of ITG Next Georgia.
In another key rivalry matchup, Troup County, who has been ranked in ITG Next Georgia’s Class 3A Top 5 all season as part of the GHSF Daily Composite Poll, defeated crosstown rival Troup County 38-24 to remain undefeated at 8-0 overall, including 6-0 in region play.
Troup was our number 3 ranked team in our 2025 Georgia High School Football Class 3A Preseason Poll.
“This was a great win for our guys,” Troup head coach Tanner Glisson told me following his team’s win over their biggest rival. “Like most intense rivalry games, it was a fist fight, and I mean that in a good way,” he said, illustrating the intensity of the rivalry between city and county programs.
“We were challenged mentally and physically, and answered the call. I’m proud that we are 8-0 and proud to swing the rivalry win back to our side. We are 7-3 against them in the last 10 meetings,” Glisson said.
Troup County remains in the 3rd spot, trailing only Peach County and Sandy Creek. Speaking of the Patriots, they will meet Troup County in two weeks on Halloween night in the last regular season game of the year for both teams in a matchup that will decide the Region 2-3A winner.
In Class 2A, Crisp County, which has been playing much better than their won-loss record would indicate, came away with their biggest win of the season Friday night with a stunning, come-from-behind victory over heavily favored home team Pierce County 28-16 in Blackshear.
The Cougars trailed early 10-0, but managed to pull to within three points, 10-7 at the half. Crisp County would add two more touchdowns in the third quarter, with the clinching final score coming in the fourth quarter to seal the 28-16 final for Coach Justin Newman’s team.
Newman gave credit for the win to everyone and anyone affiliated with the Cordele program.
“This was a total team effort: players, coaches, fans, and administration,” he said. “I’m so proud of this team. We have been so close in every game this year and to finally see them get over the hump, was just amazing. We have to continue to build on this win going into the final game of the season against Cook and prepare for the playoffs,” Newman said.
With the win, Crisp improves to 3-6 overall, but in region play they are now 2-1 in Region 3-AA.
Crisp is guaranteed a playoff spot as one of the top four teams in the region, but that’s not all that Newman and his band of Cougars are ready to settle for.
“We still have a chance at a Region title,” Newman said.
That possibility indeed still exists for the Cougars.
Appling County currently leads the region at 2-0, with Crisp at 2-1. The Cougars have one game remaining, at Cook in two weeks. Appling has two games left, with the Hornets and against Pierce County in the regular season finale.
Crisp County would need Appling to lose both of their remaining games, and the Cougars would need to beat Cook.
Class 5A
In Georgia High School football’s Class 5A, Hughes and Houston County flexed their muscle over teams who were challenging them in their respective regions.
Hughes and Northgate entered their matchup in a 3-way tie for the region lead, along with Lovejoy, with each team entering Friday night with identical 4-0 records in Region 3-6A.
Hughes blew open a close game and won easily over Northgate by a 40-5 final, establishing themselves all alone at the top of the region standings by the time the clock struck midnight on Friday night.
That’s because Lovejoy also lost in an upset to Newnan. Lovejoy and Northgate each fall to 4-1 in the region.
Houston County hosted Coffee Friday night, with Coffee still very much in the hunt for the region 2-5A lead. The Trojans were 1-1 in region play before the matchup with the Bears, who were 2-0. A win by Coffee could have put them in the hunt for the Region’s top seed with two games remaining.
Despite keeping things close for three quarters, the Bears pulled away with 17 fourth quarter points to win 45-21. That sets up a primetime game with Thomas County Central next week at The Jackets Nest with the Region 2-5A championship at stake.
Class A D-I
The Monticello Hurricanes of Jasper County continued one of the most impressive turnarounds of any program in the state since head coach Ashley Henderson took over in 2022. Before Henderson’s arrival, Jasper County had gone without a winning season for 20 years. It had been 33 years since the program had won a playoff game.
Henderson has erased all those memories, and has created a new culture among the Monticello fans.
He has the team at 8-0 after their impressive 42-7 victory over Social Circle last week. The ‘Canes have two games remaining, but are trying to win their first region title since 1992, and are looking at their first undefeated regular season since 1988.
Jasper County is tied with Lamar County for the region lead with both teams 4-0 in Region 4 Class A D-I.
They’ll play Putnam County then the Trojans of Lamar on Halloween night in the last regular season game of the year.
Looks like Halloween is going to be full of treats for Georgia High School football fans.
