Class AAAAAAA
Grayson (13-1)
The Rams head into Saturday’s state championship nightcap boasting a substantial combination of talent and experience. Not only is Grayson loaded with one of the nation’s most talented rosters, but the team has been tested by conquering one of the nation’s most difficult schedules. First-year head coach Jeff Herron has enculturated his own championship mindset into the program captured its first state title just five Decembers ago under Mickey Conn. After starting his coaching career with a 63-25 record his first eight seasons, Herron has compiled a 223-27 record in the 19 seasons since, including four state titles at two different schools (Oconee County-1999, Camden County-2003, 2008, 2009). Herron’s debut in Green and Gold started with a 26-7 home loss to IMG Academy and the current 13-game winning streak started the following week with a 16-13 road win over McEachern. The Rams’ offense ignited Week 3 in a 39-14 win over Deerfield Beach, Fla. and has maintained a 47.3 points per game average the past 12 games. Quarterback Chase Brice has all the attributes of a championship quarterback and was outstanding in Grayson’s 44-26 win over Mill Creek in the semifinals. Propelling his team to a 38-14 lead at the half, Brice finished with 294 passing yards and four touchdowns. “It’s an amazing feeling,” Brice told the Gwinnett Daily Post after clinching a spot in the finals. “The last time I was in the Dome was Corky Kell freshman year against Colquitt and hopefully we can close it out senior year.” The previous week in the quarterfinals, Grayson dominated two-time defending champion Colquitt County 49-21, and it was the running game that forced a running clock in the road blowout. The Rams ran for 375 yards, including a 204-yard performance by Kurt Taylor, who scored three touchdowns, and 103 yards by Jamyest Williams, who found the end zone twice. It will take Grayson’s offensive balance along with the big-play potential to move the chains against Roswell, but the Rams have proven their ability to find success against some of the top programs in the country already on their road to the Dome.
Roswell (14-0)
Roswell finds itself in familiar territory after advancing to the state championship a year ago with a superb defense and perfect 14-0 record. Colquitt County stopped last year’s dream season short with a 30-13 victory in the Dome, but Roswell’s determination to make it back to the finals and the fact that they did so with an undefeated record demonstrates the resolve of Roswell and the program’s determination to reach the top of Georgia High School Football. When Grayson won its last state title in 2011, Roswell was an 0-10 team. The program followed its winless season with a 3-7 finish in 2012 and then head coach John Ford took over in 2013 where they compiled a 12-10 record his first two years. In the past two seasons, Ford and his staff has won more games than any team in the state’s highest classification. Roswell opened the season with dominating non-region wins over Buford (24-7), Central Gwinnett (31-6), Colquitt County (34-3), Archer (47-0) and Milton (17-0). The Hornets swept through these five teams with a 153-16 scoring edge. Etowah and Cherokee tested Roswell in competitive region games, while Lassiter, Walton and Woodstock were demolished by an average of 46 points per game. In the playoffs, Roswell’s defense has continued its success and included a 28-0 semifinal shutout over Westlake to set the tone for Saturday’s showdown with Grayson. Offensively, quarterback Malik Willis has been on a roll in the playoffs. The 6-foo-2 senior has passed for 240.5 yards per game with an efficient 16.6 yards per completion. Willis has 11 touchdowns with three interceptions during the postseason and has also rushed for five scores and 332 yards with a 7.9 yards per carry average. Sheldon Evans leads the backfield with his 119.5 rushing yards per game, while Jayden Comma also headlines this senior class at receiver with a team-high 10 receiving touchdowns this year. Defensively, Justin Ellis and Koby Cumberlander are can disrupt quarterbacks and feed LeAnthony Williams Jr., Xavier McKinney and the ball-hawking Hornets secondary.
The Skinny:
It’s a rematch of last year’s unforgettable semifinals when Roswell’s A.J. Smith hauled in a game-winning 35-yard touchdown with 10 seconds left that give the Hornets a 30-26 victory. While a semifinal rematch is an interesting storyline heading into the finals, there is much more star-power involved in this No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown setting the stage for the main even of championship weekend. According to the 247sports composite rankings, Grayson has 12 of the top 250 senior prospects in Georgia, while Roswell has 10. Additionally, 13 of the top 100 ranked seniors in Georgia will be in this game. In what will mark the first-ever Class 7A state title game, this could very well be the most talent-filled championship matchup the state has seen.
Class AAAA
Cartersville (14-0)
Riding a state-best 29-game winning streak, Cartersville is the hottest program in the state entering championship weekend. The Purple Hurricanes have once again turned in an undefeated resume on their path to the Georgia Dome, and are a win away from capturing back-to-back titles for the first time in program history. Head coach Joey King took over the program in 2014 with a promising freshman quarterback in Trevor Lawrence. The duo has compiled a 41-2 record together and Lawrence has blossomed into the No. 1 rated prospect in the Class of 2018. Lawrence has been lights out this season, leading an offense that turns in 45.5 points per game. The 6-foot-5 junior has completed 236-of-372 passes (63.4 percent) for 3,708 yards (264.9 per game) and 49 touchdowns with just nine interceptions. He threw a career-best seven touchdowns in Cartersville’s 77-14 win over Chestatee to open the postseason and has thrown 16 touchdowns without an interception in the first four rounds. Lawrence’s elite skillset allows him to find targets down field and sideline to sideline and it’s the reason 10 different targets have caught touchdown passes this season. Leading the receiving corps is Avery Showell, who has caught 16 touchdowns this season off of a team-high 42 receptions. Junior E.J. Turner is another big play receiver and is coming off a season-best of 111 receiving yards in the 38-17 semifinals victory over Mary Persons. Turner has hauled in eight touchdowns this season. In the backfield of the unstoppable Cartersville offense is senior running back Trey Creamer. The 6-foot back took just two carries in last year’s state championship game, but made an impact in the passing game where he hauled in three passes for 62 yards. Creamer’s versatility compliments his ability as a feature running back, and he is coming off a season-highs of 18 carries and 146 rushing yards in the semifinals. Creamer has accounted for 17 of the team’s 26 rushing touchdowns this season and 711 of their 1,063 yards.
Thomson (14-0)
Like three-year Cartersville head coach Joey King, Thomson head coach Rob Ridings has led the Bulldogs into the finals in his third season at the school. Ridings is a 16-year head coaching veteran that has improved the Bulldogs’ win total from four games in 2014, to an 11-2 finish last year. Now, undefeated Thomson sits a win away from the program’s first state title since 2002 and what would be the sixth crown in its history. Thomson has been unstoppable in 2016 and a 20-7 win over Burke County on Oct. 28 is the smallest margin of victory this year. In the playoffs, Thomson has outscored Americus-Sumter (57-23), West Hall (42-14), Spalding (30-7) and Jefferson (27-7) by an average 26.3 points per game. Thomson operates a prolific running offense that has thrashed opponents with a 312.6 rushing yards per game average. Michael Thomas has led Thomson with 2,240 rushing yards and 160 yards per game, while finding the endzone 24 times. In the first round win over Americus-Sumter, the senior took just 10 carries for a season-high 335 rushing yards and five touchdowns. His playoff stat line has seen him take 89 carries for 830 yards (9.3 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns. He also threw a 32-yard touchdown in the semifinals to Tray Parker on a halfback pass. Sophomore Bubba Murray shares the load in the backfield and has put together a 1,007-yard rushing effort this season. Murray has rushed for 17 touchdowns this season and has three rushing performances of 100 or more yards. Quarterback Mills Ridings rushed for a touchdown in last Friday’s win over Jefferson and he has thrown 15 touchdowns this season. Thomson’s successful rushing attack limits Ridings’ throws, but the junior makes them count with unmistakable effectiveness. Ridings has completed 90-of-133 passes this season (67.7 percent) for 1,393 yards and 15 touchdowns with seven interceptions. In the playoffs, he has thrown six touchdowns with two interceptions, while completing 33-of-43 attempts (76.7 percent) for 121.5 yards per game.
The Skinny:
It’s a battle of unbeaten teams and a tale of contrasting offensive philosophies as Cartersville’s unstoppable passing games goes head-to-head with Thomson’s relentless rushing attack. The two programs have spent the past four months ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in Class AAAA, while seemingly improving each week on their road to the Dome. Cartersville, the defending champion, stands one victory from becoming the 11th team to produce back-to-back 15-0 seasons and the 19th to sustain a 30-game winning streak. Thomson is in its first state-title game since its 2002 Class AAAA championship season. The only other time the programs met on the gridiron came in the 2012 quarterfinals when Cartersville hosted and advanced to the semis with a 21-13 win.
Class AA
Benedictine (14-0)
Benedictine has been flawless this season recording a school-best 14 wins and on the verge of capturing their second state title, their first coming in 2014 against Greater Atlanta Christian. The powerful military all-boys school has poured in 43.7 points per game while allowing less than eight points per contest. Junior Nick Iannone orchestrates the offense with 1,673 yards passing and 23 touchdowns. The Cadets’ run game, which averages close to 300 yards a night on the ground, is the engine of Coach Danny Britt’s offense. Four players have over 500 yards rushing on the season led by Wesley Kennedy. The senior ran for 180 yards and four touchdowns on just eight carries in Benedictine’s 49-10 semifinal rout of Callaway. For the season Kennedy has 1,157 yards on the ground along with 35 total touchdowns. Second on the team in rushing is junior Tyleek Collins. He exploded in the quarterfinals with four touchdowns in a 51-13 win over Pepperell. Junior Terrick Smalls is the third head of the vaunted rushing attack. He rumbled for 124 yards and two touchdowns against Callaway and has 695 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns on the year. The defense is led by Chris Harris and Matthew Lowenthal who have over 200 tackles between them. Defensive end Adam King and defensive tackle Bailey Clark lead the Cadets in tackles for loss. Benedictine’s balance on both sides of the ball has led to the Cadets not being challenged at all throughout their playoff run. They blew out Glenn Hills in the opening round of the playoffs 58-7 before crushing Banks County 49-0 in Round 2. Pepperell and Callaway met similar fates in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Fitzgerald is the last team to beat the Cadets, knocking them out of the playoffs in the quarterfinals last season 54-28, setting up for a heavyweight rematch in the finals.
Fitzgerald (13-1)
Fitzgerald has become a preeminent powerhouse, going 141-28-1 since 2004. The Purple Hurricanes have ridden a potent offense to the state championship for the second consecutive year and hope that this year they will be able to finish the journey with their first state title since 1948. Last year Coach Jason Strickland’s group fell short to Pace Academy in the title game 42-21. This season, Fitzgerald’s only loss came in Week 5 to Tift County, 35-28. Oklahoma State-commit J.D. King has been a handful for defenses to try and stop. He racked up 160 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries in Fitzgerald’s semifinal victory over Hapeville Charter. He is joined by dual-threat quarterback James Graham as a leader of the offense. Graham completed 6-of-14 passes for 75 yards while adding 52 yards rushing and three touchdowns against Hapeville. Sophomores Damien Devine and Ethan Gordon have represented a bright future in the Hurricane backfield one King graduates, both backs playing big roles in Coach Strickland’s offense. Donterious Milsap and Joshua Reliford lead Fitzgerald in tackles from their linebacker and safety position, respectively. The Purple Hurricanes’ march back to the Dome has been an easy one. They rocked Dublin in the first round 42-7 and beat Rockmart 48-21 in the second round. Rabun County saw its undefeated season come to an end in the quarterfinals, losing 35-16. For Fitzgerald to beat the Cadets for the second time in two years, King will have to get off to a hot start. He rushed for 117 yards on 17 first half carries in the quarterfinals last year before finishing with 335 on 44 attempts in the Hurricanes’ 54-28 win over the Cadets. Fitzgerald put the game away in the second half after trailing at halftime 21-20, by outscoring Benedictine 34-7.
The Skinny:
It seems like destiny for Benedictine and Fitzgerald to meet in the state championship after both mowed through the competition in Class AA. The Cadets haven’t lost a game since November 27, 2015 in the quarterfinals where the Purple Hurricanes ended their season 54-28. For Benedictine to exact revenge, they must contain J.D. King. The Oklahoma State-commit exploded for a career-high 335 yards and three touchdowns on 44 carries as he powered the Hurricanes after trailing 21-20 at the half. For Fitzgerald, Benedictine’s diverse rushing attack will be a problem. Tyleek Collins ran for 107 yards while Wesley Kennedy totaled 93 in defeat. Kennedy has gained 1,157 yards and scored 35 total touchdowns his senior season.
Class A-Public
Macon County (11-2)
The Bulldogs look to make the 20th anniversary of winning the state title in 1996 another special year as Macon County is in the hunt for its second ever state championship. Everything revolves around superstar senior quarterback K’hari Lane. Statistically speaking, Lane has been in the best quarterback in the state of Georgia by a massive margin and might have the best numbers of any quarterback in the nation. Lane has gone 183-of-296 for 3,557 yards passing, impressive enough, but the eye popping stat is his 52 touchdowns and only one interception. Tack on his eight rushing touchdowns and Lane has accounted for 60 touchdowns this season. He has been unstoppable with his favorite target being junior Trey Brown. He has caught 47 passes for 974 yards and 21 scores while second in command, junior Keldric Thomas has 702 yards and nine touchdowns off 32 receptions. Coach Dexter Copeland’s air raid offense has still been able to gain 2,559 yards on the ground with senior Jared Daniels carrying the load. Daniels has rushed 122 times for 1,311 yards and 12 touchdowns while junior Aukeeveous McLendon has chipped in 762 yards and six rushing scores. Senior middle linebacker Kentarius Felton powers the defense with his team-best 121 tackles. Marquel Jackson leads the team with five sacks in his senior season. Macon County’s only losses came against Class AA state finalist Fitzgerald (70-42) and Class AAAAAA semifinalist Northside-Warner Robins (45-6). Against Class A-Public opponents, the Bulldogs have been the bullies on the block. Outside of their opening round playoff victory against Turner County 47-37, Macon County has rolled. They beat Manchester 28-14 in the quarterfinals after drilling the Blue Devils 55-13 in the final week of the regular season. In the semifinals the Bulldogs raced past undefeated Emanuel County Institute 48-26 behind 250 yards rushing paced by McClendon’s 117 and two touchdowns. Lane threw for 128 yards on 6-of-13 passing with two touchdowns.
McIntosh County Academy (10-2)
McIntosh County Academy started the year off inauspiciously at 1-1 with a Week 2 loss at home to defending state champion Clinch County, 32-7. The Buccaneers rebounded nicely however, winning five straight before a 21-14 loss to undefeated Calvary Day. Now with just one game ahead of them, if MCA can defeat Macon County, they will clinch their first ever state championship and tie the school record for wins which was set in 2000. The Bucs’ playoff road from coastal south Georgia to Atlanta begin in the second round against Lincoln County. McIntosh County Academy won a defensive war 14-7 to advance to the quarterfinals against Greene County. There they held star running back Devin Wynn to just 99 yards as J.P. Palmer stole the show, rushing for 232 yards and four touchdowns on 14 carries in a 39-22 win. The semifinals set up a rematch with Clinch County where the Bucs flipped the script and shutdown the Panthers for a 24-8 win, using a goal line stand late in the first quarter to turn back Clinch as they went 0-4 in trips to the MCA red zone. Palmer came up big again with three touchdowns, scoring on a 56-yard reception, a 32-yard interception return and a 13-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The junior has gained 746 yards rushing and nine touchdowns while adding on 416 receiving yards and four scores through the air this year. Junior quarterback Major Robinson has been steady, throwing for 1,731 yards and 15 touchdowns with six interceptions. His favorite target has been senior Dustin Anderson who has caught 31 passes for 631 yards and five scores. On defense Jonathan Jason has totaled 122 tackles while Fred Carswell has tallied 100 stops. Dallas Anthony (9.5), Akhari Roberts (7.5) and Joseph Roberts (7.5) ignite the pass rush, leading the Bucs in sacks.
The Skinny:
K’hari Lane brings his 52:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio to the big stage as Macon County attempts to win a state title 20 years after its lone championship in 1996. The Bulldogs’ tough schedule has prepared them for a run to the Dome. Losses to perennial powers Fitzgerald and Northside-Warner Robins has helped bring the Bulldogs’ game to another level. McIntosh County Academy will use its balanced defense loaded with pass rushers to try and slow down Lane. J.P. Palmer has come up big over the past two rounds at running back for the Bucs, gaining 334 yards rushing and scoring six total touchdowns. Coach Robby Robinson searches for his first state title in 19 years as a head coach and ninth total at McIntosh County after a four year hiatus at Washingotn-Wilkes.
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