Two dominant signal callers in Nicholas Wells and Garrison Edwards are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Upson-Lee Knights will challenge the Troup County Tigers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
On Friday, Upson-Lee needed a bit of extra time to put away Mary Persons. They skirted past the Bulldogs 17-14. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Knights have posted since November 1, 2024.
Malachi Character
| 09/26/25 vs Mary Persons | 15 |
| 09/19/25 @ Whitewater | 15 |
| 09/12/25 vs Sandy Creek | 7 |
| 09/05/25 vs Spalding | 5 |
| 08/22/25 vs Manchester | 12 |
| + 13 more games |
Upson-Lee didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Ali Foster and Malachi Character. Character is also on a roll when it comes to total tackles, as he's now made five or more in each of the last 18 games he's played dating back to last season.
Meanwhile, Troup County put another one in the bag last Friday to keep their perfect season alive. They blew past Fayette County 44-0. That looming 44-0 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for Troup County yet this season.
Troup County's win came from a few key players Upson-Lee will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Davis Moncus, who picked up 43 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. The team also got some help courtesy of Javarris Warner, who rushed for 57 yards and one score.
Troup County was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 201 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 156 rushing yards in 12 consecutive matchups dating back to last season.
One reason for the win was Troup County's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for six sacks. The heavy lifting was done by Monyah Johnson and Jeremiah Culpepper, who racked up four sacks between them.
Upson-Lee's record is now 4-2. As for Troup County, their record now sits at 5-0.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Upson-Lee has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 178 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Troup County struggles in that department as they've been averaging 275.4 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Upson-Lee didn't have too much breathing room in their matchup against Troup County in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, but they still walked away with a 33-27 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Knights since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
