October 22, 2025 — It was an epic battle of the southern Cobb County birds of prey. Pebblebrook swooped into Austell, bringing its Falcons to the "Battle of the Nest" against the South Cobb Eagles. It was a region game with a potential playoff bid on the line, but more importantly, it was about local bragging rights. It is a competitive affair whenever these birds meet, and Friday proved to be another thrilling chapter in the long rivalry dating back to the mid-1960s.
Both teams entered the game 2-5. Pebblebrook had wins against Meadowcreek and Osborne, and South Cobb claimed back-to-back wins earlier in the season against Banneker and Drew. The Eagles' two wins were their first in a long dry spell since the 2021 season. Both teams are building back with new coaches and renewed determination for gridiron success.
The game resembled a heavyweight slugfest. The Eagles scored first, and the Falcons answered back in the first quarter. The Falcons scored the only points of the second quarter and carried a 13-6 lead into halftime. The Eagles managed to tie the score in the third quarter, and the teams entered the final quarter deadlocked at 13 each.
South Cobb struck first in the final period with a rushing touchdown to take the lead, 20-13. This was short-lived, though, as Pebblebrook answered once again to even the score at 20-20 with minutes left in regulation. The stalemate continued to the final buzzer, and the contest entered overtime.
It took three overtime periods to finally break the tie. The Falcons scored on a two-point conversion attempt, but the Eagles' pass attempt to force a fourth OT sailed incomplete. The Falcons won 22-20 and improved to 3-5. With a win over Paulding County this Friday, they are now in position to clinch the fourth playoff spot in Region 3-6A.
Although the Eagles dropped to 2-6 on the season, their performance on the field is showing steady improvement week after week. A two-win season after three no-win seasons is something to be very proud of and is much-needed momentum to build for the future.
Thanks for a great game, Eagles and Falcons!
Shoutout to Cammy Robinson for the outstanding photos!
