These two relatively new programs (both began in the 1990s) will face off today in downtown Atlanta, which is virtually halfway between the two schools. Both programs are having magical seasons that will remembered fondly by fans regardless of who wins today.Both Chattahoochee and Starr’s Mill are playing in the state championship game for the first time. Chattahoochee had not been to the semifinals since 1999. The Cougars had fallen upon hard times prior to this season, going 3-7 in 2008 and 4-6 last year. Class AAAAA competition, however, clearly had them prepared for a move down to Class AAAA. They last qualified for the playoffs in 2007 but lost to Grayson 34-0 in the Class AAAAA first round. Starr’s Mill, the youngest program of all 10 finalists among the five classifications, last made it to the semifinals in 2000. The Panthers went a combined 14-17 in the three seasons prior to this breakout. They also reached the playoffs last year, only to get edged out by Apalachee 27-24 in a first-round Class AAAA thriller.
Chattahoochee
Chattahoochee, under seventh-year head coach Terry Crowder, has used a prolific office to compile a perfect 14-0 record for its best season in school history. The Cougars scored at least 30 points in all 10 of their regular season games and they eclipsed the 40-point mark in their last eight. Their closest game was a 35-14 rout of Forsyth Central. In the playoffs, though, Chattahoochee has done it the hard way. The Cougars scored routine wins over Pope and Dutchtown but needed thrilling finishes to overcome Marist 31-28 and most recently Statesboro 22-21. Quarterback Timmy Byerly leads the offensive attack along with wide receiver Kane Whitehurst. Byerly passed for 316 yards in the win over Marist and he orchestrated a comeback from eight points down with five minutes remaining to stun Statesboro. Whitehurst had nine catches against Marist and he scored three touchdowns in the victory over Dutchtown. Kicker Ammon Lakip has delivered in the postseason, booting a 51-yard game-winner against Marist and a 27-yarder as time expired against Statesboro. Heavily-recruited defensive end Barron Dixon anchors a Chattahoochee defense that is overshadowed but effective. The unit has allowed more than 15 points a game only twice this season, to Marist and Statesboro.
Starr’s Mill
Starr’s Mill mostly cruised through the regular season under first-year head coach Chad Phillips. The Panthers had relatively close contests with Whitewater and Northgate, but they won seven of their 10 games by at least 26 points. Along with playoff blowouts of Hardaway and East Paulding, Starr’s Mill outscored Brunswick 42-34 and edged Tucker 20-19. Quarterback Adam Holley, running back Zach Laskey, and fullback Davis Aasen lead the way for the Panthers on the offensive side of the ball. Laskey has more than 1500 yards on the ground, breaking the single-season school record previously set by Reuben Houston in 2000. Both Laskey and Holley ran for more than 100 yards to storm back from a 20-point deficit against Brunswick in round two. Aasen, who also stars at linebacker on defense, scored two rushing touchdowns in the semifinals. One of Laskey’s favorite targets is Alex Riddle, who caught the game-winner from 26 yards out to beat Tucker. Defensive lineman Ufomba Kamalu will have the task of putting pressure on Byerly. Kamalu leads a defense that has posted five shutouts and has held opponents to fewer than 10 points nine times this season.
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