ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Friday night football is bringing more than touchdowns and school spirit to several South Georgia communities this season.

Four schools in our viewing area are among the Georgia high schools selected as $5,000 winners through T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights competition.

The South Georgia winners include:

• Dougherty Comprehensive High School
• Monroe Comprehensive High School
• Cook High School
• Berrien High School

The program gives eligible small-town high schools an opportunity to receive funding for football field and facility upgrades. Schools can compete for weekly $5,000 prizes, regional finalist awards and a grand prize stadium transformation valued at $1 million.

South Georgia schools earn $5,000

Dougherty Comprehensive High School was selected as one of this week’s three Georgia winners, along with St. Andrew’s School in Savannah and Veterans High School in Kathleen.

Dougherty joins three other schools in the WALB viewing area that have already been awarded $5,000 through this year’s competition.

Cook High School in Adel, Berrien High School in Nashville and Monroe Comprehensive High School in Albany were previously selected as winners.

The four schools have now brought a combined $20,000 in competition funding to communities across the region.

Across Georgia, 12 schools have been selected as $5,000 winners so far this season, with $50,000 awarded collectively.

The competition is designed to highlight the role high school football plays in bringing communities together. Schools can use their applications to explain how facility improvements would benefit athletes, marching bands, cheer teams, students, families, alumni and the broader community.

More schools can still compete

Eligible high schools in communities with populations of 150,000 or fewer can continue competing for additional weekly prizes and a chance to advance toward the $1 million grand prize.

Applications close September 18, 2026.

Public voting is scheduled for October 8-25, with voters allowed to cast one vote per day. The final four voting period will run from October 29 through November 8.

The grand prize winner is scheduled to be announced November 12, 2026.

For South Georgia football fans, the competition means several local schools now have an opportunity to turn Friday night pride into improvements that could benefit their communities for years to come.

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