With five state championship games being played at the Georgia Dome this weekend, here is the skinny on the teams vying for the title in each classification.
CLASS 5A
Peachtree Ridge Lions – 1 state title (2006): What a year it has been for the Peachtree Ridge Lions. After losing their first two games to Harrison and Lowndes, they strung together 12 consecutive wins and are considered by many to be the hottest team in the playoffs. One of the keys to their success has been their defense, which has given up a combined total of 24 points in the playoffs. Their most impressive showing was a 38-0 drubbing of Coffee in the quarterfinal round, where they forced the Trojans to commit five turnovers. One of the players to watch on the defensive side of the ball is LSU commit Kevin Minter, who has over 100 tackles and can move from sideline to sideline with ease. Offensively, Ronnie Smith and Brandon Stanley have done a great job running the ball, while quarterback Nick Lombardo has run and thrown effectively all season long. Mitchell Williford is the leading receiver on the team, having caught over 45 passes.
Camden County – 1 state title (2003): Camden County started strong out of the gate, defeating Norcross at the Georgia Dome in the Kell Classic, 21-6. Then the Wildcats were able to beat two tough out-of-state teams, Columbia (Fla.) and Hoover (Ala.). They cruised past their region opponents and picked up big wins against Northside-Warner Robins, Woodstock and Newnan in the playoffs to earn the right to play in the finals. Running back Greg Baker has had a strong season with over 1,000 rushing yards and over 20 touchdowns. Aundre’ Johnson and Daniel Valdez can also carry the load if needed. Quarterback Christian Milstead can manage the game and will not make mistakes. Defensively, the Wildcats have given up 20-plus points in only two games this season. Robert Williams, DeWaine Morgan and Michael Green are key players to watch, as they have made plays all season long.
By Brian Jones (bjones@scoreatl.com)
CLASS 4A
Tucker Tigers – No state titles: In the words of Ernie Banks, “let’s play two.” With the finalists and Region 6-AAAA rivals having already squared off on Sept. 26, that’s what Tucker and Marist will be doing in the state championship game on Friday night in the Georgia Dome. The rematch provides a shot at revenge for the Tucker Tigers, who were ranked No. 1 in the state when they were stunned by the War Eagles, 38-0. All signs point to a far more entertaining affair this time around, however, as Tucker has won nine games in a row since the Marist shocker. In the playoffs, the Tigers have simply been on cruise control. They took care of Whitewater and Hillgrove at home in routine fashion to advance to the quarterfinals before beating top-ranked Westside-Macon in the form of an emphatic 31-20 road victory. Tucker completed its surge to the Dome with a 34-0 whitewash of Griffin. The terrific trio of quarterback Chris Beck, running back Jonathan Davis and flanker Drayton Calhoun is clicking on all cylinders right now and should give the Marist defense all it can handle.
Marist War Eagles – 2 state titles (1989, 2003): The War Eagles have responded to a season-opening 21-10 blemish at the hands of St. Pius X by winning 13 straight games, winning the Region 6 title, and reaching their second state championship game in three years (third in six years). Even if Tucker makes this one much more competitive than the Sept. 26 meeting, the War Eagles could be lifting the trophy yet again, because they know a thing or two about winning close games. Marist survived Mt. Zion-Jonesboro, 34-33, in the quarterfinals and rallied to beat Rome, 19-17, on the last play of their semifinal showdown after trailing 14-0. Wide receiver Kevin Allman, despite getting hit at the 2-yard line, scored on a reverse on fourth-and-goal from the 4 as time expired. The War Eagles enjoyed more straightforward wins in their first two playoff games, dispatching Northgate 42-0 before ousting Sequoyah 28-12. Tucker will have to figure out how to slow down the senior duo of quarterback Kyle Farmer and fullback Matt Connors, a tandem that torched the Tigers in their regular-season meeting.
By Ricky Dimon (rdimon@scoreatl.com)
CLASS 3A
Cairo Syrupmakers – 2 state titles (1946, 1990): Ever since last season’s 16-13 loss to Carver-Columbus in the state championship, the Cairo Syrupmakers have been on a mission: return to that game. The team is now back in it and has a strong chance to win this time around. Cairo has posted impressive victories over Thomas County Central (28-6), Peach County (16-7), Burke County (41-28) and most recently over Carver-Columbus (42-13). In the semifinals, quarterback Angelo Pease rushed for 173 yards and two scores and also passed for two touchdowns. Reginald Bryant is one to watch, too, as he makes it a habit of turning in big games (142 yards and three touchdowns against Crisp County; 116 yards and three touchdowns against Perry). Ronnie Wooten can also add some dash (two touchdowns against both Dougherty and Thomas County Central). This playoff run has seen a Syrupmaker offense that averages 32.5 points per game go for 40-plus three times. The defense, led by Jermyrin Bodiford, has only allowed double-digit scoring three times season.
Flowery Branch – No state titles: Flowery Branch entered the playoffs unranked after losing its final game of the year to Gainesville. First up in the playoffs was Stephens County, a team that knocked off the Falcons, 28-25, to open up the season. Quarterback Connor Shaw put to rest any chance Stephens had of a sweep with 296 passing yards and six total touchdowns in a huge 42-21 victory. Shaw had been doing that all season, though (three touchdowns against West Forsyth; two touchdowns against East Hall; two against Johnson). When Shaw wasn’t passing to Izaan Cross, he was handing off to Daniel Drummond. The future Yellow Jacket came up big against LaGrange in the semis with three touchdowns in a 28-0 win. Drummond and Shaw have helped lead this offense to an average of 33 points per game. The Falcons have been kings of the road, knocking off No. 2-seeded Stephens County, No. 1 Ridgeland, No. 1 Baldwin and No. 2 LaGrange, all on the road.
By Fletcher Proctor (fproctor@scoreatl.com)
CLASS 2A
Buford Wolves – 5 state titles (1978, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007): The Buford Wolves have been the cream of the Class AA crop all season in their quest to hoist the state championship trophy as they did last year. Head coach Jess Simpson took his team to Texas Stadium to begin the season, beating Mansfield Timberview, 42-21, in a tone-setting game. The game featured the Wolves’ potent three-pronged running attack of Cody Getz, Storm Johnson and Jessel Curry, which Buford continued to ride all the way to the Georgia Dome. Buford’s defense has been tough all year, posting five consecutive shutouts from Sept. 12 through Oct. 17. The Wolves’ closest call of the year came against Blessed Trinity, when Buford needed a clutch 51-yard run by Getz in the dying seconds to secure a 14-10 win. After navigating a tough Region 6-AA schedule unscathed, the Wolves have been overpowering in the postseason, outscoring their playoff opponents 188-59 in four playoff games. One more win would bring the Wolves’ win streak to a whopping 30 victories in a row.
Calhoun Yellow Jackets – 1 state title (1952): A goal-line stand on the final play of their 38-35 victory over Brooks County clinched the first state final appearance for the Calhoun Yellow Jackets since 2005. Head coach Hal Lamb will rely heavily on quarterback Michael Johnson, who had three passing touchdowns and two more scores on the ground in Calhoun’s semifinal game against Brooks County. The Yellow Jackets are familiar with beating highly-ranked teams, as they beat the previously unbeaten Pepperell Dragons, 28-27, during their current 11-game winning streak. Calhoun had a tough early-season schedule with three teams from higher classifications, and although they started 1-2, the Yellow Jackets used those games to propel them to a shot for the Class AA crown. Wideout Da’Rick Rogers will be Johnson’s primary target, while tailback Dustin Christian will provide a pounding run game for a balanced Calhoun offense than has averaged 45 points per game in the postseason.
By Corey Mitchell (cmitchell@scoreatl.com)
CLASS A
Wesleyan Wolves – No state titles: Wesleyan has advanced to the state championship game for the first time in school history thanks to a balanced offense and a defense that produces turnovers. Junior quarterback Conor Welton has passed for over 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns this season, while sophomore running back Kyle Karempelis has rushed for over 1,700 yards and 23 touchdowns. Wesleyan won eight straight to finish the regular season, including a 17-7 win over Athens Academy to win Region 8-A. Lee Ellis starred on both sides of the ball against the Spartans with an interception, a fumble recovery, and a diving touchdown catch in the back of the end zone. The Wolves began the playoffs with a 42-19 thumping of Warren County; Karempelis ran for 210 yards and four touchdowns. They got revenge for an early-season loss to Holy Innocents’ in the second round, beating the Golden Bears 21-7, and then defeated Miller County 17-0 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Wesleyan defeated Lincoln County, 20-12, behind three touchdown passes by Welton.
Emanuel County Institute Bulldogs – 2 state titles (1923, 2007): The defending Class A state champions are stacked with talent on both sides of the ball. Lineman J.C. Lanier has committed to Georgia Tech, linebacker Dexter Moody has committed to Georgia, and the state’s touchdown record-holding running back Washaun Ealey has also committed to play his college football at Georgia next season. In a 35-12 win over Johnson County on Oct. 17, Ealey broke the Georgia career touchdown record of 111. The Bulldogs finished the regular season 10-0 after a 45-7 win over Calvary Day. Ealey scored four touchdowns in each of the Bulldogs’ first two playoff games, a 51-8 thumping of Greenville in the first round and a 33-21 win over Clinch County in the second round. ECI escaped with a 13-7 win over Bremen in the quarterfinals, as quarterback Michael Robertson ran into the end zone from the 8-yard line on fourth-and-goal with less than two minutes remaining in the game. A 15-7 win over Wilkinson County in the semifinals has the Bulldogs one win away from the repeat.
By Derek Wiley (dwiley@scoreatl.com)
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