1A Private – Prince Avenue (12-1) vs Trinity Christian School (12-2)
Trinity Christian – In just their third season as a member school of the Georgia High School Association, the Lions have found themselves making their first state title championship appearance. TCS finished the regular season at 8-2 with their only losses coming at the hands of Eagles Landing Christian Academy, the 1A Private champs from 2015 to 2019, and Athens Academy, another team that has also been dominate in the 1A Private classification. The Lions have won three of their four playoff games pretty convincingly, averaging almost 41 points per game with last week’s 17-7 win over Calvary Day, their lowest scoring game in the post season. Quarterback, David Dallas has thrown for a total of 884 yards and 11 touchdowns with five interceptions in all four playoff wins. Defensively, TCS has held opponents to an average of roughly 12 ppg.
Prince Avenue – The Wolverines have been on a tear since dropping their season opener, a 42-7 loss to Calvery Day, with 11 consecutive wins, including the first four rounds of the GHSA 1A Private playoffs. The Wolverines have averaged almost 50 ppg in their 12 wins, scoring 50 plus points in six of those wins, 60 plus three times and a 73 point performance against Providence Christian Academy. Defensively, Prince Ave has only allowed 11 points ppg through the first four rounds of the playoffs, holding three opponents to six points or less. The 28 points allowed to Hebron Christian in the opening round were in a game in which the Wolverines were up 42-21 by the end of the third quarter in route to a 63-28 win. Wolverine’s quarterback, Brock Vandagriff, a University of Georgia signee, has been showing just why he is considered one of the country’s top ranked dual threat quarterbacks as he has thrown for 1218 yards and 11 with only one interception through the first four rounds of the post season. He also has six rushing touchdowns in those wins.
1A Public – Irwin County (12-3) vs Brooks County (13-1) Rematch From October 9th Irwin Co Won 21-13
Irwin County – The Indians are the defending GHSA 1A Public state champs and having been playing inspired football following the death of former head football coach Buddy Nobles, who passed a month following their 2019 state title win. Nobles, who had been diagnosed with stomach cancer just before the start of the 2019 season and was sidelined through most of it, had led the Indians to four state title wins prior to them winning it last season with Nobles returning for the championship game. After dropping their first two games of the season, the Indians’ only other loss came at the hands of Clinch County in region play. In the playoffs, Irwin County running back, Kam Ward, has been a force to reckon with. After being held to just 10 rushing yards in the opening round, Ward has rushed for over 130 yards the last three weeks, including 212 yards in their round two win over Wilcox County. Indians quarterback, Cody Soliday has thrown for 150 plus yards in two of the post season wins and has a total of seven passing touchdowns in those wins.
Brooks County – The Trojans only loss of the regular season came at the hands of Irwin County back when the two teams met on October 9th and the Indians won by a final of 21-13. The Trojans defense has been playing shutdown ball the last five games, including the first four rounds of the playoffs as they have only allowed roughly three ppg in those five wins. They held three of the last five opponents scoreless and only gave up seven points to both Dublin and Washington-Wilkes in the playoffs. Offensively, Brooks has scored over 30 points in all four playoff wins, scoring 40 plus twice. Brooks has seen an incredible performance in their ground game as running backs Omari Arnold and Jamal Sanders have combined for 17 rushing touchdowns in the Trojans’ post season wins. Arnold has rushed ofr over 130 yards twice including his 236 yards and five touchdown performance in the Trojans’ 47-7 win over Washington-Wilkes.
2A Callaway (11-1) vs Fitzgerald (13-0)
Callaway – The Cavaliers opened the playoffs with a win by forfeit after Banks County had to take themselves out of the game due to COVID-19 safety precautions. Since, Callaway has averaged 30 ppg in their three wins, while allowing close to 16 ppg in the wins with last week’s 41-17 victory over Rabun County being their most impressive win thus far in the post season as that was the most points allowed by Rabun County all season. Callaway running back Charlie Dixon finished with three touchdowns in the win while quarterback Demetrius Coleman finished with two touchdowns.
Fitgerald – The Purple Hurricanes have been very impressive in their four playoff wins as they have averaged 41 ppg including a 58-12 opening round win over Oglethorpe County and last week’s 24-0 win over Jefferson County. Fitzerald is looking to claim their first state title since 1948. Senior running back, Mario Clark has rushed for a combined six touchdowns in the last two wins for the Purple Hurricaanes, including four in their elite eight win over Fannin County
3A Oconee County (12-0) vs Pierce County (12-1)
Oconee County – The Warriors kept their perfect season and hunt for a state title alive after holding on for a 21-20 overtime win over Greater Atlanta Christian last week. Prior to last week’s win, the Warriors defense allowed less than nine points per game and offensively had averaged 31 ppg through the first three rounds of the playoffs. Despite having nine touchdowns in the air in the post season, junior quarterback Jacob Wright, struggled last week going 9-23 with two interceptions in regulation time.
Wright would throw his only touchdown in the game in the second overtime period to help Oconee County pick up the win.
Pierce County – As they have reached their first state title game in program history, the Bears have been rolling through the first three weeks of the playoffs averaging 44 ppg, with last week’s 25-13 win over Crisp County being their lowest point total in the post season, and only allowing 11 ppg. In last week’s win, it was the Bears’ defense that saved the day as they scored twice to turn a 13-12 deficit into a 25-13 win. Offensively, the Bears only managed to total 186 yards with quarterback Jermain Breton passing for 67 of those yard and rushing for 55. Running back DJ Bell rushed for 64 yards in the win.
4A – Marist (12-0) vs Jefferson (14-0) Battle of Undefeated Teams
Marist – By far, the War Eagles have the lowest points allowed as they have held opponents to an average of 2.8 ppg this season. That includes shutting out three of their four playoff opponents and holding Perry to seven points in the elite eight round. Offensively, Marist has been a difficult team to stop as they have averaged 37 ppg, scoring 40 plus points in six of their wins. The duo of quarterback Champ Davis and Preston Larmore have been leading the charge for the War Eagles as they look to claim their first state title since 2003.
Jefferson – The Dragons have also been dominating on both sides of the ball this season as they have held opponents to an average of 11 ppg in their 12 played games. They have two wins by forfeit. Offensively, the Dragons have averaged 44 ppg wins by 60 points of more, including their round one 65-0 win over Mount Zion. The Dragons offense has been powered by Malaki Starks, who fits perfectly in their triple threat offense. Starks has rushed for nine touchdowns and 581 yard and thrown for two in Jefferson’s post season wins. The Dragons look to win their first state title since 2012. This is the only state championship game featuring two undefeated teams.
5A Cartersville (12-1) vs Warner Robins (12-1)
Cartersville – The hurricanes have been very impressive all season as their only physical loss was a close 14-12 loss to Cherokee early in the season. They later forfeited a game to Blessed Trinity due to COVID-19 concerns, however, it did not impact their record. The Canes will look forward to the hopeful return of running back, Quante Jennings, who has rushed for seven touchdowns and 282 yards in through the first three rounds of the playoffs. Jennings sat out last week’s win over Coffee. Meanwhile, quarterback, Carlos Del Rio Wilson has been very effective for Cartersville in the post season. Del Rio Wilson has totaled 809 yards in the air with five touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns.
Warner Robins – The Demons are making their fourth consecutive appearance in a state title game, having lost the previous three.
During the regular season, the Demons have held opponents to to 10 points or less in six of their wins. In their first two wins of the playoffs, they held each opposing offense to just seven points while averaging 42.5 ppg through the first four rounds of the post season. Warner Robins is coming off a 56-21 win over Jones County, a game in which quarterback Jalen Addie had a career night with 309 nine yards and six touchdowns through the air. Addie added 114 yards on the ground with one rushing touchdown. Running back Jahlen Rutherford has been a reliable source of production for the Demons as well as he has a total of 337 rushing yards and two touchdowns through their four playoff wins.
6A Buford (12-1) vs Lee County (12-1)
Buford – Besides Irwin County, the Wolves are the only other defending state champ to advance to the state championship game. The Wolves won the GHSA 5A title last season and if they win this week, they will be the only team to have won a state title in five different classifications. Following their season opening loss to North Cobb, Buford has rolled through their opponents for 12 straight wins in which they have averaged 43.5 ppg and held opposing offenses to an average of 6.5 ppg. The Wolves’ offense is an explosive that can strike quickly with sophomore quarterback Dylan Wittke, running back Victor Venn and wide receiver Jake Pope on the field. The Wolves defense has also been responsible for some of their scoring. In last week’s win over Valdosta, the defense scored twice.
Lee County – The Trojans have also had pretty dominating wins throughout the post season as they have scored 35 points or more in their four playoff games, including 49 against River Ridge, 48 against Brunswick and 49 against Tucker in the opening round. The Trojans offensive attack is led by running back and South Carolina Gamecocks signee, Caleb McDowell, who rushed for three touchdowns in last week’s 35-14 win over Westlake. McDowell had total 800 rushing yards, 140 receiving yards and a total of 16 touchdowns during the regular season. McDowell is also a dangerous return man. In the Trojans’ win over River Ridge, tow of McDowell’s touchdowns were on a kickoff return and a punt return. Lee County won back to back state title in 2017 and 2018 and are looking for their third championship in four years.
7A Grayson (13-0) vs Collins Hill (12-2) – Gwinnett Bowl Rematch From September 18th Grayson won 28-7
Grayson – The Rams have had one of Georgia’s top defenses this season as they have held opposing offenses to 7.5 ppg and that stingy played picked up a notch in the playoffs as they have held three of the four post season opponents scoreless and only allowed six points to Harrison in the second round of the playoffs. The Rams are familiar with Collins Hill as they defeated the Eagles 28-7 back on September 18th. The biggest difference from that game this time around is that the Rams offensive attack will be led by quarterback and Miami Hurricanes signee, Jake Garcia, who’s made national media attention thanks to his transfer situation. Defensively, the Rams held the Eagles’ run game in check as Collins Hill netted -11 yards on the ground. Grayson also picked off Collins Hill quarterback Sam Horn twice in the Rams’ win. Offensively, the Rams have had to rely on Garcia for production as their ground game suffered a major loss when running back and Clemson commit, Phil Mafah when down with an injusry in round one of the playoffs. Garcia has thrown for seven touchdowns and 587 yards with four interceptions in the post season. He also has two rushing touchdowns.
Collins Hill – The Eagles are playing in their first state title game in the program’s history and are coming off a 31-14 win over Lowndes. The Eagles’ defense has been pretty solid in the post season only allowing 10 ppg. But it has been the explosive play by junior quarterback, Sam Horn and junior wide receiver Travis Hunter, that have Collins Hill rolling in the playoffs. In their round one 42-7 win over Alpharetta, Horn threw for 288 yards and six touchdowns with three of them going to Hunter. In last week’s 31-14 win over Lowndes, Horns threw for 371 yards and four touchdowns as Hunter was the recipient of three of those tosses. Horn also threw for over three hundred yards in their 21-14 win over Parkview. Despite how well Collins Hill has been playing since their loss to Grayson when they met back in September, the Eagles know that Hunter will be the object of the Rams’ defense.