McEachern Dominates Hillgrove in Top Class 6A Matchup
In what was billed as one of the most anticipated games in Week 10 of the 2025 Georgia high school football season, the McEachern Indians took an early 14-0 lead against Hillgrove’s staunch defensive unit and went on to win 35-14.
The Indians not only remain undefeated, but with the victory over the Hawks, McEachern head coach 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 long, be sure to catch ITG Next’s “McEachern Football Coach’s Show With Kareem Reid,” hosted by Phil Jones.
Class 3A: Troup County Stays Perfect With Rivalry Win
In another key rivalry matchup, Troup County, which has been ranked in ITG Next’s Georgia high school football Class 3A top five all season as part of the GHSF Daily Composite Poll, defeated crosstown rival LaGrange 38-24 to remain undefeated at 8-0 overall, including 6-0 in region play.
Troup was the No. 3-ranked team in ITG Next’s 2025 Georgia high school football Class 3A preseason rankings.
“This was a great win for our guys,” Troup head coach Tanner Glisson said 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.”
His comments illustrate the intensity of the rivalry between city and county programs.
“We were challenged mentally and physically and answered the call,” Glisson said. “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.”
Troup County remains in the third spot, trailing only Peach County and Sandy Creek.
Speaking of the Sandy Creek 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.
Class 2A: Crisp County Stuns Pierce County on the Road
In Class 2A, Crisp County, which has been playing much better than its win-loss record would indicate, came away with its 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, Georgia.
The Cougars trailed 10-0 early but managed to pull to within 3 points, 10-7, at the half. Crisp County added two more touchdowns in the third quarter, with the clinching final score coming in the fourth quarter to seal the 28-16 win for head coach Justin Newman’s team.
Newman gave credit for the win to everyone and anyone affiliated with the Cordele, Georgia, program.
“This was a total team effort: players, coaches, fans, and administration,” Newman 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.”
With the win, Crisp County improves to 3-6 overall, but in region play they are now 2-1 in Region 3-2A.
Crisp County 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. The Cougars have one game remaining at Cook in two weeks. Appling County has two games left, also against Cook and then Pierce County in the regular season finale. Crisp County would need Appling County to lose both of its remaining games, and the Cougars would need to beat Cook.
Class 5A: Hughes, Houston County Flex Their Muscle
In Georgia high school football’s Class 5A, Hughes and Houston County flexed their muscles over teams that were challenging them in their respective regions.
Hughes and Northgate entered their matchup in a three-way tie for the region lead along with Lovejoy, with each team entering Friday night with identical 4-0 records in Region 3-5A.
The Hughes Panthers 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.
The Houston County Bears hosted the Coffee Trojans Friday night, with Coffee still 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 points in the fourth-quarter to win 45-21.
That sets up a primetime game for Houston County with Thomas County Central next week at the Jackets’ Nest with the Region 2-5A championship at stake.
Class 1A-Division I: Jasper County’s Historic Turnaround Continues
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 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 looking at their first undefeated regular season since 1988.
Jasper County is tied with Lamar County for the region lead with both teams at 4-0 in Region 4 in Class 1A-Division I.
Jasper County will play Putnam County, then the Lamar Trojans on Halloween night in the last regular season game of the year.
It looks like Halloween is going to be full of treats for Georgia high school football fans.
