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GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Nigel Newkirk was not part of the 2024 Gainesville squad that suffered a stunning first-round loss to Sequoyah in the Class 5A playoffs.
But the junior Ola transfer running back had to hear all the offseason talk and discussions about how a promising season crashed to Earth for the Red Elephants after they lost three of their final four games.
“I wasn’t here then, but you know, people didn’t see this team as one that could win the big one,” Newkirk said after Tuesday’s morning practice. “They weren’t seen as this big team.”
That all changed two weeks ago when Big Red rolled over Milton, not just beating the two-time defending state champions, but dominating them almost from start to finish.
“So after we won a big game, now people say we can win a big game. We always had the confidence, but we proved it,” Newkirk said.
Well, the next step will be proving they can win multiple big games in a season, including a region title. Class 5A No. 3 Gainesville will get that chance on Friday when sixth-ranked Roswell rolls into City Park Stadium.
It’s a pretty clear road for Big Red (8-1, 5-0 Region 7-5A). Beat the Hornets (7-1, 4-0 Region 7-5A) and the Red Elephants will capture their third region title in Coach Josh Niblett’s first four seasons.
However, Roswell can take over first place with a win and claim the title next week with a win over Milton.
Despite leading the Red Elephants to within 24 minutes of a state title in 2022, Niblett did not appear to be taking anything for granted while addressing his team following practice.
“I’m proud of this group, man. For us to have the opportunity to be where we’re at, I mean, this is what we talked about (during the) off-season, at the end of the summer,” Niblett said. “Our guys’ No. 1 goal was to win the opener. We did that. The second goal was to win the region. Right now, that’s what we’re focused on.”
But as much as Niblett and his staff have elevated the Red Elephants to the upper-tier of programs in the state, the pressure also has been on the Red Elephants the last three seasons, mainly because they advanced to the Class 6A title game.
Newkirk said something he noticed from the moment he arrived is what is driving the group this season.
“Everybody on the team holds one another accountable. You can’t come in (here) with an ego,” he said.
Newkirk was a huge factor in Gainesville’s ability to go on the road to Milton and end the Eagles’ 42-game region win streak and their 18-game home win streak. He pounded out 165 yards on the ground and scored three times in the 28-16 win.
They will need another similar performance against the Hornets, who have given up just 53 points (10.6 points/game) during a five-game win streak. Among common opponents outside of region play, both teams beat Westlake. Gainesville won by 28 points (42-14) while Roswell took a 50-30 win.
Niblett knows the challenge that awaits, as do most of the current roster. Big Red lost a 48-45 shootout last year to the Hornets, which relegated them to a No. 3 seed, setting the stage for a difficult first-round playoff road trip.
The Red Elephants come into the 2025 showdown averaging 42.89 points/game while Roswell is allowing just 14.0 ppg to teams not named Buford.
Junior quarterback Kharim Hughley (114-of-174, 1,696 yards, 21 TD, 4 INT passing; 31-144 yards, 5 TD rushing) is not having a sophomore jinx, guiding an explosive offense that has weapons all over the field.
Newkirk (126-1,082 yards, 15 TDs, 7 100-yard games rushing; 10-95 yards, 1 TD receiving) and sophomore running back PJ Lewis (80-592, 7 TD rushing; 10-146 yards, 3 TD receiving) have been a bruising one-two punch in the backfield. Seniors Phillip Williams (31-479 yards, 4 TD) and Cam James (15-229 yards, 4 TD), along with junior Collin Porterfield (18-276 yards, 3 TD) and senior tight end Landon Williamson (7-66 yards, 2 TD), give Hughley a plethora of options in the passing game.
Niblett said using all the weapons at their disposal will be a necessity.
“Defensively, they’re kind of a high-pressure team, so they’re going to bring a lot of blitzes,” Niblett said. “Offensively, we’ve got to stay in front of the sticks. We’ve got to be good on first down.
“I mean, if we can get four yards on first down, that will allow us a chance every now and then, that if they misread it, to get an explosive play. That’s what we’re looking for.”
However, defensively, the Red Elephants took down Milton. The front-7, led by senior linemen Jamarion Matthews (Alabama commit), Ayden Cain (Duke commit), Kadin Fossung and Marshall Leonard, and linebackers Xavier Griffin (senior, Alabama commit) and Darryn Williams (junior), hounded the Eagles from the opening play.
The Hornets, however, are the highest-scoring team in Region 7-5A (355, 44.38 ppg) and have scored 259 points in their last five games. Whether Big Red can find a way to slow them down may well be the key.
“Offensively, they want to play with a lot of tempo. They want to try to get you out of position to where they can take some shots on you and then get some creases in the run game,” he said. “So we’ve got to do a really good job to get lined up defensively. I can’t overemphasize that enough. We gotta do a really good job of making sure that we’re where we’re supposed to be, because they will make you pay if you’re not.”
It will take everything they’ve got. They accomplished goal No. 1 at Milton. Can they follow that by getting goal No. 2 in front of the home fans?
Newkirk said they won’t leave anything in the locker room.
“We’re going to do anything it takes to win.”
Roswell at Gainesville
Records: Hornets (7-1, 4-0 Region 7-5A); Red Elephants (8-1, 5-0 Region 7-5A)
Last week: Roswell beat Lanier, 57-0; Gainesville beat Chattahoochee, 57-3
Radio: 94.5 FM The Lake
Time: 7:30 p.m., City Park Stadium, Gainesville
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