Northgate coach Mike McDonald reached the 100-win plateau on Friday when the Vikings overpowered Region 3-5A rival McIntosh 56-21.

McDonald’s career as a head coach began in 2004 at Union Grove and spent three seasons with the Wolverines. He was head coach at Newnan from 2009-2016, winning the region title in 2009.

McDonald became the head coach at Northgate in 2018 and taken the Vikings to the state playoffs two times, reaching the second round in 2022. Northgate is 5-2 this season and a co-leader in Region 3-5A.

McDonald’s historic win was enabled by the effort of running back Evan Garrett, who ran 25 times for 282 yards and four touchdowns. Garrett also returned the opening kickoff for a 97-yard touchdown.

Richmond Academy nabs 600th victory

Richmond Academy became the 24th football program in Georgia to reach the 600-win mark on Friday when the Musketeers defeated Cross Creek 28-0.

Richmond Academy is led by first-year coach Keenan Grissett,

Richmond Academy has won 14 region championships and two state titles – 1951 and 1956. The school won a region title in 2020 under Lyle Burns and reached the second round of the playoffs. The school’s all-time record is 600-488-44.

The school began playing football in 1902, according to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. The first full season was 1913 when they went 5-3-1 under coach Dutch Sancken.

Lumpkin County captures win No. 200

Lumpkin County earned the 200th victory in the program’s history on Friday when the Indians routed region rival Gilmer 56-3.

The program began in 1961 and is 7-0 this season and aiming for the program’s first region championship under second-year head coach Heath Webb. The Indians tied a school record for wins in 2022 by going 8-3 in Webb’s first season.

First-year coaches break through with victories

Allatoona coach Brad Smith got his first win at his new school when the Buccaneers beat Woodstock 22-19. 

Stone Mountain coach Greg Carter got his first victory when the Pirates defeated Clarkston 14-8.