(The story was updated at 11:15 a.m. Aug. 23 to add additional game play details)
The hard work paid off.
After finishing 0-10 last year, Glenn Hills defeated Butler 28-6 to open the 2026-27 high school football season on Friday, Aug. 21.
Glenn Hills Coach Harry Desile was emotional after the game, earning his second victory in his third season at Glenn Hills. The Spartans toppled the Bulldogs who have made it to the playoffs the past two years.
“It feels amazing, I am so proud of my guys,” he said. “We made mistakes that could have cost of us the game, but at the end we stood together and got a W.”
A slow starting first half ended with excitement as the Spartans force a safety to push ahead 2-0.
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With nine seconds remaining in the half, Spartans quarterback Amir Gregory threw a long pass to wide receiver Jackson Couamin for the first touchdown of season. Glenn Hills converted the two-point conversion to go ahead 10-0.
Gregory is senior at Glenn Hills and has stuck with them for all of the struggling seasons.
“We put in all the work and we were prepared for this,” Gregory said.
Glenn Hills running back Jordan Bell extended the Spartans lead with a two yard rushing touchdowns, making the score 10-0 with 2:10 remaining in the third quarter.
The Spartans did not let up a touchdown until the end of the third quarter after a tipped pass was caught by Butler, making the score 16-6.
Akeavies Gamble and Gregory went into the endzone for the final two touchdowns, leading Glenn Hills to a 28-6 win.
The Spartans have not started a season with a 1-0 record since 2016 until now.
“I told our guys we can win the first couple of games as long as we play right, listen to the coaches and pick each other up,” Desile said.
The Spartans’ 28 points is the most they’ve have scored in a single game in the past two seasons; the team scored only 32 points all season last year.
“It is the most points we have put up in a couple of years,” Gregory said. “Being a part of that feels really good.”
Glenn Hills barely had enough players to finish last season as the young team struggled each game. This season, they seem to have more players and motivation, but Desile says the goal remains the same.
“We take it one play and one day at a time, and we will live with the results,” he said.
Glenn Hills will host Cross Creek in its next game on Friday, Sept. 4.
Sportswriter Christopher Rickerson is an Augusta University graduate who has covered area sports for publications including Augusta University‘s Bell Ringer, The Augusta Press and Augusta Good News. He won three Georgia Press Association sports awards in 2026. Subscribe to the Augusta Good News’ free weekly newsletter here.
