Three more football programs – Irwin County, Pelham and Westside Augusta -- reached a milestone for wins last weekend and one of the state’s top coaches got his 100th victory in the penultimate week of the regular season.

No. 500 for Irwin County

Irwin County became the 53rd program in GHSA history to reach the 500-win mark with its 17-14 victory over Brooks County on Friday. The Indians are 9-1 this season, continuing the program’s long streak of success that has produced 17 region championships and three state titles.

The winningest coach is the late Buddy Nobles, whose teams went 67-13-2 with five region championships and one state title over six seasons. The Indians won the 2019 state championship before Nobles died of stomach cancer.

Casey Soliday, who served as interim coach during Nobles’ illness, took over in 2020. During his ongoing tenure the Indians are 51-15 with three region championships and the 2020 state championship.

Irwin County won its first state championship in 1975 under coach Mike Battles Sr., who had a record of 30-12-1 in four seasons from 1975-78.

Pelham wins 400th game

Pelham

Pelham won the program's 400th game by beating Terrell County.

The Pelham Hornets defeated Terrell County 26-12 on Friday to earn the program’s 400th victory. The program began in 1937 and has produced 11 region championships.

The winningest coach is Dondrial Pinkins, who went 53-15 in six seasons from 2015-2020 with three region titles. Joe Caldwell went 48-41 with three region championships in nine seasons from 1962-1970.

The milestone win was a highlight of the season for the Hornets, who finished 3-7 under third-year coach Leonard Guyton.

Westside Augusta earns No. 300

The Westside Patriots defeated West Laurens 28-7 on Friday to secure the program’s 300th victory. Westside has won seven region championships since it began in 1970.

The program’s winningest coach is Coley Cassedy, whose teams went 83-16-3 in nine seasons from 1975-83. They won five region championships and reached the state semifinals in 1982.

Coach Donald Fendley followed and went 83-59-1 with one region title in 13 seasons from 1984-1996.  

The program is in its fourth season under coach Lee Hutto, who is 7-2 this season and 22-19 in four seasons.

James Leonard

James Leonard of Aquinas won his 100th game as head coach.

Credit: Augusta Press

Aquinas coach Leonard wins No. 100

Aquinas coach James Leonard earned the 100th victory of his career on Thursday when the Fighting Irish defeated Richmond Academy 34-0 on Friday.,

Leonard became the program’s head coach in 2013 and has compiled a record of 100-39 with five region championships and a state title in 2013, his first season at the helm.

Aquinas has made the state playoffs each season under Leonard. The team also reached the championship game in 2015 and the semifinal in 2014.