The 2022 GHSA state championship opened in thrilling fashion with the Bowdon Red Devils capturing their first state title in 30 years and their third state championship in school history in a 39-31 victory over Schley County in the Class A Division II final. The teams went back-and-forth in a first half that saw six touchdowns scored in the first eight drives as both teams traded blows. Neither defense was able to force a punt and the only drive killer came on Schley County’s first possession when Bowdon’s Jamichael Jones netted his first career interception.
After that, the offenses went on a tear and moved the ball down the field with efficiency and ease. Schley County had the momentum going into the break with a touchdown pass from Jay Kanazawa to Sam Forehand with 41 seconds on the clock to give them a 21-19 lead. The second half was a different story as the Bowdon defense clamped down and didn’t allow the potent Wildcat offense to get going. The Wildcats only scored three points on offense in the second half. The Red Devils got stop after stop and put the Wildcat offense in challenging positions.
The other second-half score for Schley County came on a dynamic 73-yard kick return from Jalewis Solomon to give Schley County some hope after they trailed by double-digits with less than five minutes left.
The touchdown cut the deficit to 39-31. Bowdon leaned on the legs of senior running back TJ Harvison on their final drive. Harvison finished with 212 yards rushing and a touchdown. Harvison’s big runs for first downs on the final drive milked the clock. A crucial 4th and 1 conversion and a big 1st down run from Harvison helped seal the game and earned him Cotton Commissioner Player of the game.
Harvison thanked his offensive line for his dominant performance and expressed that they were the reason why he had such a big game.
“It’s awesome. Those guys are some real dawgs. If y’all don’t know about my offensive line, go look them up,” said Harvison. “They just kept on opening holes, and it is my job as a running back to hit the crease and take off. I congratulate them on that, and they are the reason why I am the player of the game.”
Bowdon’s quarterback Robert McNeal had four total touchdowns on the night, two passing and two rushing. He eluded Schley County’s defense on the ground throughout the game and the Wildcats had no answers to stop Bowdon’s dominant offensive.
Bowdon Coach Richard Fendley was ecstatic after the win and thanked the players and coaching staff for their state championship win.
“To the guys who got it done and bought into the process, they played their hearts out tonight. I love every one of them,” said Fendley. “True grit and a resilient bunch of guys. They have trusted our coaching staff and fought all year. It started back in January and our off-season program. Thank you for blessing our staff with this.”
Class A Division I
Prince Avenue Christian 52, Swainsboro 34
Prince Avenue Christian’s sophomore quarterback Aaron Philo threw six touchdowns, including four in the second half to lead the Wolverines to their third state title in the past three seasons (2020). Wolverines’ star athlete Bailey Stockton missed the last two games with a broken collarbone and donned a No. 24 on Thursday after his previous No. 4 jersey was cut off following his injury suffered in the Elbert County win. Stockton made his heroic performance felt immediately and hauled in a 69-yard touchdown pass from Philo in the first quarter to tie the game up 7-7. Swainsboro quarterback Ty Adams broke touchdown runs of 45, 27 and 66 yards in the first half and it took a late field goal and 64-yard touchdown pass from Philo to Josh Britt before the half to make it a 20-17 Swainsboro advantage at the half.
“This is right where I thought we would be,” said Prince Avenue Christian head coach Greg Vandagriff at the half, “We are going to grind it out and beat them with conditioning.”
Coach Vandagriff’s confidence in his team didn’t prevent Swainsboro from forcing a turnover on a fumbled backwards pass that turned into a Qin Brown 40-yard touchdown run to start the half, but his team responded to the 27-17 deficit and ultimately outscored the Tigers’ 35-14 in the second half. Prince Avenue Christian’s crisp finish started with a 51-yard screen touchdown pass from Philo to Britt and a 65-yard touchdown to Ethan Christian that gave the Wolverines a 31-27 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Swainsboro reclaimed the lead with Adam’s fourth touchdown run from 46 yards out (34-31), but Philo tossed his fifth touchdown pass on a 27-yard fade into the endzone and the injured Stockton hauled it.
Stockton’s touchdown put the Wolverines up 38-34 with 9:18 left and then Philo capped his six touchdown performance with a 68-yard touchdown pass to Britt—his third touchdown reception of the game. Swainsboro turned it on downs and Peyton Talmadge broke loose up the middle for a 66-yard touchdown with 2:08 left to runaway with the 52-34 victory.
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