On a rain-soaked night in Mt. Airy, Habersham Central surged to a 27–3 victory, seizing the first win of the season and only the second since 1996 in the region’s most familiar (and anticipated) rivalry.
A community invested
The atmosphere defied the steady rain. The stands were crowded, the band performed with enthusiasm, and the cheerleaders pumped up the crowd, their energy undampened by the weather.
Students and faculty alike expressed optimism for the Raiders. Online, that enthusiasm rippled outward: a brief Now Habersham live stream at the start of the game drew over 17,000 views, 73 comments, and 25 shares within two hours of the 8:30 p.m. kickoff, accompanied by hundreds of reactions. For days leading up to the game, local social media pages hummed with posts anticipating the matchup.
Adding to the anticipation was the debut of the new $465,000 scoreboard, which towered over the field and lit up the night sky. The display drew cheers before kickoff and excitement throughout the game, serving as a vivid backdrop to the rivalry’s latest chapter.
For Habersham Central’s marching Band of Blue, the rain became part of the experience. “It’s always a blast performing in the rain,” said Madyson Tilly, who plays mellophone. “Marching band is always fun, and I love seeing the excitement of the freshmen when they get to perform in the rain, too.”
Weather conditions kept the band from performing its halftime show, but they still played the national anthem and their stand tunes.
Reflecting on the Raiders’ victory, she said, “I felt so happy!”
As fans streamed into the stadium, Gracie Moore voiced the sentiment from the other side of the county line: “Go Indians.”
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On the field
The game began an hour late, pushing kickoff closer to nightfall. Once play began, Jay Feltus put Habersham on the board first. Later, quarterback Paris Wilbanks crossed the goal line in the 4th quarter, extending the lead. Camden Meads supplied the extra point and contributed follow-up scoring before driving a low kickoff deep into Stephens County territory.
Running back Donnie Warren set the tone with patient carries and intentional placements, showing the kind of discipline emphasized under Coach Benji Harrison’s watch. His consistency kept drives alive while the Raiders’ defense stiffened. In the third quarter, Mason Witt intercepted a pass from the Stephens County quarterback, halting an Indian drive. Stephens County responded with an interception of their own, but the Raiders quickly regained control.
Two injuries slowed the game’s pace, and tempers briefly rose when a Stephens County player committed a foul, drawing notice from the crowd. Still, the Indians showed discipline in their formations, more structured and cleanly lined up than their scoreboard total reflected.
Voices from both sides
“We trained very well,” said Kirk Rogers of Stephens County. “It’s a big rivalry.”
His words underscored the meaning of a matchup that has carried significance since Habersham Central’s formation in 1970, when the county consolidated two smaller high schools into one large program. That consolidation, and the natural tension of bordering counties, fueled a rivalry that endures decades later.
Indeed, the rivalry between Habersham Central and Stephens County stretches back decades, but its balance has rarely been even. Between 1997 and 2018, Stephens County strung together 14 consecutive victories, a streak that left Habersham chasing redemption for more than a decade.
The Raiders finally broke through in 2019, edging the Indians 27–21 and snapping the drought. Wins since then are meaningful, carrying symbolic weight against a backdrop of lopsided history.
That history gave Friday’s 27–3 result added resonance. For Habersham Central, the victory was not just a strong season opener but another step in clawing back ground in a rivalry where every win is savored, measured against years when the outcome seemed almost predetermined.
Final whistle
At 10:45 p.m., the scoreboard read 27–3 in favor of Habersham Central. The new display gleamed as the crowd roared, marking not just a win but a fresh chapter in the Raiders’ tradition.
For the Raiders, it was more than a victory. It was a declaration at the start of a new season: the border belongs to them, at least for now.
