Two teams can take a deep breath this week after ending lengthy losing streaks. 

Riverside Prep of Gainesville put its 35-game losing streak to rest on Friday night by beating Cross Keys 36-6, while South Cobb parked its 32-game losing streak by defeating Banneker 28-6.

Riverside had not won a game since it defeated Druid Hills on Sept. 3, 2021 at North DeKalb Stadium. The Eagles lost their final six games of that season and followed with seasons of 0-10 in 2022, 0-9 in 2023 and 0-10 in 2024.

South Cobb’s last victory came on Oct. 29, 2021, a 19-13 overtime win against Wheeler. The Eagles had endured three consecutive 0-10 seasons and lost its 2025 season opener.

Riverside, in its second season under coach Jeff Lee, had several other firsts. It was the first time they had opened the season with a win since 2014 when they beat Fellowship Christian. It was the first time they had scored more than 30 points in 2021.

J.J. Blackwell threw two touchdown passes, including a 64-yarder to Michael Omeh and a 40-yarder to Max Vegas. Blackwell also recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.

“We didn’t have much planned for him tonight, more than just managing the game,” coach Jeff Lee told Access WDUN. “But he can do a lot with his feet and his arm is decent and he proved it tonight. He hit the open guys.”

Luke Allsbroke led the defense with an interception that set up Jacques Chiller’s 13-yard touchdown run.

Riverside had enjoyed moderate success last decade, going 5-5 in 2019 and 6-6 and reaching the second round of the state playoffs in 2018. But the Eagles were hit hard by COVID, cancelling the 2020 season and going 1-6 in 2021. Lee, the former coach at Dawson County, took the job in 2024.

“Just to see the happiness of the fans, school administrators, and the kids was all worth it," Lee said. "I’ve got kids who have been here for three, four years, and a lot of them even said that was the first time they've been ahead at halftime. You know, I think last year we got ahead in the second half of two games. And so, you know, to see their faces. I mean, that's why I do this. I mean, it is fun. It was fun just to see the fruits of their work pay off."

It wasn’t so much fun for Cross Keys, which saw its losing streak extended to 36 games, tied with Savannah for the second-longest in the state. Jordan has lost 45 straight.

South Cobb coach Marcus Washington told the media in the preseason that his team had a chance to surprise people this season. The second-year coach has spent a lot of time building a culture of toughness and chemistry that showed in the streak-breaking win.

“We just have to compete hard every time we take the field, regardless of who the opponent is,” Washington said.