Drive for the GHSA State Title: Milton, Roswell collide for a chance at the Region 7-5A title in final week of the season

One of the toughest classifications not only in the state, but in the country, is Class 5A and it will be proved again this Friday as the back-to-back Class 5A national champion Milton Eagles travel to the Hornet's Nest to take on Roswell in a highly-anticipated Region 7-5A matchup.

Friday’s matchup will be broadcast live on Atlanta News First (Channel 46) and the Peachtree Sports Network (cable and YouTube TV), and streamed live on the Atlanta News First app. From your home, download the free ANF+ app anywhere you stream — FireTV, AppleTV, Roku and YouTube TV — simply by searching for “Atlanta News First” on those platforms. If you are on the go, you can download Atlanta News First for free in the app store on your Apple or Android device. You can also watch live here on the WANF – Special Events channel.

This is the 71st meeting between Milton and Roswell as the Hornets hold a 38-31-1 record over the Eagles as Fulton County’s premier rivalry has taken the field 70 times prior before Friday’s matchup.

As of recently, Milton has won the last six matchups against the Hornets including a 35-20 victory last season that featured 132 rushing yards out of former Milton Eagle running back TJ Lester as the Eagles defense pitched a shutout in the second half.

Milton is led by Ben Reaves who is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Eagles. Reaves has had a very successful first three seasons at the helm as he has led the team to three-straight region championships since he took over, along with back-to-back Class 5A state championships defeating Langston Hughes in Mercedes-Benz Stadium last season 56-35 to claim the crown for the second season in a row.

Milton had a tough start to the season as Buford snapped its 25-game win-streak in the first game of the year at Buford’s brand-new Phillip Beard Stadium, but the Eagles have responded well since the beginning of the season with a 7-1 record since then.

While the Eagles offense has been a well-oiled machine thus far, the defense hasn’t let up more than seven points in five games this season.

Leading the Eagles this season is first-year starter, sophomore Ben Halevi who has been a solid young option for Milton in 2025. Posting numbers such as a 64% completion percentage for 1,049 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging close to 175 yards per game through the air.

Halevi has a great supporting cast around him on the offense including senior running back Bentley Hickman, who has recorded 716 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, while his top pass catchers in Jordan Carrasquillo, Grant Haviland, and Aedyn Meintzer have also showcased their playmaking ability this season. The three juniors have combined for 980 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on 60 receptions so far this season.

Haviland is rated as a four-star tight end on 247Sports.com and rated as a top-15 tight end in the nation with offers from plenty of the most prestigious college programs in the country that have extended an offer to him. Carrasquillo holds offers from Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, Cincinnati and Wake Forest but is committed to Ohio State for Lacrosse.  

On defense, junior linebacker Blaize Battaglia leads the team in total tackles this season with 88, along with 6.5 tackles for loss and a sack. From the backend of the defense, senior free safety Lawson Estes has recorded 58 tackles and two pass deflections helping make plays on the Eagles defense. Both players have continued to make huge plays for Milton after the team lost tons of production this season to the college ranks.

On the opposing sideline, first-year head coach Jonathan Thompson and his Roswell Hornets are seeking the school’s first region title since 2023 under former head coach, Chris Prewett. Thompson took over the Roswell football program following the departure of Prewett as he took the Dalton head coaching job.

Under Thompson this season, the Hornets are 8-1 and have scored 392 points through nine games and have remained undefeated in region play. Thompson is in his first season as the head coach of the Hornets following a very successful season at Lee County under Dean Fabrizio where the two led one of the most potent offenses in the GHSA last season.

The Hornets are led by senior quarterback Trey Smith who has been nothing short of sensational this season for the Hornets as he has thrown for 1,855 yards and 18 passing touchdowns while rushing for 771 on the ground with 16 touchdowns added on top of that. Smith has been a weapon for Roswell with his arm and his legs as he has posted three games with over 100 yards rushing on the season.

Senior running back Nick Peal has been a big part of the playmaking for the Hornets through the final games of the regular season as he has recorded 884 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns on 129 carries for Roswell in his final season of high school football.

The pass catching duo of Wills Campbell and Dre Cousey have been huge pieces to the Hornets air attack as they have combined for 1,413 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

On defense, senior linebacker Brody Duffy leads the team in total tackles and tackles for loss so far this season, totaling 113 tackles and 18.5 tackles for loss. Junior Tyler Pressnall has also been impressive from his middle linebacker spot this season as he has recorded 62 total tackles and 11 tackles for loss on the season.

This Friday, the action will start ahead of the Score Atlanta broadcast of the Milton versus Roswell matchup at 8 p.m. with the Georgia High School Countdown to Kickoff, beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Atlanta News First (Channel 46) and the Peachtree Sports Network (cable and YouTube TV) and streaming on the Atlanta News First website/app. The pregame show, which will feature on-air talent Rusty Mansell, Brandon Adams and Landon Knight, will preview the upcoming matchup with each person picking their winning team, along with interviews from each participating head coach. After the clock hits zero, stay tuned after the game for the Georgia High School Postgame Show, which will be broadcast live from the Score Atlanta Studio, with Score Atlanta’s Craig Sager II, Max Wolborsky, and Hayden Gilbert featured on the program. The postgame show will run from game’s end till midnight every Friday night, with a full breakdown of each game, call-in guests chiming in to voice their opinions, and updates from other top-tier games around the state. The postgame show, like the pregame show, will be broadcast live on Atlanta News First and the Peachtree Sports Network, and streamed on the Atlanta News First website/app.