You’ve seen the green and gold under the Friday night lights in McDonough, but the story of Ola high school football isn't just about a record on a screen. It’s about a program that basically refused to stay "average." For years, people looked at Ola as that "new" school in Henry County, the one that opened back in 2006 to handle the overflow from the rural southeast. They weren't supposed to be a powerhouse.
But things changed. Fast.
If you were watching the Mustangs lately, you saw a team that finally stopped knocking on the door and just kicked it down. In 2024, the program hit a massive milestone, going 11-1 under first-year head coach Dustin Adkins. That’s not a typo. 11 wins. They were perfect in region play (9-0) and showed a physical brand of football that frankly caught a lot of teams off guard.
The Dustin Adkins Effect
Honestly, when Adkins came up from Florida, nobody knew exactly what to expect. He had just won back-to-back state championships at Hawthorne, but Georgia AAAA football is a different beast.
He didn't bring a flashy, air-raid circus with him. Instead, he brought "power run" and a defense that acts like a brick wall.
During that breakout 2024 stretch, the Mustangs had three games where they didn't even allow a single touchdown. Imagine that. You show up, you sweat for four quarters, and you don't even let the other guys see the end zone. Coach Adkins talks a lot about "imposing will." It sounds like a cliché until you see their offensive line move a 280-pound defensive tackle three yards backward against his wishes.
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Practices at Ola are reportedly more intense than some people's actual games. Adkins is a big believer that if practice is demanding and tough, the game feels like a breeze. The players bought in.
Recent Results and the 2025 Grind
Let’s look at the numbers because they tell a story of consistency, not just a one-hit-wonder season. In the 2025 season, Ola high school football finished with an 8-3 record. While it wasn't the 11-win "perfect" regular season of the year prior, it proved they belong in the conversation of top-tier Georgia programs.
They went 7-2 in AAAA Region 2.
- Key Win: A 24-13 victory over Hampton on October 24, 2025.
- The Rivalry: They shut down McDonough 14-3 on Halloween.
- The Heartbreak: A narrow 21-24 loss to #9 Cambridge in the playoffs.
That Cambridge game? It was a literal heart-stopper. Losing by three points in the postseason is the kind of thing that keeps a locker room hungry all winter. It’s the difference between being satisfied and being obsessed.
Why Ola High School Football is Different Now
For a long time, the shadow of schools like Stockbridge or Jones County loomed large over Henry County. Ola was the rural school on North Ola Road. Now? You’ve got recruiters from the big conferences sniffing around.
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The talent pool has exploded. We aren't just talking about "good high school players" anymore. We are talking about guys who have the frame and the speed to play on Saturdays. Look at the alumni list—names like Chris Rodriguez (the RB who went to Kentucky and then the NFL) and Tre McBride started here.
The Recruitment Pipeline
The 2026 and 2027 classes are looking particularly spicy. Specifically, keep an eye on 4-star running back Caden Waye. When you have a guy like that in the backfield, the entire offensive playbook opens up.
It’s not just about the stars, though. It’s the depth.
The Mustangs are currently competing in a region that includes heavy hitters like Eagle's Landing, Stockbridge, and Jones County. It is a meat grinder. There are no "off weeks" in Region 2-AAAA. If you show up sleepy, you get beat. Period.
Breaking Down the Culture
People often ask what makes a "Mustang" different from a kid playing down the road. It’s the community support. The school sits on 210 acres, and on a Friday night, it feels like the entire unincorporated area of Ola is squeezed into those stands.
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The atmosphere is... loud.
And it’s not just the parents. The "Mustang Spirit" isn't a marketing slogan; it’s a weirdly intense local pride that comes from being the "new" school that finally grew up. They spent years being the underdog. Now they’re the team everyone else circles on their calendar.
What to Watch for Next Season
If you're following Ola high school football into the 2026 cycle, there are a few things you need to track.
- The Quarterback Development: With a heavy-run identity, the QB has to be elite at play-action. Watch how the staff integrates more vertical threats to keep defenses from stacking eight men in the box.
- Defensive Identity: Adkins is a defensive guy at heart. Can they maintain that "shutout" mentality as they face tougher non-region schedules?
- The Region 2 Battle: Stockbridge is always the mountain to climb. The game against the Tigers will likely decide the region title again.
Basically, Ola has moved past the stage of "hoping to win." They are now in the "expecting to win" phase. That shift in psychology is the hardest thing for a program to achieve.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Athletes
If you’re a student-athlete looking at the program or a fan wanting to get involved, here’s the deal:
- Attend the Camps: Coach Adkins and his staff (including guys like Bruce Fowler and Gary Harmon) run disciplined sessions. If you want to play here, you need to show up to the summer workouts. They don't just hand out jerseys.
- Watch the Rankings: Follow the GHSA AAAA standings closely. Ola's state rank has hovered around the top 75-120 range recently, but they have the trajectory to crack the top 50 soon.
- Get to the Stadium Early: Parking for big region games like the ones against Locust Grove or Union Grove is a nightmare. Seriously. Get there at least 45 minutes before kickoff if you want a decent seat.
The Mustangs have proven that they aren't just a "rural school" anymore. They are a legitimate contender in one of the toughest football states in the country. The 11-1 season wasn't a fluke—it was a warning.
To stay updated on the latest scores and roster moves, keep an eye on the official Ola Athletics page or follow the team's progress through the GHSA state brackets as the next season approaches.