(This is the eighth n in a series previewing the 2026 high school football season. Richmond County coaches and players met with media during a county-wide sports press conference on Aug. 3 at Westside High School. Other stories can be found under the sports tab)
If the options are a winning team or a winning program, Cedric Mason would pick a strong football program, and that’s what he’s working to build at Westside High School.
“Teams are good for a year maybe two years, but programs have continued success, so we want to build a program that’s going to have continued success,” said Mason, in his second year as Westside’s head coach.
The Patriots laid the foundation last year with a 10-2 record and a tough second round playoff loss to Stephenson 37-35.
The athletes have been working hard on the off-season, and Mason wants them to take the reins in 2026, Players said they are ready to step into leadership roles.
Rodrigo Burgos Avila/Augusta Good News
“If I do my job which is coming in early, making surer I get all my reps in the weight rooms, making sure I’m coachable the younger guys will follow after me and that will lead to a successful team,” said offensive line captain Omari Walker.
Mason is confident in his offensive line, which is filled with returning players.
“That is a huge factor,” said Mason, who sees them providing more opportunities for running back Kingston Hughes this season. “He will pick up where Tamari (Curry) left off.”
Another thing Mason is looking forward to this year is a schedule that’s closer to home thanks to a reclassification by the Georgia High School Association.
“I’m glad we don’t have to get on a charter bus for two to three hours,” he said.
The longest drive they will have to take is to Thomson.
While Mason wants that winning program on the field, he also said he wants to build individuals who will be winning off the field as well.
Leadership, discipline and community are things that will carry into their lives long after they graduate high school, and he believes football is the driving force to shape those in their lives.
“We will continue to build the foundation so they can be great men and great student athletes. The Xs and Os will take care of themselves,” he said
The Patriots open the season Friday, Aug. 21 at T.W. Josey.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named best local writer by readers of Augusta Magazine in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here
