McEachern Indians capture region title with 29-13 win over Harrison

McEachern High School football players ended their regional season with a decisive victory on Friday night, defeating Harrison 29-13 to claim the Region 3-7A championship. The win took place at the McEachern stadium in Marietta, where the Indians controlled the tempo and limited Harrison’s offensive production.

The result places McEachern at No. 15 in the Georgia High School Association’s PSR rankings. Before the game, the team sat on the bubble for hosting a first-round playoff game, as only the top 16 teams in the classification are guaranteed home status. By winning the region, the Indians secured that home advantage for their next contest.

This is McEachern’s second consecutive region title under head coach Kareem Reid. It is the third such championship in Reid’s four seasons at the school and the tenth region title for the program since 2009. The Indians joined 22 other schools in Georgia that clinched their respective region championships during the same week.

Senior running back Nathan Wilson carried the offense throughout the night. He rushed for 202 yards and two touchdowns, including a 21-yard score in the third quarter and a 9-yard score in the fourth. Wilson also caught a pass for a 19-yard touchdown, extending McEachern’s lead to 21-7 before the final quarter.

The Indians built their lead in the first half. After a defensive stop, Wilson rushed 21 yards for a touchdown. Harrison answered with a 9-yard field goal to make the score 10-7. McEachern extended its advantage on a 33-yard pass from quarterback Kayden Harris to wide receiver Sean Washington. Harrison added a 35-yard field goal before halftime, leaving the Indians ahead 20-10.

Wilson capped the scoring in the third quarter with a 21-yard run. Harrison attempted to rally but could not overcome the deficit. The final score remained 29-13 as the clock expired. McEachern’s defense held Harrison to just 10 points, forcing three punts and a field goal as the only scoring plays for the visitors.

The Indians return to action next week for the Class 7A playoff opener. They will host the No. 4 seed in the region, which will be determined by the final PSR rankings. The team has now won its region for the second year in a row, a milestone Reid noted as a sign of the program’s stability.

Reid said the team’s preparation focused on executing their game plan against a physical opponent. He praised the players for maintaining composure despite the high stakes. The next game will be the first of three potential home games for McEachern in the postseason.