Semifinal Team of the Week: Hapeville Charter

Hapeville Charter, projected to lose by 17 points last week, was the biggest underdog winner in the semifinals as the Hornets defeated No. 5 Sumter County 24-18 in overtime in Class 2A.

The Maxwell Ratings don’t consider a team’s history against top-10 teams, though. Hapeville has beaten 10 top-10 opponents over the past 10 seasons, three in the 2025 playoffs.  In seven of those top-10 wins, Hapeville was the underdog – including 2023 against Carver of Columbus, Hapeville’s next opponent in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Hapeville Charter head coach Winston Gordon and the team’s seniors and captains received GHSF Daily’s Team of the Week award after the Hornets’ 24-18 victory in the Class 2A semifinals.

Against Sumter County, Hapeville Charter scored first in overtime, missed the extra point but then forced a Sumter County fumble that Elijah Paige recovered, clinching the victory. Xavier Paige, Elijah’s brother, scored on a 15-yard reverse on Hapeville’s one-play overtime possession.

Hapeville Charter is GHSF Daily’s Team of the Week. The award is sponsored by BSN Sports and Siemens.