Center Parc Stadium will host a three-day state championship marathon to determine an already memorable and thrilling 2022 GHSA football season. Nationally-ranked powerhouses, highly-touted recruits, hometown heroes and perennial contenders will share the ultimate stage and put the Peach State’s gridiron prowess on full display. The action will kickoff on Thursday, Dec. 8 with three-straight flag football championship showdowns and then the first-ever Class A Division II finals will begin at 5 p.m. with Bowdon and Schley County squaring off in their first-ever meeting. Bowdon’s 13-1 record is the best since the Red Devils’ last state title in 1992 and Schley County has achieved a school-record 12-2 campaign heading into the Wildcats’ first-ever championship appearance. Thursday will conclude with the three-time consecutive state finalist and 2020 state champion Prince Avenue Christian taking the field to face undefeated Swainsboro, who is in the championship for the first time since its 2000 title run.
GRIND AND SHINE
Friday’s triple header kicks off with Class 2A defending state champion Fitzgerald facing off with Thomson—who is riding a 12-game win-streak into its first state finals appearance since 2016. Both finalists have battled through the Class 2A gauntlet; Fitzgerald is on the heels of its 21-14 overtime win over Rockmart in the quarterfinals and a 19-9 win over Fellowship Christian in the semis, while Thomson has defeated No. 10 Cook 42-10, No. 2 South Atlanta 56-48 and No. 3 Appling County 20-14 in the last three rounds, respectfully. The last time Fitzgerald and Thomson met was in the 1971 quarterfinals. Benedictine will also attempt defend its crown in the Class 4A championship against an undefeated Cedartown team that is one win away from capping its historic season with the program’s first-ever title. Benedictine’s to losses this season were to Columbus (FL) and Class 5A Ware County (14-10) and the program has not lost to a Class 4A opponent since Jefferson in the 2020 championship game. Friday’s triple-header will end with another battle of unbeaten with Gainesville and Hughes. Gainesville missed out on the playoffs last season with a 5-5 record, but have racked up a 14-0 campaign under first-year head coach Josh Niblett. Hughes’ nearly won its first state title last season and is two points away from breaking the all-time state record for most points in a season.
CHAMPIONSHIP MINDSET
Cedar Grove has won in its last four finals appearances and will look to capture the program’s fifth state title since 2016 in Saturday’s opener. The Saints faced one of the toughest schedules in the state this season and are coming off back-to-back shutouts. Looking to pause one of Georgia’s strongest current dynasties will be Cedar Grove’s Region 5 counterpart Sandy Creek. The Fighting Patriots have won five-straight since their 49-34 region loss to Cedar Grove and have outscored their four playoff opponents by 33.5 ppg. Game 2 will see two-time defending Class 5A state champion Warner Robins make its sixth-straight finals appearance against top-ranked and undefeated Ware County—who is 0-3 in its previous trips to the finals. In Saturday’s third and final matchup, nationally-ranked Mill Creek and Carrollton will battle for the Class 7A crown. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools and features the state’s highest touted recruits in multiple graduating classes. Both schools enter kickoff with a 28-point average margin of victory—despite facing a combined 11 top 10 schools over the course of the season.
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