Here are the most significant career milestones to track this postseason as some of the most prolific names in the state re-write the record books. We witnessed history be made last year when Prince Avenue Christian quarterback Aaron Philo (13,922) surpassed Trevor Lawrence (13,900) for the all-time state record in career passing yards in the Wolverines’ 49-32 state championship victory over Swainsboro. Philo passed for 320 yards in that victory—surpassing Lawrence’s career-mark by just 20 yards and so it was certainly not guaranteed that the now Georgia Tech quarterback would be able break the all-time record in his final varsity game. Philo’s record is going to be safe this season, but history is still achievable in major ways as the playoffs kickoff.
Houston County quarterback AJ Hill finished the regular season with a 2,874 passing yards and his 35 touchdown passes marked the third-straight year that the 6-foot-5, Memphis-commit has surpassed 30 touchdown passes in a season. A four-year contributor and three-year starter for the Bears, Hill’s 287.4 passing yards per game is a career-high and also the top average in Class 5A this season. Hill has 10,152 career passing yards—ranking him No. 10 all-time in state history and becoming just the 12th quarterback in state history to surpass 10,000 career yards—joining former Bears quarterback Jake Fromm—who accomplished the feat from 2013-16. Hill’s 10,152 yards sits just 65 yards behind the next name on the list, which is K’Hari Lane of Macon County’s (10,217). Lane is No. 9 all-time for career yards. Collins Hill’s Sam Horn (2018-21) is also in reach with 10,300 yards—putting Hill just 149 yards from moving up to No. 8 all-time. Prentiss Air Noland (2020-23) of Hughes is No. 7 all-time at 10,491—putting Hill 339 yards behind the former Panther. Hill will need to lead his team deeper into the playoffs to reach a Harrison Bailey (12,119) or Jake Fromm (12,745). A more simplified way to look at it is that just six quarterbacks have ever passed for more than 10,491 yards, 11,000 yards or 12,000 yards with a 1,628-yard difference between No. 6 Bailey’s (12,119) and No. 7 Noland’s (10,491). Hill has 114 career passing touchdowns heading into tonight’s matchup with Clarke Central. That puts him 10 all-time in state history and just two touchdowns behind Fromm’s 116.
Carrollton quarterback Julian Lewis is currently at No. 5 all-time on the list with 132 career touchdown passes. This season, Lewis has thrown for 2,549 yards with 36 touchdowns and just four interceptions with a career-high 144.3 QB Rating and a state-wide best 76.6 completion percentage. His 132 touchdown passes rank him fifth on the all-time career list behind Gunner Stockton (177), Trevor Lawrence (161), Aaron Philo (159) and Deshaun Watson (155)—all of which were four-year starters. Lewis’ 132 touchdown passes are the most by any Georgia quarterback through their first three seasons and that is a record he can continue to grow this year in the playoffs as the No. 1 ranked Carrollton Trojans start their playoff journey tonight against Dacula. Additionally, Lewis is just 239 yards (9,761) shy of reaching the 10,000 career passing yards mark.
At running back, Chattooga’s Zayden Cook enters the playoffs with 2,735 yards this season and 31 touchdowns. Only 14 players have rushed for 40 or more touchdowns in a season and Chattooga will need to get past Dodge County this week to keep that milestone within Cook’s grasp. As for the yardage, Cook’s 464-yard performance against Dade County this season is the fourth-most rushing yards in a game in state history. Frederica Academy’s Jordan Tripplett tied Daccus Turman last year for the most rushing yards in a season at 3,172. Turrman (Washington-Wilkes, 2000), Triplett (Frederica Academy, 2023) and Herschel Walker (Johnson County, 1979) are the only three players in state history to ever rush for 3,000 yards in a season. Cook is 265 yards shy of joining that elite company and enters tonight’s matchup with Dodge County averaging 273.5 yards per game.
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