October 15, 2025 — "Two ranked, undefeated teams three miles apart is Friday-night Georgia football at its best," declared Cobb's Director of Athletics Don Baker.
The last time the yearly matchup between Powder Springs rivals McEachern High School and Hillgrove High School had as much on the line as this year was in 2019. That game came down to the wire, and a goal-line call by a referee is still being debated today. The McEachern Indians won that night and remained undefeated to win the region championship in a stacked Region 3, Class 7A. They received their first loss of the 2019 season from North Gwinnett in the quarterfinals of the 7A playoffs.
Hillgrove's best finish since 2019 was last season, which similarly ended with quarterfinal elimination by eventual 2024 state runner-up Carrollton. The Hawks have been posting numbers this season that prove last season was not a fluke. They are the top-scoring team in Class 6A, scoring more than 46 points on average per game. Even more impressively, they have allowed only 13 points to be scored against them—all season!
On paper, the 2025 teams are well-matched. The McEachern Indians have an explosive offense filled with weapons at the skill positions. Their defense is also loaded, led in the trenches by lineman Darryl Rivers and in the secondary by one of the top sophomore prospects in the country, Casey Barner. Hillgrove's offense is led by senior QB Donovan Mack, and on defense, the Hawks have a pair of outstanding linebackers in Chris Carbin and Jameson McCullough, and a secondary led by cornerback Jaidan James. There will be so many college-committed athletes on the field on Friday night that it can be considered a preview of Saturday games for years to come.
"It'll be a sellout crowd for sure," said Hillgrove Athletic Director Jonathan Brown. "It is also being televised on Georgia Public Broadcasting, so all eyes in the state will be on this game. McEachern is going to bring their best; Hillgrove is going to bring their best, and we're going to represent Powder Springs on Friday night!"
McEachern AD, Myra Camese, agreed. "It is going to be a great game. It's going to be a game of intense competition and may the best team win. We are excited for it and looking forward to it!" she said with a smile.
Both head coaches know what's at stake in the game: a region title and the chance to host two home playoff games. Neither coach, though, is looking beyond Friday. It's business as usual on both practice fields, and staying committed to the game plan that got them to this point.
"These types of moments are rare, and so many folks have worked extremely hard to get here," said Hillgrove Head Coach Justin DeShon. "We have a veteran group that understands that without focus and execution, we have nothing. We are reminding them that in this moment, the only thing that matters is blocking, tackling, and effort."
Indian Head Coach Kareem Reid, now in his third year at McEachern, has a similar mindset.
"It will be a special night for Powder Springs. The significance of the game is hard to ignore, but as coaches, we are emphasizing keeping the main thing the main thing. We have a blueprint for how our week needs to go in terms of our preparation. For us to have success on Friday night, we’ll need to stick to that script," he said.
The teams enter the game as two of the top-ranked in 6A: McEachern at No.5 and Hillgrove at No.10. Both offenses are high-scoring and deep, and their defenses are skilled and disciplined. It will be the biggest test of the season for both teams.
"As close as these schools are in miles, they’re just as close in tradition," explained Cobb's Director of Athletics Don Baker. "Hillgrove–McEachern is a showcase of the high-quality football and first-class programs that come out of the Cobb County School District. McEachern’s been playing since the 1960s with 450-plus wins and 20 region titles. Hillgrove boasts the most NFL players from any Georgia high school. The series itself is nearly split, with eight wins for Hillgrove and seven for McEachern. It will be a great night for Powder Springs and for Cobb, and I know Coach Reid and Coach DeShon will have their teams ready to compete."
