Clemson QB commit Kharim Hughley helped guide his Gainesville High School team to what many are calling a signature win on Friday night.

In a game that had Georgia 5A state title implications, the Red Elephants knocked off Milton 28-16, snapping Gainesville’s five-game losing streak in the series. The win vaulted Gainesville (7-1, 4-0 Region 7-5A) into first place in the region standings.

“I mean, this is big,” junior quarterback Kharim Hughley said via accessWDUN. “We had to get over the hump, as they say. We’ve done that now.

“But we’ve always known who we were as a team. In the locker room, we’ve always felt we were serious (state title) contenders. This didn’t change that for us.”

Hughley connected on 8-of-12 pass attempts in the first half, including a 41-yard touchdown pass to Dwight Lewis, as Big Red took a 21-6 lead into the break.

Milton would eventually pull to within five points at 21-16 with just over six minutes left, but Gainesville got a 50-yard touchdown run on its next possession to put the game away.

Hughley committed to Clemson back in July, just a few days after picking up his offer from the Tigers. He has been a frequent visitor since, having attended all three home games.

ESPN ranks Hughley No. 92 overall and as the fourth-best quarterback in the 2027 recruiting class.