In the region’s most recognizable (and expected) rivalry, Habersham Central swept to a 27-3 victory on a rainy night in Mount Airy, earning the first victory of the season and only the second since 1996.
A community invested
The atmosphere resisted the constant downpour. The band played with passion, the bleachers were packed, and the cheerleaders, whose excitement was unabated by the weather, energized the audience.
Both teachers and students voiced hope for the Raiders. That excitement spread online: within two hours of the 8:30 p.m. kickoff, a quick Now Habersham live stream at the beginning of the game received over 17,000 views, 73 comments, and 25 shares, along with hundreds of reactions. Local social media platforms buzzed with posts announcing the showdown for days before the event.From NowHabersham.com/Riley Moody
The new $465,000 scoreboard, which loomed above the field and illuminated the night sky, added to the excitement. As a striking background to the rivalry’s most recent chapter, the display generated applause prior to kickoff and excitement during the match.
The rain became a part of the experience for the marching Band of Blue from Habersham Central. According to mellophone player Madyson Tilly, playing in the rain is always an absolute blast. Marching band is always entertaining, and I love watching the freshmen’s excitement as they perform in the rain.
The band played their stand tunes and the national anthem despite the weather preventing them from doing their halftime act.
When she thought back on the Raiders’ win, she remarked, “I felt so happy!”
Gracie Moore expressed the sentiment from across the county line as fans poured into the stadium: Go Indians.
On the field
Kickoff was closer to nightfall because the game started an hour later than scheduled. Jay Feltus put Habersham on the board first when play started. The lead was later increased in the fourth quarter as quarterback Paris Wilbanks crossed the goal line. Camden Meads drove a low kickoff deep into Stephens County territory, contributed to the follow-up score, and delivered the extra point.From NowHabersham.com/Riley Moody
Returning by running Donnie Warren set the tone with deliberate placements and patient carries, demonstrating the kind of discipline that Coach Benji Harrison had encouraged. Drives continued because of his consistency as the Raiders defense grew more rigid. Mason Witt stopped an Indian drive in the third quarter by intercepting a pass from the Stephens County quarterback. The Raiders swiftly reclaimed control after Stephens County made their own interception in response.
The game’s tempo was delayed by two injuries, and the audience became agitated when a Stephens County player committed a foul. Despite this, the Indians’ formations were more disciplined and neatly lined up than their scoreboard total indicated.
Voices from both sides
“We had excellent training,” Kirk Rogers of Stephens County remarked. It is a fierce rivalry.
His remarks emphasized the significance of a game that has been important since the creation of Habersham Central in 1970, when the county combined two lesser high schools into a single, sizable program. Decades later, the rivalry still exists because of this consolidation and the inherent tension between neighboring counties.
Although Habersham Central and Stephens County have been rivals for decades, their balance has rarely been equal. Habersham was left seeking atonement for over ten years after Stephens County won 14 straight games between 1997 and 2018.
In 2019, the Raiders finally made an impression, ending the streak by defeating the Indians 27–21. Since then, victories have been significant, bearing symbolic weight in the face of an uneven past.
Friday’s 27-3 result gained additional significance because of that history. In addition to being a solid start to the season, Habersham Central’s triumph was another step toward regaining ground in a rivalry where every victory is treasured and compared to previous years when the result appeared all but certain.From NowHabersham.com/Riley Moody
Final whistle
The scoreboard showed Habersham Central ahead 27-3 at 10:45 p.m. The crowd roared as the new display shone, signaling not just a victory but also a new era in Raiders history.
It was more than just a win for the Raiders. At the beginning of a new season, there was a proclamation: the border is theirs, for the time being at least.
