With five weeks in the books, Georgia’s high school football season is hitting its stride and separation is starting to show across every classification. Our “Eight Greats Around the State” spotlights some of the more intriguing games across the state as many teams are in the all important Region portion of their schedule; from unbeaten powers to surprise contenders. This is Part I of our Weekly Preview.
Blessed Trinity vs Hebron Christian
Blessed Trinity brings a run-heavy offense and one of the state’s stingiest defenses back home after a tough loss to Milton. Hebron Christian comes off a bye week with star back Devon Caldwell leading a balanced offense but a defense still looking for consistency. This matchup features the Titans’ disciplined defense against the Lions’ explosive ground game, with line play likely deciding the outcome.
Norcross vs Peachtree Ridge
Norcross comes in off a region win over Duluth with a balanced but still-developing offense led by running backs Kendall Edwards and Joshua Burks and a defense keyed by Miles Davis. Peachtree Ridge enters on a three-game winning streak with one of the region’s most efficient passing attacks behind quarterback Rayshaun Parks and a defense that has posted consecutive shutouts. This matchup features Norcross’ ball-control approach against the Lions’ explosive aerial game, with playoff seeding implications already on the line.
North Paulding vs North Cobb
North Paulding and North Cobb both opened region play with wins and bring balanced, high-scoring offenses into this matchup. The Wolfpack lean on Khalil Harrell and a powerful rushing attack, while the Warriors feature quarterback Teddy Jarrard and a strong one-two punch on the ground. Control of the line of scrimmage will likely decide this early region showdown.
Pierce County vs Brooks County
Pierce County enters at 4–0 behind a dominant defense and a ground game led by Jaeveon Williams and versatile quarterback Drake Dowling. Brooks County, fresh off its first win, faces another tough test but brings a capable passing attack led by Junior Burrus and big-play receiver Traeviss Stevenson. This matchup pits the Bears’ physical defense and rushing attack against the Trojans’ aerial game and disruptive pass rusher Demarion Washington.
Special thanks to the Georgia Helmet Project for providing each team’s helmet. You can find all of their work here: http://gahelmetproject.com
Historical records are provided by the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. (ghsfa.org)
The Skinny
The Titans return home after a defensive slugfest on the road against Class 5A power Milton, where they were held to just 204 yards of total offense. On the season, Blessed Trinity still boasts a healthy 31.2 points per game, built on a power run game. They average 171.8 rushing yards per contest to only 95 passing, reflecting their physical identity.
Junior running back Ahmontae Pitts is the centerpiece of the offense. His 410 rushing yards and five touchdowns have come against some of the state’s tougher front sevens, and he’s the Titans’ tone-setter between the tackles. The passing game is handled by a two-quarterback system — senior J.D. Callaway and sophomore Ty Page — which has produced 380 yards and three scores combined. Quin Davis, a senior wideout, has emerged as the primary downfield threat (10 catches, 199 yards, 1 TD) and can stretch defenses if they load up to stop the run.
The defense has been as good as advertised, surrendering just 12.5 points per game and showing the ability to both pressure quarterbacks and create turnovers. The Titans have 13 total sacks; edge rusher D.J. Jacobs leads with five, while safety Will Chastain anchors the back end with three interceptions.
The Hebron Christian Lions had a bye last week, giving them extra time to prepare for one of their toughest tests of the season. Hebron Christian averages 27.3 points per game while allowing 25, leaning on a talented backfield but looking for consistency on defense.
Senior running back Devon Caldwell is the engine. He’s rushed for 463 yards and scored seven total touchdowns, also contributing as a receiver on swing passes and checkdowns to give the Lions another dimension. When Hebron Christian does look to pass, quarterback play has improved, and wideout Jarvis Mathurin has become the go-to option for chunk plays downfield or in the red zone.
The Lions’ defense has been opportunistic at times but also inconsistent, surrendering an average of 25 points per game. They’ll be tasked with slowing one of the state’s most physical rushing attacks and keeping the Titans off schedule on early downs.
Keys to the Game
Blessed Trinity Titans
- Control the line of scrimmage to let Pitts dictate tempo and wear down the Lions’ defense.
- Limit negative plays with the two-QB system and take advantage of single coverage on Davis.
- Keep generating pressure and turnovers on defense to shorten the field for the offense.
Hebron Christian Lions
- Load up to slow the run and force the Titans to pass into tighter windows.
- Feature Caldwell as both a runner and receiver to exploit mismatches and control time of possession.
- Hit a few timely deep shots to Mathurin to stretch the Titans’ defense and keep them honest.
Prediction: Blessed Trinity by 7
The Skinny
The Norcross Blue Devils snapped a brief skid last week with a region win over Duluth and are trying to build momentum. Over their last three games, Norcross has averaged 145.3 passing yards and 123.3 rushing yards per contest. Senior backs Kendall Edwards (183 yards, 1 TD) and Joshua Burks (130 yards, 4 TDs) share the load on the ground. Through the air, junior P.J. Wolfe leads with 357 passing yards and five touchdowns, though last week junior Logan Herring got the start at quarterback. Overall, Norcross is scoring 29.2 points per game while allowing 21.2.
Linebacker Miles Davis leads the defense with 36 total tackles, and two-way standout Joshua Burks is second with 32. The Blue Devils have generated five sacks and forced five turnovers on the year, but consistency in getting off the field on third down has been a point of emphasis.
The Peachtree Ridge Lions have ripped off three straight wins, including back-to-back shutouts, and are averaging 38 points per game. Their offense is built around a potent passing attack that averages 268 yards per game, complemented by 138.8 rushing yards. Senior quarterback Rayshaun Parks has been one of the state’s most efficient passers — 1,058 yards, 14 touchdowns, just two interceptions, and a 69.9% completion rate. His top targets are Kobe Adeleke-Hokes (16 receptions, 261 yards, 2 TDs) and Christian Campbell (12 receptions, 248 yards, 5 TDs). Versatile back Sedric Addisonleads the ground game with 240 yards and three scores on only 28 carries and adds a dangerous receiving element (6 catches, 100 yards, 3 TDs).
Peachtree Ridge is allowing just 12.7 points per game and has racked up 12 sacks and seven takeaways. Seyon Bedell paces the team with 39 total tackles, while sophomore Elijah Thompson has been disruptive up front with six tackles for loss and a team-high four sacks.
Keys to the Game
Norcross Blue Devils
- Establish a balanced attack early with Edwards and Burks to control tempo and keep the Lions’ offense on the sideline.
- Protect the football and finish drives; empty possessions could be costly against a fast-scoring opponent.
- Get pressure with the pass rush and disguise coverages to slow down Parks’ rhythm in the passing game.
Peachtree Ridge Lions
- Continue to protect quarterback Rayshaun Parks and exploit Norcross’ secondary with intermediate and deep routes.
- Keep Sedric Addison involved in both the run and short passing game to maintain offensive balance.
- Maintain defensive discipline against Norcross’ two-back set and force them into long yardage situations.
Prediction: Norcross by 3
The Skinny
The North Paulding Wolfpack opened region play with a 501-yard offensive explosion in a shootout win over Cherokee. They piled up 328 rushing yards in that game, showcasing one of the most potent ground attacks in the region. On the season, North Paulding averages 286.6 rushing yards and 182 passing yards per contest while scoring 41.2 points per game.
Senior running back Khalil Harrell stole the show last week with 230 rushing yards and four touchdowns, boosting his season total to a team-high 503 yards and tying him for the team lead with five scores (alongside Brycen Morris-Martinez and James Skelly). Senior quarterback Tyler Niehr has been efficient, throwing for 882 yards and nine touchdowns. Wideouts Presley Carr (14 catches, 220 yards, 3 TDs) and Ortega Umudi (8 catches, 109 yards, 1 TD) headline the receiving corps.
North Paulding is allowing 27.8 points per game but has been disruptive in the backfield, recording 20 sacks. Senior defensive end Grant Henderson leads with five sacks, sophomore linebacker Gavin Clark tops the team with 25 tackles, and junior lineman Wesley Rakestraw has six tackles for loss.
The North Cobb Warriors bounced back with a region win over Walton and are starting to find a rhythm offensively with a balanced attack. They average 170 passing yards and 184.8 rushing yards per game and have scored consistently while allowing just 20.2 points per contest.
Junior quarterback Teddy Jarrard appears to be settling in, completing 61.7% of his throws for 850 yards and six touchdowns. His top targets are Micah Billingsley (25 receptions, 247 yards, 1 TD) and Sebastian Easley (19 receptions, 231 yards, 2 TDs). The ground game features super sophomore Zach Belyeu (68 carries, 488 yards, 7 TDs) and senior Quevy Echols (57 carries, 329 yards, 5 TDs), giving North Cobb a true one-two punch.
North Cobb’s defense has forced nine turnovers, including five interceptions. Trey Shaw and Marcus Singletoneach have two picks. Tackling leaders include Jayden Harris (30 tackles), Jayden Hamlet (24 tackles), and Christian Williams (24 tackles).
Keys to the Game
North Paulding Wolfpack
- Ride the hot hand in Khalil Harrell but keep the passing game alive with Niehr to avoid predictability.
- Maintain gap discipline on defense to slow Belyeu and Echols and force Jarrard into third-and-long.
- Continue aggressive pass rushing to pressure Jarrard and force hurried throws into coverage.
North Cobb Warriors
- Establish the run early with Belyeu and Echols to control the clock and limit Wolfpack possessions.
- Protect Jarrard from North Paulding’s pass rush and utilize quick throws to Billingsley and Easley to move the chains.
- Stay disciplined on defense to limit explosive runs from Harrell and contain play-action shots downfield.
Prediction: North Cobb by 4
The Skinny
The Pierce County Bears are off to their fourth straight 4–0 start and have been one of Georgia’s most consistent programs, losing just 10 games in the last eight seasons with four region titles and two state championships. This year, they’re averaging 36.2 points per game behind a balanced attack.
Junior running back Jaeveon Williams has already posted multiple 100-yard games and is the focal point of the ground attack. Quarterback Drake Dowling adds versatility, contributing as both a passer and runner to keep defenses honest.
The Bears’ defense has been dominant, allowing only 5.25 points per game and holding two opponents to negative rushing yardage. Their ability to create pressure has been a key to their early success.
The Brooks County Trojans finally broke through with their first win of the season at Fitzgerald, ending a brutal opening stretch that included four Top-10 opponents from 2A and Class A Division I. The Trojans were the beneficiary of converting two turnovers into immediate points last week.
Brooks County averages 127.5 passing yards but just 38.3 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Junior Burrushas thrown for 464 yards and five touchdowns, with wideout Traeviss Stevenson (15 receptions, 321 yards, 4 TDs) emerging as the top playmaker. George Lamons Jr. (6 catches, 52 yards) adds another option, while senior Damari Baynard leads the ground game with 148 yards on 51 carries.
Senior Demarion Washington leads the Trojans with 31 tackles, including 5.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. His disruptive presence is critical to slowing Pierce County’s running attack.
Keys to the Game
Pierce County Bears
- Establish Williams early to control tempo and keep Brooks’ defense on the field.
- Keep Dowling active as a dual-threat to stretch the Trojans horizontally and vertically.
- Continue defensive dominance by winning at the line of scrimmage and pressuring Burrus into mistakes.
Brooks County Trojans
- Protect Burrus and hit explosive plays to Stevenson to create scoring chances.
- Find creative ways to get Damari Baynard involved to balance the offense.
- Lean on Washington and the front seven to slow Pierce County’s rushing attack and create third-and-longs.
Prediction: Pierce County by 16