Johns Creek-area football programs stepped in front of cameras Tuesday, July 28, as Fulton County Schools hosted its annual Football Media Day ahead of the 2026 season.
The district-wide event brought coaches and student-athletes from across Fulton County together with media partners, according to the official FCS social media account. For the three programs that call Johns Creek home (the Gladiators, the Chattahoochee Cougars, and the Northview Titans), the day marked the unofficial start of a season that kicks off less than three weeks after classes begin Monday, August 3.
Johns Creek Gladiators
Head coach Jason Tester leads a Gladiators program looking to turn the page after a turbulent stretch. Johns Creek cycled through three head coaches in four years before Tester's arrival, per the Johns Creek Herald. The program fielded a young roster heavy on sophomores and freshmen in 2025 and opened that season with a 56-0 loss to Cambridge.
Eight Class of 2027 seniors were recognized by Johns Creek Athletics following football camp on Monday, July 27: Elijah Antoine, Sky Banigo, Sebastian Crespo, Akachi Nwizubo, Britton Landry, Ben Feigin, Dylan Vines, and John Michael Sengbusch. Those eight will anchor a roster that has had a full offseason to mature under one coaching staff.
The Gladiators open with a scrimmage against North Springs on Friday, August 14, at JCHS Stadium, then travel to Northview for the regular-season opener Friday, August 21, at 7:30 p.m., according to the school's athletics page.
Northview Titans
Mario Drayton enters year two at Northview after closing his first season with a 21-13 comeback win over North Springs on Saturday, November 1, 2025. The Titans scored 21 unanswered points in the second half of that finale.
Drayton arrived from McNair High School in DeKalb County, where he grew the roster from 28 players to 85 and reached the playoffs in two years, according to the Northview Messenger. "We're going to have a no-quit attitude. I don't care about the score or who we're playing. We're going to go out there for 48 minutes and play as hard as we can," Drayton told the Messenger in August 2025 during his first season.
That philosophy carries into 2026. Northview hosts Johns Creek on Friday, August 21, at 7:30 p.m. to open the season.
Chattahoochee Cougars
The Cougars face the steepest climb. Chattahoochee finished 2-8 overall and 1-5 in region play in 2025, according to MaxPreps.
Chattahoochee opens Friday, August 21, at West Hall at 7:30 p.m. The Cougars' first home game is Friday, September 4, against Forsyth Central.
Circle the date
All three programs kick off the same night. The local rivalry matchup between Johns Creek and Chattahoochee is set for Friday, September 11, at JCHS Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
