Sports

Naomi McPeake skies for a shot in front of teammates Azalee Ring (22) and Hayley Matthews during a recent match at OCHS. The Patriots play Jackson County and Cedar Shoals at Cedar Shoals on Thursday. (Photo/Ty Johnston)

Naomi McPeake skies for a shot in front of teammates Azalee Ring (22) and Hayley Matthews during a recent match at OCHS. The Patriots play Jackson County and Cedar Shoals at Cedar Shoals on Thursday. (Photo/Ty Johnston)

Prep roundup: Cross country has strong showing at East Jackson

News Staff
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
The Oglethorpe County boys cross country team finished 10th out of 21 teams at the North Georgia Championships at East Jackson on Saturday. The Patriots finished behind Prince Avenue Christian School among other Class AA teams. John Adams had a time of 18:09.51 to finish ninth.
Allie Tilley is the new athletic trainer at Oglethorpe County High School this year. She has been an athletic trainer for 10 years, including time at Clarke Central in Athens. (SYDNEY JARRARD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Allie Tilley is the new athletic trainer at Oglethorpe County High School this year. She has been an athletic trainer for 10 years, including time at Clarke Central in Athens. (SYDNEY JARRARD/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

New OCHS trainer brings experience to the position

Sydney Jarrard
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Before Allie Tilley took the athletic training position at Oglethorpe County High School in mid-July, she worked for Dr. Jonathan Payne at Piedmont Athens Regional, assisting in surgeries and helping him with clinical work.  Then, she started to feel the itch to go back to athletic training.
Oglethorpe County kicker Omar Sagastume follows through with a kick during the Patriots’ win at Glascock County in a scrimmage on Friday. Sagastume looks to replace Braxton Edmondson this season. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County kicker Omar Sagastume follows through with a kick during the Patriots’ win at Glascock County in a scrimmage on Friday. Sagastume looks to replace Braxton Edmondson this season. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Special teams works through inexperience

Ellie English
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Oglethorpe County’s special teams unit will feature several new faces this season as the Patriots work to build consistency.  Junior Omar Sagastume is one of those.
Freshman running back Cooper Davenport scores in Oglethorpe County’s 28-21 victory over Glascock County in a scrimmage last Friday. Davenport is projected to share carries in the Patriots’ deep backfield. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Freshman running back Cooper Davenport scores in Oglethorpe County’s 28-21 victory over Glascock County in a scrimmage last Friday. Davenport is projected to share carries in the Patriots’ deep backfield. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Offensive backfield is deep, talented

Ethan Greene
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Three returning contributors anchor a backfield that powered a 209.5-yard per game rushing attack last fall.  Senior team captain Jackson Tatum will start at fullback after leading the Patriots with 622 yards and five touchdowns in 2025.
Receiver Hayden Williams signals to the sideline during Oglethorpe County’s scrimmage victory over Glascock County. He’s back after tearing his ACL early last season. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Receiver Hayden Williams signals to the sideline during Oglethorpe County’s scrimmage victory over Glascock County. He’s back after tearing his ACL early last season. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Receivers hope to open up offense

Ethan Greene
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Receivers didn’t see much action in Oglethorpe County’s wing-T last year.  The Patriots ran the ball 91.9% of the time last season, completing 18 of 38 passes.  However, each completion averaged 22.6 yards, the highest in the region.
Quarterbacks Justin Wilson (18) and Nathan McCalla (5) competed for the starting job all summer, with McCalla winning the job. He takes over for Caden Hartrum. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Quarterbacks Justin Wilson (18) and Nathan McCalla (5) competed for the starting job all summer, with McCalla winning the job. He takes over for Caden Hartrum. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

McCalla wins starting job at quarterback

Ethan Greene
Thursday, August 20, 2026
The Patriots have a new face under center following the departure of Caden Hartrum. Junior Nathan McCalla will step into the starting roles.  McCalla, who backed up Hartrum in 2025, beat out sophomore Justin Wilson in a summer-long quarterback battle.
Center Kayden Phelps lines up for photos at OCHS picture day earlier this month. He moved from guard in the offseason to play center for the first time. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Center Kayden Phelps lines up for photos at OCHS picture day earlier this month. He moved from guard in the offseason to play center for the first time. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Exchanges key as Phelps makes move to center

Ethan Greene
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Every football play starts with the center, which is why one of Oglethorpe County’s biggest offseason moves was sliding sophomore Kayden Phelps to center to replace Brock Barrett, who graduated.
The OCHS marching band goes through its routines during practice earlier this month. The band will perform a show called “Nightmare” during halftimes and competitions this fall. (Submitted Photo)

The OCHS marching band goes through its routines during practice earlier this month. The band will perform a show called “Nightmare” during halftimes and competitions this fall. (Submitted Photo)

Marching band goes with nightmare-themed show

Sarah Nanos
Thursday, August 20, 2026
The Oglethorpe County marching band is taking the field this season with a haunting new show, titled “Nightmare.” The show begins with Brahms’ “Lullaby,” then transitions into a song called “Nightmare” and a ballad, “Sound to Silence.”
Linebacker Zavion Swain brings down a Glascock County runner on Friday. Swain, who didn’t play as a freshman last year, is projected to start alongside Jackson Tatum. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Linebacker Zavion Swain brings down a Glascock County runner on Friday. Swain, who didn’t play as a freshman last year, is projected to start alongside Jackson Tatum. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Tatum brings strength, experience to linebacker group

Ellie English
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Senior linebacker Jackson Tatum is set to enter his fourth season as a starter and will serve as a key leader for Oglethorpe County’s defense this season.
Running back Zion Pass (4) finds room to run during Oglethorpe County’s 28-21 victory over Glascock County in a scrimmage on Friday. Pass and seniors Paris Crowder and Jackson Tatum return to power the wing-T offense. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Running back Zion Pass (4) finds room to run during Oglethorpe County’s 28-21 victory over Glascock County in a scrimmage on Friday. Pass and seniors Paris Crowder and Jackson Tatum return to power the wing-T offense. (Ethan Greene/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Running backs loaded, ready for more in ’26

Ethan Greene
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Mike Holland made a change at the end of his fourth year as Oglethorpe County’s head coach in 2024.