The Walton football team scored on its first two possessions of a brand new season on Thursday night.
Chris Peacock threw for two touchdowns, one for 74 yards, and another, to his brother Jordan.
But for the Raiders, those plays would be highlight of the evening in the Corky Kell+Dave Hunter Classic at Mercedes Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.
Roswell, ranked No. 4 in Class 5A, scored 25 unanswered points en route to a 32-20 victory, ignited by an interception return for a touchdown not long after Walton built its early lead.
The game was the first for a Cobb school in the 2026 season, which got underway earlier than usual due to the expansion of the Corky Kell+Dave Hunter Classic.
The annual early-season extravaganza is marking its 35th year, initially named for the late Wheeler High School coach Corky Kell.
Kell High School, also named for Kell—the first athletics director for the Cobb County School District—will be playing host to several games next Wednesday, including the Longhorns’ game against Cobb rival McEachern. That takes place at 7:30 p.m., following a 4:30 p.m. kickoff at the Stockyard between Pebblebrook and Clarke Central.
(Here’s more about Kell and the history of the football event named after him from the Cobb County School District.)
Next Friday, three other East Cobb schools will begin their seasons at home: Pope against Woodland of Cartersville; Sprayberry facing River Ridge, and Wheeler pitted against Campbell.
Lassiter will be on the road next Friday, traveling to Cherokee.
Walton is unranked in Class 6A, after losing many of its starters from the 2025 season, in which the Raiders reached the state quarterfinals.
The Raiders are off until their Aug. 28 home opener against North Clayton.
Related:
- Former Wheeler football coach named Pope assistant principal
- Race car driver from Walton HS honored as ‘positive athlete’
- Kell wins state baseball championship; Pope finishes as runner-up
- Atlanta Braves legendary manager Bobby Cox, East Cobb resident, dies
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