Sports
Central Gwinnett snaps five-game skid with 36-13 rivalry win over Discovery
The crosstown rivalry included 10 unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties as Central Gwinnett earned its first Region 8-AAAAAAA win and left Discovery 0-7.
By Staff · October 13, 2026
Central Gwinnett put an end to a five-game losing streak Friday night, Oct. 9, beating crosstown Lawrenceville rival Discovery 36-13 for the Black Knights' first region win of the 2026 season. The win moved Central Gwinnett to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in Region 8-AAAAAAA play, while Discovery fell to 0-7.
The breakthrough ended a stretch that had dragged since opening night. Central Gwinnett beat Lakeside-DeKalb 41-7 in its opener, then dropped five straight — 14-7 to Pebblebrook, 15-0 to Rockdale County, 46-7 to Tucker, 39-15 to Collins Hill and 43-16 to Mill Creek. Two of those defeats were region games, leaving the Black Knights 0-2 in the region entering Friday.
Breaking through
Quarterback Terrell Killings completed 11 of 17 passes for three touchdowns, connecting with three different receivers, and Central Gwinnett broke the game open after halftime behind a defense that picked off two passes. Running back C.J. Benton scored on the ground, and Jaren Joseph hauled in a nine-yard touchdown pass after a turnover. Discovery running back Chase Wilson gained 82 yards and scored a touchdown in the loss.
Two miles, one square
The schools sit about 2.1 miles apart — Central Gwinnett on West Crogan Street, Discovery on Old Norcross Road — and that proximity showed. Officials called 10 unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties in the game. "These kids know each other, and I get that amps it up, but I want my boys to play clean football," said Central Gwinnett head coach Terrance Banks.
Both schools compete in Class 7A's GHSA Region 8-AAAAAAA alongside Buford, Collins Hill, Dacula, Mill Creek and Seckinger. Discovery came in under first-year head coach Andre Clark after losses to Apalachee, Oconee County and Dacula.
After the win, Banks kept the message simple: "We're a good football team when we play 48 minutes, and play together." The Black Knights backed that up, pulling away after halftime with two interceptions and turning a heated rivalry game into a decisive second-half run — their first foothold in the region after five straight losses.
What's next
The Black Knights host Dacula on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 2:30 p.m., then welcome Seckinger on Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Central Gwinnett football games, including the Dacula matchup, stream live on the NFHS Network for families who cannot make it to the stands. For a team that had gone five weeks without a win, the rivalry victory gives the Black Knights something to build on as they head into two home games in a row.