Two powerhouse high school football programs meeting Friday highlights an extraordinary schedule this weekend as the undefeated, nationally-ranked and reigning Class 7A state champion Milton Eagles travel to Gainesville to take on the Red Elephants in a Class 5A-Region 8 clash of two of the best teams in the state.
The game will be broadcast live on the Peachtree Sports Network starting at 8 p.m., and digitally on Atlanta News First, ZEAM and the National Federation High School Network.
‘Back to the Future’ topped the box office and “We are the World” by USA for Africa won Record of the Year at the Grammy’s the last time Milton and Gainesville faced each other in 1985. If Bob Dylan were to attend the game Friday, he would be much more excited there than he was when recording ‘We are the World’.
The Red Elephants lead the all-time series 3-1 as they defeated Milton in their last matchup, 12-0, almost 30 years ago.
“Get there early and be loud,” said Gainesville head coach Josh Niblett. “This will be one of the deals where if you don’t get there early you might not get a seat.”
Since then, the schools football programs have accomplished major feats such as 11 region titles and the programs first state championship in 2012 for Gainesville, and seven region titles and two state championships for Milton including last season’s Class 7A title.
After close to 30 years without playing one another, the two teams look very different than they did decades ago with fairly new head coaches at the helm.
When Gainesville’s Niblett and Milton’s Ben Reaves both took over their respective programs when they were hired in 2022, the sustained success the two programs have had since then is astounding. The two have a combined record of 62-9, they each have three-consecutive double-digit win seasons and have both never lost a region matchup in their tenures.
Between the two highly-talented rosters, there are at least 35 players who are already committed or who have received offers to play football at the next level that will be competing against each other on Friday night. Both schools possess players who are already committed to play at high-level college football programs and have been relied on by their teams and coaches since they began playing for the school.
The Milton offense is one of the best units in the state, with a plethora of talent all over the board that makes them lethal in all facets of the game. Miami-commit, 4-star quarterback Luke Nickel has been solid under center for the Eagles, throwing for over 1500 yards, 16 touchdowns with a completion percentage around 67% to lead the Eagles offense.
Nickel led the Eagles to a state championship a season ago and is in his third year as the starting quarterback. His connection with 4-star Florida State commit, C.J. Wiley is one of the best in the state as the two have connected for over 570 yards on 30 receptions and six touchdowns, averaging just over 19 yards per catch. The two 4-stars were both featured on the Preseason Mr. Georgia Football Watchlist and have been exceptional this season, making themselves known as one of the top connections in the state.
Pass catchers, 4-star Georgia-commit tight end Ethan Barbour and 4-star Auburn-commit Ryan Ghea complement Wiley and Nickel and are proven to be as reliable as they come in the pass game. Barbour has accounted for 361 yards on 22 receptions and three touchdowns while Ghea has five catches for 108 yards after missing two games this season.
Running back, Eastern Kentucky-commit T.J Lester has handled rushing responsibilities on the ground for the Eagles, posting close to 680 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging close to 100 yards on the ground. Lester has been sensational through the first seven games and is averaging close to seven yards as Milton’s first option at running back. A season ago, Lester posted a little over 740 yards and has almost broke last year’s totals through the first seven weeks of the season.
Clemson-commit, 6-foot-7 330-pound Brayden Jacobs imposing stature helps create a clean pocket for Nickel to run an efficient Eagles offense.
The Milton defense has held its opponents to 66 points this season and has only allowed eight touchdowns on the season. The Eagles keep their opponents off the scoreboard and suffocate opposing offenses limiting them to under four yards per play and under three yards per rush.
“We go back to the beginning of the season where we returned almost all of our state championship defense and none of our players or none of our coaches were getting any credibility or any love on any preseason list, so that group has had a chip on their shoulder since the beginning and they have played like it,” said Reaves. “They have really raised hell in a bunch of games and have really earned their reputation as one of the top defenses in the state of Georgia. Fortunately for them, they get to go up against a really good offense everyday in practice.”
A pair of Tennessee defensive backs lead a talented secondary in seniors Dylan Lewis and Ty Redmond. The two have combined for 45 total tackles with Redmond adding two interceptions of his own.
Linebacker Hayden Tumminia leads the Eagles in tackles with 60 along with five tackles for loss and a sack.
Arkansas-commit 3-star defensive lineman Caleb Bell adds a imposing threat in the Milton front-sevenl, adding 39 tackles and eight-and-a-half tackles for loss.
Milton will have its work cut out for them going up against a talented Gainesville roster that is averaging just over 38 points per game and a little over 10 points per game to its opponents.
“Defensively, we want to play fast and be physical,” said Niblett. “We’ve got tough kids, that’s never a question as far as the makeup of our team and the identity. We have toughness and have been tough since the first day I have been here.”
Southern California-commit, 5-star linebacker Xavier Griffin has dominated to start the season for the Red Elephants with 35 total tackles and a team-leading 13 tackles for loss. The no. 4 player in the state of Georgia in the Class 2026 has been committed to the Trojans since July and has had a stellar junior season thus far.
On the defensive line, Duke-commit Julius Columbus has led a dominant Gainesville front seven along with 3-star defensive end Kadin Fossung, as Columbus has totaled 22 total tackles and eight tackles for loss while Fossung has added 31 total tackles with three tackles for loss.
In the backend, Clyde Jones has led the secondary from his safety position, posting 26 total tackles while players such as senior defensive lineman Brandon Bailey, junior linebacker Roman Best and senior defensive back Trent Jones round out an experienced Gainesville defense.
The Gainesville offense is led by sophomore starting quarterback Kharim Hughley as he has led a dynamic Red Elephants offense that has been putting up points with ease this season. Hughley has recorded over 1600 yards and 12 touchdowns while playing clean football with no interceptions.
Hughley has a had helped with experience in multiple skill positions as senior wideouts Jeremiah Ward, Taz Smith and Shane King highlight a deadly Gainesville passing attack. The three seniors each have over 400 yards receiving on the season and have combined for 11 of Hughley’s 12 touchdowns on the season.
Senior running back Carmelo Byrd leads the rushing attack for the Red Elephants and has posted just under 600 yards on the ground and 11 touchdowns on the season, giving Gainesville a steady rushing option in an offense led by a young quarterback.
Creating those holes in the defense for Byrd is the Gainesville offensive line, headlined by sophomore offensive tackle Tyler Ford who has been picking up offers since the offseason from places such as Georgia, Florida State and more.
“We love to play in games like this,” Niblett said. “And it’s a big game because we are in it.”
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