By: Kenneth Harrison

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The High School Football regular season is almost over.

Let’s take a look at how the top teams in metro Atlanta are doing before they head into the playoffs. I’m going to start with 6A.

#1 Grayson: The Rams (8-0) beat Rockdale County 58-10 last week. The defending 6A state champions are led by backup junior quarterback David “Deuce” Smith.

Four-star senior QB and UNC commit Travis Burgess suffered a season ending knee injury in the third game of the season.

“Hearing him go down, it was sad at one point,” Smith said. “Then it was excited like, ‘Your time is now,’ then it’s nervous butterflies, like, ‘Oh, shoot, it’s a big game coming up.”

In the Rockdale game, Smith threw five touchdown passes in the first half. Jovanni Watts returned a punt 52 yards for a touchdown. Jonathan Stafford had three catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns.

Next: 10/24 vs. South Gwinnett (5-2)

#2 Buford: The Wolves (7-0) beat Dacula 58-7 last week.

Dayton Raiola, the younger brother of Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, was 9-of-11 passing for 184 yards and four touchdowns, two to Torre Costin.

D.J. McCoy rushed for 92 yards. Deion Miller had seven solo tackles.

Next: Friday at Central Gwinnett (3-3)

#3 Carrolton: The Trojans (8-0) made it to the state championship game in 2024.

Last week they beat Chapel Hill 56-7.

Rontre Welch returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and caught a 46-yard TD pass a few minutes later.

Jay Hagan returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown.

C.J. Cypher was 9-of-9 passing for 180 yards and three touchdowns. Mason Holtzclaw was 8-of-11 passing for 69 yards and a touchdown.

Next: Friday vs. East Coweta (1-6)

#5 McEachern: The Indians (7-0) used to be an elite program and they have returned back to that in 2025.

Last week, they beat Pebblebrook 51-14. McEachern led 34-0 in the first half. Calvin Pittman was 8-of-9 passing for 165 yards and three touchdowns, and Coby Pittman was 5-of-8 for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Jacorey Shockley had five receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Next: Friday at

#10 Hillgrove (7-0)

Now let’s take a look at 5A.

#1 Hughes: The Panthers (7-0) had a bye last week.

They lost the 5A state championship game last season to Milton. The closest game they had this season was a 13-point win over the #6 team in 6A, Douglas County.

Next: Friday vs. #10 Northgate (7-0)

#3 Gainesville: The Red Elephants (7-1) beat #5 Milton last week, 28-16.

Nigel Newkirk rushed for 166 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries.

Kharim Hughley was 12-of-19 passing for 117 yards and a touchdown. Marshall Leonard, Kadin Fossung and Jamarion Matthews combined for five tackles for losses.

Next: Friday vs. Chattahoochee (1-6)

#6 Roswell: Last week, the Hornets (6-1) beat Chattahoochee 57-13.

Trey Smith was 19-of-21 passing for 195 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown on five carries.

Dre Cousey had five receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns.

Next: Friday vs. Lanier (5-3)

Now we will take a look at 4A.

#1 Creekside (8-0): The Seminoles made history in their game last Friday.

They beat Drew 91-0, which is the widest victory margin in a GHSA game since 1967.

They did not score an offensive touchdown in the second half.

The closest game they had this season was a 20-point win over Rome in the season opener.

Next: 10/24 at Jackson-Atlanta (6-2)