Who Will Remain Undefeated?

They call Macland Road "the road that divides.”

The line it creates roughly separates the zoning for to the north and to the south.

Another thing that divides the two schools is almost 100 years. McEachern—the oldest school in Cobb—has continually operated since being founded as the Seventh District Agricultural and Mechanical School in 1908 and has the deepest of roots in the community that only a century of existence can provide.

Hillgrove, on the other hand, is the new kid on the block. Founded in 2006, it’s the second youngest high school in the district next to Allatoona.

The new school and the zoning that came with it sent Hillgrove clerk 's second son to Hillgrove.

"I had one graduate from McEachern and one graduate from Hillgrove,” she said, “so we are the house divided.”

What doesn’t separate the Powder Springs rivals is their perfect 5-0 football records this season, tying them for first in Region 4AAAAA. But with the Hawks set to step into Indian territory Friday night, one team will come out with a mark in the loss column. 

“They’re excited. They’re anxious to play,” McEachern Head Coach Kyle Hockman said of his team. “They know all the kids. They know each other. It’s going to be a good high school football game, and a good healthy type of rivalry game.”

Hillgrove Principal Robert Shaw expects McEachern's Walter Cantrell Stadium to be packed.

"Having two teams this close together in the same region that are undefeated is pretty exciting," he said. "It's going to be a huge crowd, and probably everybody in Cobb County is going to be there."

With Hillgrove getting bumped up to the 5A classification in 2010, Friday will be the second time the teams have faced off on the gridiron. Last year, the Hawks fell at home 64-48 to the Indians.

Feller noted how many of the players grew up playing for the same area teams. 

“And I think with them being comrades, they want to win against each other," she said, "but I don’t think it’s a nasty rivalry."

So far this season, the teams have had two mutual opponents. Hillgrove ; . The Indians ; the .

Brookwood beat Hillgrove in the quarterfinals of last year's playoffs, 45-35. McEachern was knocked out in the second round by Valdosta, 31-28.

T-shirts specifically for Friday's game will be on sale at Hillgrove today and Friday from 8 to 9 a.m. for $15. Pictures of Hillgrove students modeling the shirt are attached to this article.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. The game is scheduled to be televised on GPB.