December 4, 2025 – The Longhorns of Kell High School are stampeding into the semifinals of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) football playoffs. After claiming their Region 6-AAAA title during the regular season, the Longhorns have plowed through the early rounds of the playoffs (11-2 overall). With last week’s 48-21 thrashing of Cartersville, Kell is on the doorstep of their first-ever state championship appearance, to be played in Mercedes-Benz Stadium later this month.
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“Our guys have been playing together as a team and embracing our DMGB, Doesn't Matter Get Better, motto,” Head Coach Bobby May noted. “When you put the team first and play with great effort, you can accomplish anything.”
Kell has accomplished a lot recently on their home field. However, they will have to leave The Stockyard for the first time this postseason. Kell will travel to Fairburn, Georgia, to face a formidable Creekside Seminoles team (13-0) standing in their way, the same team that knocked the Longhorns out of the playoffs last year in the second round. Creekside cruised past their quarterfinal opponent last Friday, suffocating Lithonia’s offense by limiting them to only 82 total yards on the way to a 35-7 victory. The ‘Noles are stout when they have possession of the ball as well, however. They are averaging 59 points a game this season.
Creekside is not simply an offensive powerhouse. They are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s (AJC) Georgia High School Football (GHSF) Daily publication recently published postseason awards for Region 4 of the 4A classification, and the Seminoles dominated the lists. Creekside garnered the Region’s Player of the Year, both Co-Offensive Players of the Year, one of the Co-Defensive Players of the Year, and the Coach of the Year. Additionally, they placed nine players on the First Team Offense and nine different players on the First Team Defense. Thirteen other players were named to either the Second Team or Honorable Mention lists.
“We have to show up and play to the best of our ability,” Coach May acknowledged. “They're a really good team. They're very talented. They're well-coached, but so are we. So, we'll see who shows up, and we'll see who plays the best game.”
Kell, too, has skilled athletes. The Longhorns offense churned out 575 total yards against Cartersville, highlighted by 273 total yards from junior running back Moonie Gipson alone. Gipson scampered for 158 yards rushing, his fifth straight game over 150 yards, and tallied three touchdowns—two on the ground and one receiving. With this effort, the 4-star ball-carrier eclipsed 1,900 yards for the season.
Senior Brayden Rouse is another Longhorn to watch. On Wednesday, it was announced that he was named the AJC/GHSF Daily Player of the Week for the entire state. The Tennessee commit flashed his brilliance both on offense and defense in Kell's quarterfinal matchup. From his linebacker position, he pulled down a team-high 12 tackles and intercepted a pass. Offensively, he caught four passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns as a wide receiver.
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Rouse and his teammates are looking forward to a chance at redemption against the team that ended their season last year.
“They didn't have a lot of people leave after last year, so it's kind of the same team,” the Kell standout said. “They got better, and we got better, so it's going to be a good rematch. We have a good chance. We need to have a good week of practice and to stay focused and humble about the whole situation. If we do what we can do, we can beat Creekside.”
Coach May’s team appears ready for the challenge to extend their season and a chance at their ultimate goal. Good luck, Kell! Hook ‘em, Horns!
h/t non-branded photos provided by Kell/Dominic Consolino
