Prediction: Gainesville (Ga.) reaches AAAAA's third round

The 2025 high school football season will be getting underway in a few short weeks, which means it’s officially preview season. Rivals is breaking down the nation’s top teams from coast-to-coast, and today we make our way back over to the Peach State and check out the 2012 state champion Gainesville Red Elephants. Gainesville is coming off a 2024 season in which they bowed out of the opening round of the AAAAA playoffs and now look to take the next step behind a talented roster. Can Gainesville head coach Josh Niblett and the Red Elephants get past the opening round of the GHSA postseason this fall?

Player Spotlight: QB Kharim Hughley

There’s not many teams in the Northwest Georgia region that have the quarterback of the caliber like a Hughley on their roster. Well, the Red Elephants do and the junior signal caller returns as he looks to lead Gainesville deeper into the postseason this fall. The Clemson commitment last season completed 140-of-232 passes for 2,543 yards, 22 touchdowns and a mere two interceptions. With the progression of Hughley over the off-season, it’s safe to say Gainesville will have one of the state’s best passers every Friday night they take the field.

Others to watch: LB Xavier Griffin, EDGE Jamarion Matthews, DL Ayden Cain, OL Tyler Ford, RB Nigel Newkirk, OL Bryson Hurt, OL Krew Moledor, OL Carter Mathis, EDGE Kadin Fossung

Season Prediction: 9-1

Examining the roster of Gainesville for this upcoming season has us fully believing this Red Elephants team specifically is capable of so much more than last year’s group. No seriously, when you look at the type of talent they bring back, you ask yourself how can they not pull off a season better than 2024? Niblett’s program finished 7-3 during the regular season last year and exited in the opening round of the AAAAA playoffs. We see Gainesville only losing to Milton and have them winning the rest of their regular season games, reaching the third round of the postseason. This is a fringe state semifinalist club, and quite possibly a darkhorse to reach the championship game itself.

Game-By-Game Predictions

Aug. 15 – at Marietta (Ga.) Blue Devils – W
Opening up the season with a dominating road victory is always a nice way to kick things off.

Aug. 21 – at Moody (Ala.) Blue Devils – W
The Red Elephants make a rare Thursday trip over to Alabama to face the Blue Devils and cruise to a 37-14 victory.

Aug. 29 – at Westlake (Ga.) Lions – W
Gainesville continues as road warriors heading just south to Atlanta and bettering the Lions in a 35-28 decision.

Sept. 12 – Carrollton (Ga.) Trojans – W
Now the Massey Ratings says Carrollton cruises in this one, but we go against the grain with this one. We have Gainesville upending Carrollton in the home opener, improving to 4-0.

Sept. 19 – at Lanier (Ga.) Longhorns – W
Another week and another game as the Red Elephants roll to a 44-14 rout of the Longhorns.

Sept. 26 – at Johns Creek (Ga.) Gladiators – W
As Gainesville nears a showdown against state power Milton, they run through, around and over the Gladiators in this meeting.

Oct. 3 – at Seckinger (Ga.) Jaguars – W
The Red Elephants make it look too easy as they zero in on a clash with the nationally-ranked Milton Eagles.

Oct. 10 – at Milton (Ga.) Eagles – L
In what will be the Game of the Week in the Peach State, Gainesville ends up losing in a tight contest that goes to the final minutes.

Oct. 17 – Chattahoochee (Ga.) Cougars – W
Niblett’s team regroups and bounces back with a blowout win over the Cougars.

Oct. 24 – at Roswell (Ga.) Blue Devils – W
Gainesville closes the regular season with a thrilling 35-30 win over Roswell as they head into the AAAAA playoffs.