Hillgrove's winning ways from last season are already continuing.

In a scrimmage Tuesday, the Hawks grabbed a 21-17 defeated over Cobb rival Walton, last year's 5A state runner-up, Total Sports Coverage reports.

The Hawks picked up the victory in spite of losing star running back and Alabama commit Kenyan Drake to graduation. Carrying the Hillgrove offense to a perfect regular season and earning Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year honors, Drake ran for 1,610 yards and 18 touchdowns on 173 carries.

He also caught 24 passes for 315 yards and five touchdowns and ran back 10 kickoffs for 355 yards and two more touchdowns.

Last year's Region 4-5A winner, Hillgrove was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by West Forsyth, 40-28. The school was founded in 2006, making last season their sixth.

Perhaps the Hawks' biggest victory was over region and crosstown rival McEachern, defeating the Indians on their turf, 12-10. The two teams will go at it again in the final regular season game, this time in Hillgrove country.

They're both part of the newly created Region 4-6A. The other teams are Campbell, Harrison, Kennesaw Mountain, Marietta, North Cobb, Pebblebrook and South Cobb—all divided into two subregions.

Those teams were previously in the 5A classification, but last year, the Georgia High School Association created the 6A mark for the biggest high schools in the state.

Here is Hillgrove's full schedule (all games start at 7:30 p.m. unless noted):

• Aug. 14—Walton (Hillgrove won the scrimmage 21-17)
• Aug. 24—Westlake (Away)
• Aug. 31—Lassiter (at McEachern High at 6 p.m.)
• Sept. 14—Marietta (Away)
• Sept. 28—Campbell (Away)
• Oct. 5—Pebblebrook (Home, "Pink Out" game)
• Oct. 12—North Cobb (Away)
• Oct. 19—Kennesaw Mountain (Homecoming)
• Oct. 26—Harrison (Away)
• Nov. 2—South Cobb (Home, "Sponsor Night")
• Nov. 9—McEachern (Home)

Who will win Region 4-6A? Tell us in the comments.

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