High school football is far more than a game - during the season - it's the heartbeat of a community. Beneath the stadium lights, perseverance, pride, and belonging take center stage as players, coaches and trainers are joined by marching bands, cheer and dance teams, families, alumni and devoted fans. Behind the scenes, countless professionals prepare the fields, care for the facilities and make each game possible. Together, they create something larger than any final score - a shared experience that brings generations together, strengthens school spirit, and reminds us that everyone has a place under the Friday night lights.
Across East Cobb - Marietta, six schools carry their own proud traditions onto the field: Wheeler, Walton, Sprayberry, Lassiter, Pope and Kell High Schools. Each program brings a distinct story, yet all share a commitment to teamwork, resilience, and the communities they proudly represent.
Pope High School
At Pope High School, football is rooted in something deeper than competition. Greyhound pride is built on belonging, shared responsibility, and the belief that every person contributes to the team - from the athletes on the field to the families in the stands.
A meaningful tradition is the annual selection of an offensive or defensive lineman to wear the No. 70 jersey in honor of Matt Hobby. A 2006 Pope graduate, Hobby courageously battled Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer. His legacy continues on Matt Hobby Field and through the player chosen each season to carry his number. In 2024, Pope celebrated a memorable victory over Sprayberry on Matt Hobby Night, handing the team its only regular-season loss.
Head Football Coach Sean O’Sullivan describes the program through “Pope PRIDE” - Positive Attitude, Resiliency, Integrity, Dependability and Effort—values intended to shape young people long after the final whistle.
Friday nights bring those vivid values to life. Pregame tailgates welcome faculty members, families, and guests while recognition ceremonies honor those who strengthen the school and surrounding community. The band, cheerleaders, DJ, student section, parent volunteers and a dedicated team of dads in the press box create an atmosphere filled with energy and nostalgia.
At the end of each game, players, band members and cheerleaders gather as one Greyhound family. “No matter what happens during those 48 minutes, we are there to support, encourage and celebrate one another,” said Assistant Principal and Interim Athletic Director Lindsay Barnette. “That shared moment captures what being a Greyhound is all about: community, pride and knowing that we are always stronger together.”
Wheeler High School
At Wheeler High School, Friday nights are electric and welcoming, bringing students, families, faculty, alumni, and neighbors together in support of the Wildcats. The band, cheerleaders and spirited student section energize the stadium, but the program’s purpose reaches far beyond the field.
Head Football Coach Travis Roland begins his inaugural season at Wheeler with a team-first philosophy expressed through F.A.M.I.L.Y. - Forget About Me, I Love You. “If we can teach a group of players to truly become a family, that’s when something special happens,” Coach Roland said. His philosophy reflects Wheeler’s goal of developing student-athletes who compete with excellence, lead with character and serve their community.
Community engagement is equally central to the Wildcat tradition. Through the annual Shop with a Wildcat initiative, football players help local children shop for the holidays, building relationships and creating memories beyond the game. Another favorite tradition is the Wheeler Feeder School Mascot Race, held at halftime during the Youth Night football game. Mascots from the elementary and middle schools compete in a spirited 40-yard dash, creating tremendous excitement and helping younger students feel connected to Wheeler long before they arrive on campus.
That culture of excellence extends across Wheeler athletics. The boys basketball program recently captured its 11th state championship - and fifth in seven years - while finishing undefeated against Georgia competition. Together, Wheeler’s traditions and achievements reflect a school where athletic success is measured not only by championships, but also by character, connection and service.
Walton High School
At Walton High School, Friday night football connects generations of Raiders. Before the team takes the field, a senior leads the traditional Walton charge - a ritual that began long before Head Football Coach Daniel Brunner arrived and continues to link today’s players with those who wore the uniform before them.
That tradition is strengthened by a simple motto Ball Down, Ball Out! for Brunner, the words represent far more than game-night intensity. They reflect a commitment to preparation, accountability and consistent effort - doing the work throughout the week so the team is ready when Friday arrives.
That dedication has produced the longest playoff streak in Walton football history. The Raiders have reached the postseason for nine consecutive seasons, winning 15 playoff games during that span - one more than the program recorded in the previous 41 years combined.
On game nights, packed stands, enthusiastic student section and generations of families create the unmistakable energy of Raider Nation. Supporters continue attending long after their own children have graduated, preserving a sense of connection that reaches well beyond a single season.
That unity extends across Walton athletics, where student-athletes regularly attend one another’s competitions and celebrate every team as part of one school community. Through sports, students develop discipline, perseverance, leadership and the ability to navigate both success and adversity - lessons that shape not only stronger athletes, but well-rounded young adults.
Sprayberry High School
At Sprayberry High School, Friday night football is shaped by generations of tradition and an enduring sense of Yellow Jacket pride. With one of Cobb County’s oldest alumni bases—including loyal supporters who have not missed a game in more than 20 years - the stands at Jim Frazier Stadium reflect a community whose connection to the school extends long after graduation.
That legacy is captured in the program’s guiding belief: “The last names may graduate, but the standard never changes.” It is a standard reflected in the players’ commitment throughout the week and in a memorable 2024 season, when the Yellow Jackets finished 11–2, captured the Region 6-AAAAA championship and advanced to the state quarterfinals.
At Sprayberry, victory belongs to the entire school. Following a win, football players celebrate alongside the band and cheerleaders in a tradition that recognizes the many people who make game night possible. The moment embodies a simple but powerful understanding: it takes everyone to win.
“Our football team understands that it takes all of us—cheerleaders, band members and football players,” said Dr. Nathan Autry, Assistant Principal and Athletic Director. “After wins, all of us celebrate together.”
For Sprayberry, athletics is ultimately a vehicle for developing character, navigating adversity and preparing young people to become leaders in their community. That purpose—supported by students, families and deeply devoted alumni—is the heart of the Yellow Jacket tradition.
Kell High School
At Kell High School, the unmistakable sound of the Longhorn Cowbell marks far more than a football victory. It celebrates the collective work of players, coaches, students, families and an entire community that proudly stands behind them. When the bell rings across The Stockyard, everyone knows it is a great night to be a Longhorn.
That spirit is guided by a simple challenge: “Doesn’t Matter. Get Better.” Regardless of the opponent, the previous result or the circumstances, Kell athletes are expected to keep improving - a mindset grounded in accountability, resilience and consistent effort in athletics, academics and life.
The football program’s proud history includes three Final Four appearances and three Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11 selections: Brian Randolph, Jonathan Dwyer and Moonie Gipson. That legacy has come full circle through Dwyer, a former NFL player who returned to Kell to coach and mentor today’s Longhorns, including fellow Super 11 honoree Gipson.
Friday nights at The Stockyard unite generations through tailgating, youth football and packed stands filled with students, staff, parents, alumni and neighbors. The community’s support also crosses traditional lines. Football players have even reversed roles by attending band competitions and cheering for the classmates who energize them on game nights.
“At Kell, athletics is about more than winning - it is about developing students, building community and creating Longhorns who are prepared for life,” said Oneisha Young, Assistant Principal and Athletic Director. It is a philosophy that places students first and values education, character, leadership and service long after the final score.
Lassiter High School
At Lassiter High School, the heart of Trojan football is captured in a rally cry repeated after every victory “We ask no quarter, we give no quarter!” More than words, it represents the toughness, accountability and confidence that Head Football Coach Dr. Sean Thom works to instill in his players.
“The rally cry reminds us that victories are earned together and that our standard does not change, regardless of the opponent,” Coach Thom said. “It has become part of the identity of Lassiter Trojan football.”
That identity comes alive on Friday nights, when excitement builds throughout the school day and carries into the stadium. Students, families, faculty and community members fill the stands, while the Trojan student section brings an unmistakable energy that makes game night a defining part of the Lassiter experience.
The support extends across the school’s athletic programs, with students and families showing up for one another and creating a culture in which every athlete feels valued. For Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Scott Kelly, that collective encouragement is central to what makes the Lassiter community special.
Athletics also gives students lessons that reach beyond competition - from discipline, resilience and leadership to time management and overcoming adversity. The friendships built and challenges shared help prepare Trojans not simply to compete, but to carry confidence, character and perseverance into every part of life.
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