Sports

(DREW BEARDEN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Oglethorpe County senior running back O'Maury Huggs signals for a first down in the Patriots’ 24-14 victory over Commerce on Oct. 17. Huggs has rushed for 344 yards this season.

(DREW BEARDEN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO) Oglethorpe County senior running back O'Maury Huggs signals for a first down in the Patriots’ 24-14 victory over Commerce on Oct. 17. Huggs has rushed for 344 yards this season.

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Pats’ belief in themselves powers state playoff berth

Andy Mathis
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Oglethorpe County is headed back to the Granite Bowl. The Patriots will play at Elbert County in the first round of the Class A Division I playoffs (7:30 p.m. Nov. 14), meaning another trip to the Granite Bowl, where they lost 27-0 in a Region 8-A Division I game on Sept. 19.
The Oglethorpe County Recreation Department’s 9u squad was among the last to perform in its age group. The team won the Big Red Cheer Classic in Gainesville on Oct. 26. (Cooper Huau/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The Oglethorpe County Recreation Department’s 9u squad was among the last to perform in its age group. The team won the Big Red Cheer Classic in Gainesville on Oct. 26. (Cooper Huau/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Rec cheer squads shine in strong performances

Cooper Huau
Friday, October 31, 2025
The Oglethorpe County Recreation Department cheerleading teams have started strong, with four podium finishes and three wins in their first two events. Oglethorpe County has two teams, one competing in the 12u division and the other in the 9u division.
Oglethorpe County’s seniors include Braxton Edmondson (from left), Clint Graham, O’Maury Huggs, Brock Barrett, Caden Hartrum, Tanner Mckie, Dalton Hilley, Keagan Moats and Stephen Berlin. Several dyed their hair blond before last week’s game. (Jackson Bramlett/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County’s seniors include Braxton Edmondson (from left), Clint Graham, O’Maury Huggs, Brock Barrett, Caden Hartrum, Tanner Mckie, Dalton Hilley, Keagan Moats and Stephen Berlin. Several dyed their hair blond before last week’s game. (Jackson Bramlett/The Oglethorpe Echo)

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Prep Roundup: Playoff opponent unknown until after final week

News Staff
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Oglethorpe County is heading to Class A Division I playoffs, but the Patriots’ seeding and opponent won’t be decided until after Friday’s regular-season finales. “I think when we looked at it, there were about six possibilities,” coach Michael Holland said Monday.
(Andy Mathis/The Oglethorpe Echo)

(Andy Mathis/The Oglethorpe Echo)

OCHS volleyball wins state championship

Zack Busbee
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
CARTERSVILLE — The Class A state volleyball title belongs to Oglethorpe County. The Lady Patriots defeated Bremen 3-1 on Wednesday to capture their first volleyball state championship.
Oglethorpe County coach Brianne Harrison huddles with her team during a Class A volleyball tournament victory over Lake Oconee Academy on Oct. 22 The Patriots advanced to the state championship match. (Andy Mathis/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County coach Brianne Harrison huddles with her team during a Class A volleyball tournament victory over Lake Oconee Academy on Oct. 22 The Patriots advanced to the state championship match. (Andy Mathis/The Oglethorpe Echo)

OCHS volleyball team to play for state title

Zack Busbee
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
The Oglethorpe County volleyball team will play for the Class A title at noon Wednesday. The third-seeded Patriots (31-8), who have won 20 matches in a row, will face Bremen, which is the No. 1 seed in the tournament and is 36-7. The match is at the LakePoint Sports Center in Cartersville.
Naomi McPeake soars during a serve as the Oglethorpe County volleyball team defeated Commerce 3-0 in the first round of the Class A state tournament last Wednesday. The Patriots advanced to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year.

Naomi McPeake soars during a serve as the Oglethorpe County volleyball team defeated Commerce 3-0 in the first round of the Class A state tournament last Wednesday. The Patriots advanced to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year.

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Prep roundup: OCHS volleyball team reaches Class A Elite 8

News Staff
Friday, October 24, 2025
The Oglethorpe County volleyball team reached the Elite 8 for the second consecutive year.  The Patriots, who are seeded third in the Class A tournament, advanced through the first two rounds with victories over Commerce and Armuchee last week.
DREW BEARDEN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Oglethorpe County’s Caden Hartrum scrambles away from Commerce players on Friday. Hartrum threw a touchdown pass in the 24-14 victory.

DREW BEARDEN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO Oglethorpe County’s Caden Hartrum scrambles away from Commerce players on Friday. Hartrum threw a touchdown pass in the 24-14 victory.

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Patriots 3-0 since Holland shaved beard

Andy Mathis
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
OCHS football coach Michael Holland ditched his beard two weeks ago, and since then, the Patriots have posted only wins.  So he’s sticking with the fresh face, except for chin whiskers. “Before the last game (I shaved), so I had to keep it going,” Holland said Friday.
John Adams runs on his way to setting a personal best time of 17:38.86 for the Oglethorpe County cross country team in a meet at Athens Academy on Saturday. He finished 12th among individuals. (Photo Submitted)

John Adams runs on his way to setting a personal best time of 17:38.86 for the Oglethorpe County cross country team in a meet at Athens Academy on Saturday. He finished 12th among individuals. (Photo Submitted)

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Adams, Paradise set personal records

News Staff
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
John Adams and Lincoln Paradise both set personal bests in the Oglethorpe County cross country team’s meet at Athens Academy on Saturday.Adams finished in 17:38.86 to place 12th, and Paradise had a PR time of 20:24.90 to finish 50th.
Oglethorpe County quarterback Caden Hartrum tries to elude Rabun County’s Reid Giles (15) in the Patriots’ 28-19 upset of the fifth-ranked Wildcats on Friday night. Hartrum threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in the Patriots’ first region win of the season (Ashleigh Johnston/The Oglethorpe Echo).

Oglethorpe County quarterback Caden Hartrum tries to elude Rabun County’s Reid Giles (15) in the Patriots’ 28-19 upset of the fifth-ranked Wildcats on Friday night. Hartrum threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in the Patriots’ first region win of the season (Ashleigh Johnston/The Oglethorpe Echo).

Oglethorpe County stuns No. 5 Rabun County

Zack Busbee
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Oglethorpe County shattered a 30-year drought Friday night, toppling a top-10 powerhouse and rewriting the school’s football history. The Patriots knocked off previously undefeated and fifth-ranked Rabun County 28-19 to move to 3-4 and 1-2 in Region 8-A Division I play.
In the fourth quarter of Oglethorpe County High School's game against Rabun County High School, junior Nicah Pass (4) helps the cheerleaders energize the crowd. (Photo/Caroline Newbern)

In the fourth quarter of Oglethorpe County High School's game against Rabun County High School, junior Nicah Pass (4) helps the cheerleaders energize the crowd. (Photo/Caroline Newbern)

Huge win for the Patriots aganist Rabun County

News Staff
Friday, October 10, 2025
Oglethorpe County posted one of the biggest wins in program history with a 28-19 upset of Rabun County on Friday night.Caden Hartrum threw two touchdown passes and ran for another as the Patriots handed the Wildcats their first loss of the season.